New Member
Sudden unannounced change in my local channels
With no explanation at all, I no longer receive my local channels from Tucson AZ. I've had these local channels for seven years. Now I receive local channels from Phoenix, AZ. I am told there is nothing to be done as I live in Pinal County, not Pima. I am 15 minutes away from Tucson and 2 hours from Phoenix. I am on the border of Pinal/Pima County and my address is a Tucson address. They tell me there is nothing to be done because of my zip code. Talked to 3 technicians. Nothing can be done they tell me. If indeed there is nothing to be done, I think this is a very poor way to do business - no warning of the change. I am cancelling if indeed there is nothing to be done.
Accepted Solution
Official Solution
TexasBrit
ACE - Expert
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14.1K Messages
5 years ago
Almost certainly the DMA dividing line moved. The boundaries are set by the FCC and Directv has no control over this. We've seen several posts about this happening recently.
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Accepted Solution
TexasBrit
ACE - Expert
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14.1K Messages
5 years ago
Large counties often produce this issue. If you are the edge of a county you are often closer to a set of local channels than the ones "allocated" to your county by the FCC.
You might get the locals you are looking for by going to cable, it depends where the cable "head end" is located because that seems to determine the locals they are delivering. It would be difficult for them to change their cable system if the FCC makes a change. Unfortunately for sat companies like Directv and Dish its an easy change to follow the new boundaries.
Sometimes peoples service address is in a different county to the one where they are actually located, particularly happens where the address is a rural route. Just check to make sure yours is correct.
You can always write to the FCC to complain but I doubt that will have any effect
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JefferMC
ACE - Expert
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37.1K Messages
5 years ago
Apparently, based on your zip code, you were never supposed to view the Tucson AZ channels. Regardless of your provider, you were not supposed to get the Tucson channels. For seven years you have enjoyed being able to do so. Apparently, one or more of your neighbors, desirous of watching the Phoenix stations, complained that they weren't getting what they were supposed to. It was discovered that they were correct. The error has been fixed.
It is also possible that the DMA line moved. I hate it when that happens.
What is your zip code?
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djcfoster
New Member
5 years ago
85739
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djcfoster
New Member
5 years ago
Sorry to hear this. I will have to move to cable or my other options. Doesn’t make sense when you have a large county and much closer to different local channels. Thank you for an explanation. At least mow I understand.
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JefferMC
ACE - Expert
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37.1K Messages
5 years ago
The most recent file I have for the DMA assignment for your zip code (back in 2016) shows you in the Tucson DMA. However, Pinal County (which is where most of your zip code is located) is in the Phoenix DMA. DMAs are actually drawn along county lines, but zip codes are used by providers to assign DMA. It's stupid because zip codes often span county lines.
I also see an FCC complaint from October 2019 for your zip code about the exact same issue with DIRECTV. DIRECTV is bound to give you what the FCC tells it that it has to. You can open an FCC complaint about this and see where that goes.
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UHC
New Member
5 years ago
Same thing happened to me in the Orlando, Fl. area. Grateful for the correct explanation I got on this forum.
I switched to cable.
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