Whatever Happened to DIRECTV’s Distant Network Channels?

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow me on X.

TV Answer Man, do you remember when DIRECTV used to have network affiliates from New York and Los Angeles for people who couldn’t get their local channels? What happened to those? Are they still available? — Eric, Mobile, Alabama.

Eric, for more than two decades, DIRECTV subscribers were eligible under the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELAR) to receive ‘distant’ network affiliate feeds for NBC, ABC, Fox, CBS and The CW if DIRECTV did not provide their local channels. (The ‘distant’ signals came from network affiliates in Los Angeles and New York.) The law was a godsend for rural residents, RV owners and others who couldn’t get their local networks.

However, Congress in 2019 did not renew the law, and it expired in 2020. So does that mean that DIRECTV customers are no longer able to get the distant network affiliates?

Not quite.

After the law expired, DIRECTV negotiated agreements with the networks to continue providing the channels in certain hard-to-reach areas. (This page allows you to input your address to determine if you are eligible.)

The number of eligible homes is considerably smaller than it was under STELLAR but the networks have made some accommodations to ensure their programming is available to those who truly can’t get their locals. The networks, and broadcasters who own local network affiliates, charged during STELLAR that DIRECTV was providing the New York and Los Angeles feeds to people who actually could get their locals. Normally, pay TV viewers are prohibited from receiving ‘distant network signals (DNS)’ because local broadcasters want them to watch their channels.

In addition, some DIRECTV subscribers who have had the New York and Los Angeles feeds for decades were ‘grandfathered,’ meaning they were able to keep them when the law expired. However, the ‘grandfathered’ homes are still subject to future negotiations with the networks so there’s no guarantee they will be able to keep the distant feeds indefinitely.

Eric, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!

Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.