why cant tv channels like Me TV be on directv?

Discussion in 'DIRECTV Programming' started by zeebre12, Jan 20, 2015.

  1. KyL416

    KyL416 Hall Of Fame

    Nov 10, 2005
    Tobyhanna, PA
    It's not selective, the OTA database doesn't have any station with a Tribune ID higher than 65535 (0xffff). You can see them in one of the Notes columns on the transponder maps.

    The few "additions" we got were just cases of Tribune reactivating the same ID they used for a station that previously had a subchannel. i.e. a bunch of Sinclair stations dropped The Cool TV a few years ago and didn't replace it with anything so Tribune made that ID inactive, fast forward to a few months ago, many of those stations added Grit so Tribune reactivated that ID and they appeared in the database.
  2. litzdog911

    litzdog911 Well-Known Member

    Jun 23, 2004
    Mill Creek, WA
    Agreed. You would think by now they would have developed a way to augment the satellite-delivered Guide data with additional data via internet, like they do for OnDemand movie information.
  3. ejbvt

    ejbvt AllStar

    Aug 14, 2011
    Heck, just use the OTA programming info! A couple of hours of programming in the guide is better than nothing.
  4. litzdog911

    litzdog911 Well-Known Member

    Jun 23, 2004
    Mill Creek, WA
    Seems like it wouldn't be that hard. But it's pretty clear that DirecTV doesn't really care about off-air reception with the AM21.
  5. Pepe Sylvia

    Pepe Sylvia Legend

    May 10, 2010
    Massachusetts / New Hampshire finally got an Antennatv affiliate. Unfortunately (for me) it is out of range OTA. It doesn't even show up on the AM21. :(
  6. inkahauts

    inkahauts Well-Known Member

    Nov 13, 2006
    When we say it shouldn't be that hard to integrate over the air guide I will point out the first Hi Definition box a Mitsubishi srhd500 (dish was included) that had one guide integrated for over the air with satellite came out over one year latter than was expected for one reason... They had a heck of a time integrating the guide data of over the air and sat channels... So I know it's not easy but I also think that's not an excuse to not have it done.
  7. pablo

    pablo Icon

    Oct 11, 2007
    Is the upcoming Decades channel coming to DirecTV also?
  8. tonyd79

    tonyd79 Hall Of Fame

    Jul 24, 2006
    Columbia, MD
    Doesn't look like it. Their business model looks to be barter with the local affiliate on selling commercials. Don't see that happening on a national provider.
  9. VARTV

    VARTV Godfather

    Dec 14, 2006
    23456 (Southeast Virginia) with Grit TV listings
  10. n3ntj

    n3ntj Hall Of Fame

    Dec 18, 2006
    D* told me several years back that they would not be adding extra subchannels (such as MeTV, Retro TV, Antenna TV, etc.) to their listing database for those of us with an OTA tuner (AM-21) connected to our HR-2x IRDs. What was there in about 2010 is all that would be added. So, if a local OTA station adds a subchannel (-1, -2, etc.), you'll have to watch it OTA from your TV's ATSC tuner. D* won't add the subchannels to their LIL lineup due to the huge number of these stations and limited capacity on their birds.
  11. peds48

    peds48 Genius.

    Jan 10, 2008
    There are other ways to get around this restriction. There is a thread already going on that has the required info
  12. coconut13

    coconut13 Active Member

    Apr 14, 2013
    In my DMA there are 46 OTA stations available. With a little ingenuity, I can receive 42 of them. Some don't have guide info, but I can view the station. The 4 stations I can't get are HSN, QVC and 2 "audio only" stations. So HSN and QVC are already on the satellite and I can basically get all my OTA stations with the AM21/HR44. In most DMA's you can get almost all the stations you would probably want. There are some exceptions, though.
  13. twiseguy

    twiseguy Legend

    Jan 31, 2011
    Stow, Ohio
    That`s what they told me, too when I inquired about Cleveland WJW 8.2 Antenna TV
    But then, in the Cleveland/Akron/Canton market they added WEWS 5.2 Live Well, WVPX ION 23.3 & .4. (Infomercials) and several others (Religious)
    Meanwhile WJW 8.2 Antenna TV since day 1 still not available. Same with THIS TV, RTV, and the new GRIT, Escape, GET TV, and others.
    In this market there are approx. 26 sub channels available (not counting religion or shopping), but less then half are on DTV`s "DATABASE"
    As far as I`m concerned, DTV simply takes your money for the AM21 and walks away.
  14. KyL416

    KyL416 Hall Of Fame

    Nov 10, 2005
    Tobyhanna, PA
    Read post 21, the database doesn't have anything with a Tribune ID higher than 65535 (0xffff), WJWDT2's Tribune ID is 70518

    Those other channels weren't really "added", it was a case of Tribune reactivating the entry for stations that previously used that ID, since their IDs are below 65535 (0xffff), they reappeared in the OTA database. i.e. Up until 2010 Ion used to have Worship TV on their -4 channels, when they debuted their Ion Shop channel in 2012 Tribune just reactivated the existing DT4 ids.
  15. coconut13

    coconut13 Active Member

    Apr 14, 2013
    If you're willing to run some secondary zips you should be able to receive 8.2,43.3,55.3,61.3,61.4, and either 29.1 or 39.1. Two of these six, 8.2 AntennaTV and 55.3 Movies would even have the correct guide info. Run initial setup over on the AM21 with Cleveland as your primary zip and Davenport IA (52801) as your secondary zip. This will give you 8.2 WQAD with the correct AntennaTV guide. Then run the initial setup again on the AM21, with Wausau WI (54401) as your primary zip and Philadelphia PA (19101) as your secondary zip. This will give you 43.3 and 55.3 from Wausau and 61.3,61.4 and 29.1 or 39.1 from Philly. Only 55.3 WFXS Movies from Wausau will have the correct guide. The other 4 channels will have incorrect guide info, but you will be able to view them. So by running 3 secondary zip codes, you can attain 6 channels in the Cleveland DMA not in D* database for Cleveland. There is no way to match the channels that don't have the correct guide info (39.1,43.3,61.3,61.4).
  16. mrsat1

    mrsat1 Cool Member

    Sep 4, 2006
    The question is when is Directv going to add WJLP from Middletownship, NJ. Everyone else (Verizon, Dish added the channel already). Difference is WJLP is 720P and a cleaner picture... Less informercials. WZME is sd with moreinformercials.
    The problem is the AM-21 did not have the Tribune update from their database to include WJLP 3-10, so there is no way to recored the HD version thus not mapping to the tuner itself. Does anyone know if there is
    a delay on adding this channel? Is this channel considered as "must carry"? i don't think there are any secondary zip codes that has a 3-10 to add to the tuner. I've looked in the ota database from this forum and nothing.
    I think the tribune ota database stopped to include 3-10 (too late).
  17. slice1900

    slice1900 Well-Known Member

    Feb 14, 2013
    Directv can't add it to their OTA database unless they fix whatever is causing them to be unable to add channels with a Tribune ID higher than 65535 - its ID is 75523. That has been an issue for years, so if it is ever fixed it won't be soon.

    It wouldn't be considered must carry for broadcasting it via satellite even though this is broadcast in HD because it is a low power station (6 kw)
  18. KyL416

    KyL416 Hall Of Fame

    Nov 10, 2005
    Tobyhanna, PA
    WJLP isn't a LP station, it's the former KVNV from Nevada who used a loophole to move across the country. It's only 6 kw because it's a VHF lo station so it doesn't need as much power as a VHF Hi or UHF station.

    There's currently a complaint filed by both KYW and WFSB who also use channel 3 and have overlapping OTA coverage (WFSB is easily received OTA in Fairfield county and much of eastern Long Island, KYW is available in Central NJ). In the interim they're using channel 3-10 but there's a chance they'll be forced to change their major number to 33-x. While they opted for must carry, DirecTV and other providers don't have to add it until 90 days after the FCC makes a final ruling on what their channel number will be.

    In the NYC area Channel 3 is right between WCBS and WNBC, Cablevision and RCN have WPXN on channel 3, Time Warner Cable has TNT on channel 3 and Comcast and Service Electric have HSN on 3. If the FCC in the end decides to force WJLP to use 33-x, they no longer have the right to claim channel 3 on local cable systems, they either can only claim 33 (Currently occupied by Nick on Cablevision, ABC Family on Comcast, MSG on Service Electric, QVC on Time Warner Cable) or agree to another number near the locals that's also occupied. The cable companies aren't going to give up that number and force those stations to move now only to potentially have to change the lineup again and force other stations to move until it's finalized.
  19. jaytee

    jaytee New Member

    Mar 1, 2016
    Springfield, MO
    Hey I'm a newb here but I've been trying to figure out how to get some of these retro style channels on my TV. I live in the Springfield Missouri market area and in reading some of the posts you talk of running an alternate zip or something to that effect. This is all foreign to me as I have no idea as to what that means. I've got a 55 inch Samsung thats a little over a year old if that makes any difference. I'm also getting my local channels via satellite through DirecTV. Thanks for any and all help.
  20. David Ortiz

    David Ortiz Save the Clock Tower!!

    Aug 21, 2006
    Fresno, CA
    Welcome to DBSTalk!

    You would need an OTA antenna and an AM22 Off Air Tuner to get local subchannels on your DIRECTV boxes. However, even with that setup, there may be some subchannels that cannot be tuned because they aren't in the database. Using a secondary ZIP code is a trick to tune to missing subchannels.

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