Digital side channels

There are not enough spot beam transponders to included all the sub channels from the local channels plus DTV would need to have a contract and pay rebroadcasting fees for them and it would increase the package prices even more.

Well, I would rather view local digital side channels any day over the hundreds of shopping channels, infomercials, and all the Bible thumping programs that Directv currently has plenty of room for.

Shopping networks pay DTV to carry them and infomercials pay the local channels advertising fees as well as the bible channels the locals sell advertising space for.   

You might be able to receive those channels with an off-air antenna. 

@khcancun 

As @shannon02 said, those channels dedicated to shopping and some "public interest" networks (such as religious channels) pay the TV provider for their channel slot. And of course some informercials, like advertisers, pay a channel for a timeslot. Helps to split up the cost as without those options, our bills would be even higher.

The other issue is that spot beams for individual areas have limited room. The channels you have an issue with are nationwide so don't affect the spot beam slots. There are too many sub-channels for DirecTV to have, regardless of cost.

That being said, with DirecTV's recent purchase of Dish (if nothing ends up prohibiting it) I wonder if that would expand satellite and transponder room to accommodate such channels in the future. I wouldn't expect anything soon, but might be something to keep an ear out for.

In the meantime, try a regular over-the-air (OTA) antenna. In addition to any sub-channels in range, you might pick up addition locals in your market that DirecTV doesn't carry or locals from a neighboring market if you are close enough. Can also be a decent backup whenever any of your local channel owners decides to withhold the broadcast during carriage negotiations.

Would it be technically possible to provide a channel for nationwide channels like Metv+ and Metv Toons?  These are now only available in Phoenix on a digital side channel.

DTV and MeTv would have to sign a contract, if MeTv does have a nationwide feed AFAIK they don't.

If a local channel DTV carries uses MeTv or one of the other sub channels like Cozi, H&I as their main channel (1-1) then you will get it