In recent weeks local Channels 9, 18 and certain Dish channels on occaisions have had a half screen blackout. The black-out is discontinued during advertising breaks. This is a nusience thing that lends its self to manipulation of viewers away from these channels. To give a specific example: In March of this year, the NCAA Basket Ball finals was shown on only one local channel. I believe that it was channel 12. The only other channel that it was available was a paid channel.