Channels from different state

The local channels you receive is controlled by your zip code and what channels are assigned to the Designated Market Area or DMA for your zip code.

@ggumbs , what is your zip code?

It appears that you must be in Clay County, NC, zips 28902, 28904 or 28909.  That county is assigned to the Atlanta DMA.  Cherokee County to your west is in the Chattanooga, TN DMA, so that's not North Carolina, either.  To your east, would be the Ashville-Anderson-Greenville-Spartanburg DMA, but only one station there, WLOS-the ABC affiliate, is a North Carolina station.  The NBC and Fox affiliates are based in Greenville, SC and the CBS affiliate is in Spartanburg, SC.

As sandblaster said, this isn't a decision that DIRECTV makes.  The DMAs have been negotiated through backroom deals between broadcasters, local governments, the FCC, Nielson, etc. not by DIRECTV and DIRECTV has no choice but to make available to you the content for the DMA where you are.

Yeah, I am in 28904. I understand the reasoning, it's just frustrating. When I lived in Connecticut, I actually got channels from both NY and CT. I'd be thrilled here if I could get just the station in Asheville. I'll just have to try to find their online stream I guess.

For streaming local WLOS-TV content, start here:

https://stirr.com/

Connecticut is an even more confusing mess of gerrymandered DMA lines.  But due some unique circumstances, the FCC has bent some rules there.

We understand the importance of having the programming you like to watch, and we want to help on this.

We just sent you a DM, so we can take a closer look. You will be able to see direct messaging on the top right corner next to the bell icon.

David, DIRECTV Community Specialist

I tried to, David, but there was no response

You can try an antenna 

I'm just refreshing our interaction regarding the local channels issue. We do appreciate your patience.

David, DIRECTV Community Specialist

Check both zip code and county as sometimes you may be on the border instead of solidly in a single Designated Market Area (DMA). When DMA brings you locals from another state, without giving option of keeping within state, is a failing on how those market lines are maintained.

www.directv.com/locals 

Unfortunately, I did. And it says all I get are the Atlanta channels. Most frustrating. For instance, we've got a winter storm coming, the Atlanta channels give ZERO coverage to NC. I streamed the station from Asheville, NC (about 70 miles north), and it had complete coverage of the storm for all of Western NC (including the town where I live). And an antenna is likely not a viable option, as I am in the middle of the mountains. Ah well.

WLOS-TV has "translators" but I don't know that they have one out where it would do you any good.  I am glad that you were able to stream the WLOS-TV content and that they provided you information.  WYFF-TV tends to stay inside the DMA, though they cover the counties to your East and Southeast.

I can't get WLOS off-the-air either, which ticks me off, but it looks like they're building a new translator that will fix that problem for me.