Broadcast television question

[Inchworm]

If...

-Websites can log your IP address and know where you are located.
-Programming is digitally broadcast through the air

Why can't stations stream that same signal to their market over the internet easily?

I guess I understand why ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS can't stream this signal nationally from one point because it would hurt local affiliates' advertising power. Why can't local affiliates simply stream their signal live over the internet?

I haven't had TV since the change and it seems like munkees are running each network's national websites. I may be naive, but it just seems like a simple fix that would allow each market to get regular programming and most importantly local advertising.

:shrug:

Disclaimer: I know all about how to convert. I just get no digital signal where I live.

[Fumesucker]

1. According to this thread on stormtrack some stations do stream their signal..

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20041

Do a search for callsigns of the stations you are interested in watching..

[Inchworm]

3. No live streams from stations in my TV Market area

Plenty of "on demand" type stuff, but that idea assums I know what I want to watch, hehe. That is basically how I've been getting shows, news, etc. since the change.

Thanks for the idea. I did see many shows to watch on PBS that I haven't seen in ages.

[KharmaTrain]

2. Contractual Obligations...

As the poster above stated, there are stations that do stream. Two problems. First is the efficiency of streaming. It's better now but still expensive for a station to pay for the bandwidth for a live broadcast and many people still don't have computers and/or internet connections fast enough to be considered a reliable delivery source. But that is changing.

The major reason is contractual. Every station is very territorial...they own exclusive rights to network or syndicated shows that are only intneded for their specific terrain or market. Streaming beyond their signal coverage is considered a violation of their agreement or would mean paying higher royalities. Sports teams are especially concerned about streaming as they have people paying big money for the rights and want to have control where the video goes and who gets it.

Seems many of the digital tv messes are being straightened out...if they haven't already. Stations with weak signals have either upped their power or moved to more powerful channels. The fact we hear so little about the change a year later speaks to how well things worked.

[Inchworm]

4. That is why I mentioned the IP address

Kind of like how we, in USA, cannot watch BBC streams.

It seems like stations in each designated market area (mine is Charlotte, NC 125 miles away) could stream and advertise to their particular market by assuring the IP address accessing is within it.

I understand that is why a national stream is unavailable.

I'm sure the transition went well for those in populated areas but not out here in Podunk. I assume most simply bought satellite if they want news. Hehe, our newspaper is 2 a week and 15 pages max :)