I imagine the technology to do this has existed for a decade, but TPTB aren’t interested in implementing it:
A way to opt out of the local affiliate’s programming and watch the network’s feed. Like, my local CBS affiliate has a viewing area that’s probably 200 miles in diamter, if not bigger. That means that a town in Southwestern Illinois, 200 miles from me, could be experiencing severe weather. It’s clear skies where I am. So why should I have to watch the weather guy explain the tornado warnings in Bunghole County, Illinois, in exacting detail, when I’d rather watch Ghosts?
Similarly, local affiliates in the two TV markets where I live have pre-empted network programming for sponsored content, some show of local community interest or something (I really don’t get it), debates between local politicians, and (and I swear I’m not kidding) high school basketball.
Surely, the technology exists to let me kick to the network feed. The fact that I (and probably 70 percent of viewers) watch on streaming rather than cable/satellite, should simply this even further.