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EchoStar Asks Supreme Court to Let Unlock Local Channels

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the trouble-close-to-my-heart dept.

Consul writes "For a long time, satellite television systems were not allowed to broadcast local television signals outside of that local area. But EchoStar is asking the Supreme Court for that to be changed." This particular issue drives me insane and I hope the courts throw out the lame laws. I don't care about local programming, they shouldn't force it on me. The same tactics with Newspapers would be obviously illegal.

5 of 346 comments (clear)

  1. Bonus by DeadBugs · · Score: 3, Funny

    They should unlock this restriction so that I can watch The Simpsons from 3 diffrent time zones.

    --
    http://www.kubuntu.org/
  2. It sucks... by gregstoll · · Score: 2, Funny

    It sucks here in Houston. Happy?

    :-)

  3. Grab your ankles, mate: by Control+Group · · Score: 2, Funny

    This post is in violation of the DMCA.

    Please stay where you are. Any attempt to change locations will be considered an attempt to subvert our encrypted electronic DMCA-violator-location technology, and will be prosecuted as a violation of the DMCA. Any attempt to hire legal representation will be considered an effort to crack our Automated Litigation System, and will be prosecuted as a violation of the DMCA.

    According to the license you implicitly signed by turning on your computer, you agree to allow our lawyers into your home for the purposes of investigating and prosecuting violations of the DMCA. Rest assured our staff will be there to roger you shortly.

    Thank you for your business.

    -Mass Media

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  4. Re:I wouldn't mind. by jonbrewer · · Score: 3, Funny

    "World! There are loads of people who have an interest in local interests from other parts of the world."

    It's too bad that satellites don't cover more than half a hemisphere at a time. From the US it is just not possible to see the European Astra or Eutelsat constellations. Thus we must pay our satellite companies to rebroadcast to see "the A Team" dubbed in German. :-)

  5. Re:Huh? by ziriyab · · Score: 4, Funny
    It took me a while to make sense of the two seemingly contradictory finishing sentences in Taco's post. I think I've figured out what this master of prose, spelling, and grammar was saying:

    When Taco said "I don't care about local programming, they shouldn't force it on me" he was saying that he doesn't want to be forced to watch only his local network channels (via antenna). Having the choice of watching other local stations' crappy programming (via satellite) would be preferable to him.

    At least that's my interpretation of the Book of Taco. Other scholars may have different views on this.