[BigSkyFreeper]

EchoStar says it will pay $100 million to local stations to settle the nine-year-old legal battle over 'distant' network TV signals. The local stations are concerned that EchoStar's subscribers will watch the national signals instead of their feeds.

My local market refuses to be carried, so bite me Senators!

[bmwcyle]

Leave my Dishnetwork alone.

[gridlock]

The fact that nobody is watching the big three networks anymore has little to do with distribution channels and everything to do with the product.

[sure_fine]

these senators on a last dutch effort to appear relevant?

[cva66snipe]

I wish government would stop trying to protect TV stations from competition. If I want to purchase a distant signal that's my money to do as I please. Basically local stations with the help of Big Brother and Nielsen {I think} became overlords of what was considered local viewing areas. This did not take into consideration such things as local terrains but rather used mileage radius formulas. The proof of no functional feel solely upon the consumer and local station managers had final say if you could watch distant network stations. I'm certain some how and some way government can mess this up yet even more than it already has.

[dirtbiker]

Well, crap!!!!!

With these goobers messing with the sat companies only means one thing.....

MY SAT BILL WILL BE GOING UP!!!!!!

Thanks for nothing, MORONS!!!!!

My oldest son had a bumper sticker on his government notebook in high school that read "US Government Policy: If It Ain't Broke, Fix It 'til It Is!" Ain't it the truth!

[Mark was here]

Why does a "local" station have a say any way?

If you bought a book out of state, and brought it in state, would you have to pay the local book store a royalty fee before you read it? This is not a perfect analogy but I think it is like what the locals are asking for.

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

This is insane. One should be able to have a subscription to whichever programming they wish to watch.

[gitmo]

The government should not be involved at all.

[George W. Bush]

I think the article is only about allowing subscribers to receive the HD signals of CBS-East and CBS-West. If you don't have a local CBS affiliate, you can put up an extra dish to point at the east or west satellites and Dish can authorize you to receive the CBS station in HDTV.

I live 300 miles from the CBS station that claims I am 'local'. No way in hell that anyone in my area has ever received this station over the air (the definition of 'local').

There's always been a lot of confusion and inconsistency over this locals thing with both satellite companies.

[absolootezer0]

don't these pricks have anything better to do?