Channels 2 and 9 (CBS and ABC): conspiracy?

Just curious. I used to live in Shenandoah and regardless of the digital antenna I tried (and I tried five of them) I could virtually never pick up 2 or 9. Many other small stations were clear as a bell including three PBS channels. Fox and NBC were fine. I then moved out here to Baker. Same problem! It seems inexcusable that virtually every little station in the area has a broadcast that can be viewed with a digital antenna yet two of the biggest channels do not. All I can figure is that they are colluding with cable/satellite television in some way; I will NEVER go that route again. In the meantime, however, I wonder if the people who buy ad time on these channels know that a significant chunk of viewers cannot see their ads?