Diginets

There’s been plenty of talk about diginets this week on TVNewsCheck. The popularity of multicast channels offering so-called classic TV shows got me thinking that viewers of a certain age — millennials — need a channel they could feel nostalgic about. I’ve come up with a list of programming options that I think would sell very well and be extremely popular among the younger generation.

When some stations started multicasting digital subchannels there were a number of engineering issues that made the process cumbersome. Today, although there are different methods to launch a diginet — from using network-configured equipment to running second channels through a station’s main master control — most broadcasters say the task is neither tough nor expensive.

After years of experimentation, broadcasting specialty networks on subchannels is starting to draw viewers and revenue in amounts that really matter. Some peg the take at more than $200 million. While classic TV shows and movies are popular formats, others see the future in original programming.

Stations started dabbling with inserting newscasts into their diginet subchannels about five years ago and they say they expect the practice to become more pervasive as more stations recognize the revenue and promotional potential. Among the experiments is producing newscasts that air at non-traditional times — 7-9 a.m. or 9 p.m. — when primary channels are airing network programming.

The classic TV series Rhoda is coming to diginet Me-TV Network beginning July 8. The series stars Valerie Harper and the show will follow The Mary Tyler Moore Show weeknights […]

The Nashville Network diginet has signed an affiliation with NBC affiliate WPSD Paducah (DMA 81). WPSD will begin broadcasting TNN over-the-air on channel 6.2 on Aug. 1.  The Nashville Network […]

On Friday, a jury in U.S. District Court in Little Rock, Ark., found that the transfer of Equity Media Holdings Corp.’s Retro Television Network to Equity’s Chairman-CEO, Henry Luken, for $18.5 million “was a constructively fraudulent transfer,” as alleged by Equity’s bankruptcy trustee. The jury awarded $47.4 million to the bankruptcy trustee. Luken Communications LLC turned around and on Sunday filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Chattanooga.

Bounce TV has acquired broadcast television rights to The American Bible Challenge and Catch 21 game shows in a new agreement with GSN, it was announced by Bounce TV Chief […]

The Me-TV Network has signed three new affiliation agreements with Gray Television stations: KSNB Lincoln, Neb. (DMA 105); WSWG Albany, Ga. (DMA 145); and WTVY Dothan, Ala. (DMA 169). These […]

Network Signs New Affiliates, Including Stations in Boston, Houston and Kansas City, raising its household penetration to 47.5 million. It also hires journalist and TV executive Diane Petzke to oversee scheduling and promotion.

The 24/7 weather diginet wll air on the Gannett NBC affiliate’s 9.2 subchannel.

Gray Television Group and Dispatch Broadcast Group are the latest to add Tribune’s classic TV diginet.

Dispatch Broadcast Group’s CBS affiliate WBNS Columbus, Ohio (DMA 32), will launch Antenna TV on its ch. 10.2 beginning June 12. Tribune Broadcasting’s Antenna TV features a variety of classic […]

Tribune Broadcasting and MGM Television today announced a new programming operations relationship for This TV, the 24/7 free digital network that features movies from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s 4,000-plus library. Effective this fall, […]

The African American-focused diginet Bounce TV will premiere its first original non-scripted series, Forever Jones Presented by Walmart on Wednesday, June 5, at 9 p.m. ET. Coming on the heels […]

Cozi TV, the multicast network developed by the NBC Owned Television Stations division of NBCUniversal, today announced that Pushing It, a new reality television show starring Jenny Skoog, a birthing […]

The new GetTV diginet featuring classic films from the 3,500 titles in the Sony Pictures library will debut this fall. On board are Univision stations in 24 markets, covering 44% of U.S. TV households.

The Nashville Network diginet has signed an affiliation with Journal Broadcast Group’s ABC affiliate KIVI  Boise, Idaho (DMA 111).  KIVI now broadcasts TNN over-the-air on ch. 6.3 and it also […]

The Weigel Broadcasting classic TV network now is cleared 89% of the U.S.

Next Great Family Band, a 30-minute weekly show produced by Meredith Video Studios, will premiere Feb. 17 on Cozi TV, the new network from the NBC Owned Television Stations division […]

The African American-focused diginet Bounce TV will honor Black History Month in February with Our History, a month-long programming tribute that includes documentaries, specials and a new original short-form series […]

National ratings measurement of the Weigel-owned classic TV diginet will begin in the spring.

The 24-hour movie network will debut on the subchannels of 17 Fox O&Os this spring.

Cozi TV, the new network developed by the NBC Owned Stations division of NBCUniversal, today announced that Being Mandela, a new reality television show starring Nelson and Winnie Mandela’s granddaughters, […]

The KM Communications’owned station is now offering 24/7 local, regional and national weather news over its ch. 13.4 and via WeatherNation’s iPhone app.

The Polnet Communications outlet in Chicago is broadcasting the country-themed diginet over the air on its ch. 24.3.

The classic TV diginet is now available in all of the top 10 U.S. markets and covers 87% of the country with 141 affiliates.

The Spanish-language diginet will be broadcast on the Orlando ABC affiliate’s ch. 9.2 beginning Jan. 28.

Estrella TV has named Judy Kenny executive vice president of network sales and marketing, effective immediately. Based in Estrella TV’s Manhattan offices, Kenny will report to Winter Horton, chief operating […]

The independent in Derry, N.H., will carry the local, regional and national weather diginet on its ch. 50.3.

The multicast channel offers a mix of classic TV shows, original network programs and local programs supplied by its affiliates. On board at launch are the 10 NBC O&Os and 14 other stations.

The Me-TV Network has signed an affiliate agreement with Belo Television Group’s ABC affiliate WVEC Norfolk, Va. (DMA  44). The station will launch Me-TV on Jan. 16, 2013; it will […]

The African American-focused diginet will now be carried by Univision stations in San Francisco, Boston, Tampa, Miami, Denver, Sacramento and Raleigh, giving it 68% U.S. coverage and affiliates in 24 of the top 25 markets.

The Me-TV Network has added affiliates from both existing and new station groups. Hearst Television-owned WPTZ, Burlington, Vt.-Plattsburgh, N.Y. (DMA 97) will launch Me-TV on Jan. 2, 2013, and Hoak […]

The former cable network is returning as a diginet, with Meredith’s Nashville NBC affiliate offering it on ch. 4.2 beginning Nov. 1.

The new multicast channel featuring a mix of classic TV shows, movies and original programming will debut on the 10 NBC Owned Television Stations early next year and the group is looking for affiliates in other markets.

NBCUniversal is getting ready to turn the clock back with Cozi TV, a new digital subchannel filled with “retro reruns” and old movies. Nothing is official yet, but it’s slotted to debut Jan. 1 in all 10 markets with NBC-owned stations.

With the addition of WBIR Knoxville and three other affiliates over the past week, the classic TV diginet now counts 136 outlets that cover more than 83% of TV homes.

The classic TV diginet is now carried on subchannels of Newport-owned KTVX Salt Lake City and KOKI Tulsa, Okla. Another Newport station, ABC affiliate WSYR Syracuse, N.Y. will launch Me-TV on Sept. 10.