DirecTV, Satellite Home Viewer Act

The Satellite Home Viewer Act (SHVA) was passed in 1988 and was reenacted in 1994. The purpose of the Satellite Home Viewer Act is to protect the copyright area of local network affiliates. It allows DirecTV and Dish Network to provide customers with national networks only if they are not capable of receiving their local network affiliates through the use of a rooftop antenna and have not received network affiliated stations via cable within the past 90 days. DirecTV and Dish Network have specific geographic areas that qualify for these national network feeds.

On November 29, 1999 the Satellite Home Viewer Act of 1999 was passed. This legislation allows DirecTV and Dish Network to offer local network affiliated stations to their customers. If the local networks are not offered, customers must still meet the above criteria to receive the national networks.

Read more about the Satellite Home Viewer Act of 1999 in the news.