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Forget Carmen Sandiego: For Direct TV subscribers, where in the world is WMUR?

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While Northern Seacoast residents continue acclimating themselves to the new television landscape of both cable and satellite providers that began on Jan. 1, the biggest dust-up has been over Direct TV's elimination of WMUR programming, which leaves the satellite provider's customers in the Granite State with no broadcast of New Hampshire's only statewide television station.

Rochester and Milton residents who subscribe to Direct TV are understandably outraged with the move, but a spokesman for WMUR Channel 9 said today that the station is doing all it can to end the impasse.

"We continue to negotiate and post on social media any update," WMUR spokesman Alex Jasiukowicz said today. "And we are making the best efforts to resolve the dispute."

Hearst Television, parent of WMUR-TV, is continuing its efforts to renew its DirecTV agreement, according to a Monday press release from Channel 9.

The press release notes that viewers may continue to receive WMUR-TV for free, over the air, and, where available, from local cable or other satellite operators, but reserves the right to seek compensation from companies who profit from their broadcasts, including Direct TV.

Meanwhile, the negotiations will go on between Hearst and Direct TV.

"Our negotiating team has been ready and available around-the-clock ... to engage in substantive negotiations with DirecTV; however, we've been thwarted by what appears to be a strategy of unrealistic proposals and outright delay by a national distributor that does not seek to serve their subscribers or local communities," said WMUR-TV President & General Manager Jeff Bartlett, adding, "We hope DirecTV will share our sense of urgency in getting our programming back to their subscribers in New Hampshire."

Viewers can determine the type of antenna needed to receive the signals of Hearst Stations at http://www.antennaweb.org/. To contact DirecTV regarding the inconvenience caused by its unfair tactics and unreasonable demands call DirecTV customer service at 1-800-531-5000.

DirectTV representative were not available for comment.

Metrocast customers, while seeing little in the way of program elimination of mainstream broadcasters, will also note some changes beginning with the new year.

In Maine BBC World News (Expanded Basic Ch. 87/887), Logo (Digital Basic Ch. 230) and Sundance (Digital Plus Ch. 215/815) join the Metrocast lineup effective January 1, 2017.

WHDH-7-Boston (Basic channels 7 and 707) and WHDH This TV-Boston (Basic channel 298) will no longer be affiliated with NBC after 1/1/17. However, Metrocast will continue to carry these two channels on their current channel position. All NBC national programming will continue to be available on WCSH-6 (Basic channels 6 and 706).

The Zap2it Program Guide will be discontinued effective January 1, 2017, as Metrocast now offers feature-rich interactive guides for all customers, both those with digital converters (settop box) and those with DTAs (Digital Terminal Adapters). For more information about the DTA Guide, see MetroCast.com/dta.

In New Hampshire, BBC World News (Expanded Basic Ch. 87/887), Logo (Digital Basic Ch. 230) and Sundance (Digital Plus Ch. 215/815) join the MetroCast lineup effective January 1, 2017.

In addition, BBC America moves from Digital Basic to Expanded Basic (217/817), Hallmark moves from Digital Basic to Expanded Basic (218/737), and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries moves from Digital Basic to Expanded Basic (265/865).

Also effective on January 1, 2017, MetroCast will launch the new Boston NBC station WBTS on Basic channels 8 and 812 in Belmont and channels 15 and 812 in Rochester.

WHDH-7-Boston (Basic channels 7 and 707) and WHDH-This TV-Boston (Basic channel 298) will continue to be carried on your channel line-up but after January 1 will no longer be affiliated with NBC.

Cozi TV joins the lineup on channel 206 effective January 31 (and on a preview basis beginning January 4).

Finally, just as in Maine, the Zap2it Program Guide will be discontinued effective January 1, 2017, as MetroCast now offers feature-rich interactive guides for all customers, both those with digital converters (settop box) and those with DTAs (Digital Terminal Adapters).

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