Dish Anywhere is another fantastic innovation by Dish that enables consumers to watch live TV and recorded shows on the go via the internet on smartphones, tablets, computers, or any other connected device. Nonetheless, there is one that most of the Dish critics have raised; they cannot access local channels in Dish Anywhere. That is why the following reasons can be explained as the cause of this occurrence.
Licensing Restrictions
The primary reason why you can’t watch local channels on Dish Anywhere is because Dish is limited to live streaming of local channels because of licensing concerns. Traditionally, local programming has been the crown jewel for broadcast stations, and they are not willing to allow satellite service providers and cable providers the right to deliver local broadcast stations outside of the home.
While Dish does have contracts in which it provides local channel packages for subscribers to watch on their STBs, the streaming rights for the said local channels are only confined to in-house access. A possibility, but Dish just plain cannot let you watch live streams of your local ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, etc., stations anywhere but home.
This is quite irritating to the subscribers when they are restricted on the type of license they can get for their local news and programming. However, until broadcasting giants review and renew these old licensing agreements, Dish and other similar providers remain constrained.
Technical/Infrastructure Challenges
Besides licensing concerns that were highlighted, there are also technical considerations about streaming local channels over the internet to a broad subscriber base. This is not an easy task given the number of live TV streams that Dish has to deliver over its network base.
What Dish can invest in your set-top box for core satellite service, sending out masses of localized video streams beyond homes augments that infrastructure by many magnitudes? Looking at it from the technical side of things, Dish may find out that it is more costly to offer localized out-of-home streaming than it is worth.
Hope on the Horizon?
Traditional licensing regulations that have prohibited local channel streaming for a long time, indicate that this situation could soon change. In 2022, Dish entered a fresh long-term deal with Tegna, a media company and the largest owner of network TV stations with exclusive affiliation agreements in the United States.
One part of this collaboration is that it allows Dish such rights as streaming live local channels in markets that Tegna has stations in. This covers 64 markets across the United Kingdom.
First, dish customers in Tegna markets may start to notice the ability to stream local stations through Dish Anywhere on their platform. If successful, it could pressure Dish to expand other local channel streaming rollouts across more markets as licensing deals evolve to cater to viewers’ demands.
There are additional pressures from paid subscribers who are now insisting on more open access to the programs they fund, including local news networks. Indeed, while the traditional players continue to focus on the conventional framework of the music business, they also know that the streaming train is moving. It is mechanics such as local channel anywhere streaming that could keep and build an audience base for cable providers such as Dish.
What Can Be Done If My Local Channels Stop Streaming?
While the Dish Anywhere situation may be unfortunate for local channel streaming, here are some options to consider in the meantime:
- Use an Over-the-Air Antenna: Your local channel means that you can use an OTA antenna to access the channels for free. With the help of the DVR, such as the Air TV 2, the local channel guides and streaming can be integrated with the Dish’s interface.
- Check Station Apps: Most of the local stations have gone a step further and started having apps for streaming news and some of their programming. Although this is not as convenient as Dish Anywhere, it serves a similar function for the local channels when on the go.
- Upgrade Your Plan: Despite this, it is noteworthy that some of the more expensive Dish TV packages do offer customers more local channel streaming options, where such services are available in your area. Although it is more expensive, it proves that live streaming for local channels is a feature that they are willing to provide for a premium they cannot afford to offer on a national level.
- Express Your Needs: Contact Dish customer service to submit this as a formal complaint and state that you would like local channel streaming capability in Dish Anywhere. An important fact about subscriber feedback is that they do count and can indeed exert an impact over the years.
In the same way, Dish Anywhere gives satellite subscribers a good experience of streaming TV on the go, yet local channel options remain limited. However, between change of license, viewer expectations, and technological advancements, the obstacles that would have made it impossible for local channel streaming are on the decline. At least for Dish Anywhere, there is hope for the future that one will be able to stream your local programming wherever you are.
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