Free Speech TV launched on Directv Today

[itsrobert]

Channel 348. Just heard about the channel yesterday on this forum. It wasn't on Directv until this morning.

FSTV offers independent news and analysis of social issues, featuring stories by and about underrepresented communities.

I would self-REC if I could.

[NightWatcher]

1. I'll rec ya

[itsrobert]

22. ****NOTE****You need the newer Dish for this channel

Discussed at http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=179913 Avid Satellite TV discussion site.

Also, posted in this thread at #21 http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8623012&mesg_id=8623631

[City Lights]

2. K&R for the info. I'll check it out! nt

[G_j]

3. Both Democracy Now! & The Global Report

are on FSTV. The best news shows IMO

[EFerrari]

24. Laura Flanders does really good work, too. And for insomniacs

occasionally they run "Its the end of the world as we know it" which is apparently news from the anarchist underground, rated XXX, and hilarious. I won't post a link to the site because the FBI will show up to Skinner's house.

:hi:

[cascadiance]

34. Other good shows to check out on FSTV...

Fault Lines - which is a good investigative series produced by Al Jazeera that has as a reporter on it Avi Lewis, Naomi Klein's husband and director of the great movie "The Take" that he did along with Naomi that documented Argentina's financial collapse and resurgence with factory takeovers that probably inspired that sort of thing to happen here where people took over factories recently in the U.S. too.
Global Report - weekly indy news segment which at times isn't too bad and covers fringe news that is largely ignored by the media. Good place to get whistleblower news that sometimes even Amy Goodman doesn't touch.
Alternative Focus - good periodic series that has stories on Israeli/Palestinian issues.

[winstars]

35. Laura Rocks and is easy to watch!!!

[Warpy]

4. Maybe it was a trial run because it's not there now

I just checked.

[itsrobert]

7. Still there

It may take an upgrade because it might not be on one of the satellites your dish is not set up for. Or check your program guide setup. Best is to call customer service at Directv. Channel is new, so some CSR may not be up to speed on it.

[Warpy]

9. Funny, the channel doesn't show up at all

not as "not purchased" or anything else.

Bummer, dude.

[itsrobert]

10. I think you probably have the older dish

If you haven't upgraded for HD you probably won't get this channel, because it's on the same satellite as the newer HD channels. Note: this channel is not in HD.

[Warpy]

14. To upgrade to HD I'd need an HD capable receiver, not a new dish

That's how that works.

It's not listed anywhere on their website. Either you're getting some sort of weird cross feed from Dish (which does have FSTV), they're just trying it out on a very limited basis.

[itsrobert]

15. Not exactly

Directv has multiple satellites located at different points in space. The most recent channels are coming from 103 degrees. Most older systems do not have a dish for that. It's true you can get some HD from the older satellites, but the newer channels are coming from the newer satellites located at 103 degrees. I read www.dbstalk.com almost every week and followed satellite tv for many years as a hobby. So I do know what I'm talking about and it's impossible to receive a weird crossfeed from Dish Network using a Directv receiver.

[Warpy]

16. All I can tell you is what they told me

My eyesight is too poor to justify it, so I passed.

However, FSTV is still not listed anywhere at their site.

[itsrobert]

18. Here's another link at DBSTalk.com

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=179913


The forum members who are avid Directv fans say you need the newer dish for this channel.

[Upton]

21. Yep....Check this out:

DIRECTV customers will need HD Access and HD equipment to view Free Speech TV

http://www.freespeech.org/blog/free-speech-tv-now-showing-directtv-channel-348

[cascadiance]

32. Apparently DirectTV added a lot of HD channels today...

Perhaps FSTV needed to get on this train in order to get on this week, and that's why its on this satellite instead of the other that the other receivers get.

Other HD channels on DirectTV added today.

Hallmark HD
Lifetime HD
HBO2 HD East
HBO Zone HD
Showtime Beyond HD
Showtime Next HD
Showtime Women HD
TMC Xtra HD East
Starz Cinema HD
Starz in Black HD
Encore HD EAST
CSN Bay Area
CSN California
FSN Florida

So, I'm guessing that the timing of that with FSTV's addition wasn't coincidental. I wonder if they plan to move FSTV to a different satellite later when they update the other satellite's channel space? Though perhaps those others are pretty filled up? It would be nice to have it an adjacent channel close to LINK TV there. I like looking at the schedule of the two channels at the same time when scheduling my DVR events for the week on Dish Network where they are relatively close together.

[michreject]

23. Need a new dish

The HD dish is oval. The old dish is round.

[unhappycamper]

39. HD requires a new dish and a new HD receiver, both from DirectTV.

I was pleasantly surprised when the new HD receiver came with a built in TIVO. I suspect the capacity of this thing is around 100 ~ 120 hours of HD TV.

[Upton]

11. I'm not getting it either..

I've got 347 and 350..no 348.

[itsrobert]

12. It's being discussed at www.DBSTALK.com

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=179918

Warning some righties are out attacking it based on the 20 seconds they tuned in to it.

[Warpy]

31. It's not you or me

It's not listed at their website, either.

[Dappleganger]

20. CALL DirecTV

Let them know you don't have access to that channel and ask them to give you a deal (as in, a new free upgraded dish and maybe some free HD for two years). Seriously. I just called a week ago and asked for the "Free HD for Two Years" deal and they hooked me up within just a few minutes. They should also give you a new dish. If they don't, just politely thank the CSR for their trouble and call back at another time in a couple of days (this is your lesson in CSR Roullette).

[Qutzupalotl]

5. Democracy Now! is not to be missed.

Especially the news summary in the first segment. You won't find reporting like that on the MSM.

[csziggy]

33. If you can't get FSTV, try Current - 358 on DirecTV

They carry Democracy Now and other good shows. Not quite the same line up as FSTV but some of the same type.

[gleaner]

6. Dumb question, but is it on any cable channels?

K&R

[itsrobert]

8. Some Cable Systems carry it

but not in all areas by far.

[EFerrari]

26. gleaner, a number of their programs can be streamed from their web site.

Also, if you can stream, Laura's show and Amy's show can be streamed in segments from their sites. I don't know about Thom's show. I believe you can stream him live and that his shows are archived at White Rose Society.

[gleaner]

38. Thanks very much ...

I was asking on my husband's behalf as well as mine. He is confined to a hospital bed a lot of the time due to after effects of MRSA and he has no access to a computer. He faithfully watches MSNBC and records it in case he falls asleep. I know he would enjoy this, but we will have to wait for cable to take it for him. We have Time Warner, so if anyone knows of any Time Warner outlets in LA, I would much appreciate if you would let me know. He is a very intelligent man and a good Democrat with a lively interest in politics. He reads DU when he feels well enough to get up and posts occasionally, but he can barely get around so short spells are best. Thanks again though for your answer.

[EFerrari]

13. Kick

[obxhead]

17. k/r

[Liberal_Dog]

19. I Just Tried Channel 348

And it says "Channel Not Available".

[SoCalDem]

25. Every time they called me to get me to switch from Dish, I always asked them if they had Link & FSTV

When they said no, I said No thanks.. maybe they heard it from others too:)

I love Dish, and will stay with them, but I'm glad to see direct offering it now:)

[EFerrari]

27. FSTV had to pay to be carried.

I'm sort of worried about them and Link because of all the cut backs. I hardly ever watch anything else.

[Puregonzo1188]

28. Great, now when will Comcast get Free Speech TV?

[Bozita]

30. I'm sorry for not reading the complete thread before posting.

I've been pissed about this issue with Comcast for a long time now.

[Bozita]

29. Hello Comcast? ... Can you hear me now, Comcast? ... Why can't we have FSTV?

[Dr.Phool]

36. Verizon doesn't carry it either.

I used to love having my morning coffee with Amy Goodman. But, I got so pissed off at Dish's "customer service", I'll never have them again. I'd rather give money to Murdoch if he's carrying them now.

[Radical Activist]

37. Awesome.

I very much enjoy watching them when I got the chance.