As they transition to ATSC 3.0, the Next Gen TV transmission standard, broadcasters want the FCC to clarify/modify the TV station license framework for simulcasting to extend to multicast streams. The FCC is allowing stations to partner on distribution arrangements so that broadcasters can continue to deliver a primary stream in ATSC 1.0 given that ATSC 3.0 is not backward compatible with current sets. The NAB, in a petition for declaratory rulemaking, wants the FCC to declare that various multi-station arrangements for hosting and originating multicast streams in ATSC 1.0 and 3.0 are OK.
Lockwood Broadcast Group’s CW affiliate WCWG Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem, N.C. (DMA 46), has had its ch. 20.4 subchannel that carries Bounce TV added to Time Warner Cable, on its ch. 1260. The market, which encompasses 15 counties, is ranked 27th in the country for African-American households. Bounce television targeted to African Americans. “We’ve listened to our […]
African-American targeted broadcast TV network Soul of the South Network (SSN TV) has signed a content agreement with Arise TV that will result in five-and-a-half hours of co-branded news programs daily. Last month SSN announced it had gained distribution in nine of the top 10 African American DMAs, including carriage on FiOS in New York City, parts […]
E.W. Scripps-owned ABC affiliate WMAR Baltimore (DMA 27) is now offering the African-American multicast network Bounce TV on its 2.3 subchannel. “This will present an exciting opportunity for the Baltimore area,” said Bill Hooper, WMAR VP-general manager. “Adding Bounce TV to WMAR’s signal will not only provide solid African-American featured programming to our over-the-air viewers, […]
The two new diginets from Katz Broadcasting adds 150 films to its library. The deal comes on the heels of the networks’ Aug. 18 launch and movie package purchases from Warner Bros. and NBCUniversal.
Antenna TV, Tribune Broadcasting’s multicast network, today announced the addition of 11 series to the classic TV network’s lineup for 2015. Antenna TV, which airs in 89 markets across the U.S. reaching 71% of TV households, will add Newhart, The Jeffersons, Mork & Mindy, One Day at a Time, Family Ties, Evening Shade, Leave it […]
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Grit (for men) will open with the Oscar-winning classic High Noon, whilethe female-targeted Escape will bow with Body Heat.
Luken Communications’ Retro TV signed its latest affiliate — KTMW Salt Lake City, Utah (DMA 33). KTMW, owned by Alpha & Omega Communications, launched the Retro TV diginets on Aug. 1 over-the-air on ch. 20.2. Dennis Ermel, general manager of KTMW says: “When looking for quality, family-friendly programming for our viewers, Retro TV was an obvious […]
The offer will allow Georgia residents to buy stock in the male-targeted diginets.
Luken Signs Multi-Network Affiliation With WLFG
Luken Communications today signed a multi-network affiliation agreement with independent WLFG Tri-Cities, Tenn.-Va. (DMA 97). WLFG, owned and operated by Living Faith Ministries, will begin broadcasting Luken’s Retro TV, PBJ and The Family Channel networks on July 1. They will be carried on chs. 68.2, 68.3 and 68.4, respectively “I’m glad to bring proven and […]
Classic TV Diginets Make The Old New Again
One of the staples of the multicasting universe are networks that offer programming from television and film’s past. While some of the early efforts haven’t survived, there are many that have and more slotted to launch. The diginet with the widest distribution, in fact, is Me-TV, the classic channel from Weigel Broadcasting. This is part 2 of a three-part special report. Read part 1 here.
What Was Behind Live Well’s Demise?
The decision to shut down Live Well appears primarily to be driven by the difficulty of selling advertising around the programming. “The economics didn’t work,” says Bill Carroll, VP, director of programming for Katz Media. However, Carroll thinks the shutdown may also have been influenced by a recent announcement from CBS that it is creating a new digital news network which will likely be carried in the digital space.
Movies! Network, a classic movie multicast network, has signed agreements with new affiliates in Charlotte, N.C.; Salt Lake City; Boise, Idaho; Wausau, Wis.; and Victoria, Texas. These five new markets represent more than 2% of US television homes, increasing the Movies! Network clearance to 49% on 43 affiliates. WJZY Charlotte (DMA 25), owned by Fox […]
Why Did Live Well Die? What’s Next?
The decision to shut down the diginet appears primarily to be driven by the difficulty of selling advertising around the programming. “The economics didn’t work,” said Bill Carroll, VP, director of programming for Katz Media. “It’s difficult for [broadcasters] to sell smaller audiences when advertisers are used to broadcast delivering bigger numbers. It’s just that simple.”
ABC will shut down the diginet in January, replacing it with some form of local programming, probably a news channel.
Will Givens joins from KSWB San Diego to oversee marketing for the two Weigel Broadcasting diginets.
Bounce TV’s newest original series One Love reached nearly 1.1 million persons across its series premiere week runs to become the most-watched original in Bounce TV’s history. According to Bounce TV, since first beginning to receive Nielsen ratings one year ago this month, the network has increased primetime viewership by 39% in households, 27% in […]
The new Katz Broadcasting plans to launch Escape, aimed at women, and Grit, which will target men. Both will debut on the Univision Television Group, covering 30% of the U.S.
Me-TV Adds Affils In Anchorage, Bangor
Me-TV, Memorable Entertainment Television, has signed affiliation agreements with KACN-LP, Anchorage, Alaska (DMA 146), and WBGR-LP, Bangor, Maine (DMA 153). KACN, owned by North Star Television Network, will launch on April 24 and be seen on over-the-air ch. 38, digital ch. 33.3, GCI Cable 95 and Dish 38. WBGR, owned by Maine Family Broadcasting, will […]
The Sony Pictures Television classic Hollywood film channel is adding Seattle, Charlotte, Jacksonville and Tulsa, boosting its coverage to 31 markets covering 48% of the U.S.
The classic TV diginet now is cleared in 91% of the U.S. with 160 affiliates.
KYTV Adds WeatherNation On Subchannel
Schurz Communications-owned NBC affiliate KYTV Springfield, Mo. (DMA 74), is adding WeatherNation TV on its ch. 3.2 and on Mediacom Cable ch. 112. “Viewers across the Ozarks have made KY3 their most trusted local weather source,” said Brian McDonough, KYTV president-GM. “Partnering with WeatherNation makes KY3 24/7 an even greater resource to our viewers by adding updated regional and national weather […]
Digital A Vital Part Of Station Sales Arsenals
The rise of mobile viewing platforms means TV stations have new tools to offer advertisers who want to reach viewers no matter where they are. And it means stations can offer a greater variety of options — and price points — to potential advertisers, many of whom don’t buy time on traditional TV. This is Part I of a four-part series. Part II on the automated buying of spot will appear tomorrow; Part III on Thursday will focus on improving digital sales operations; and Part IV on Friday will offer a case study of a successful digital sales effort and the lessons it offers for broadcasters and newspapers alike.
The affiliate lineup comprises 23 Univision-owned stations including WFUT New York and KFTR Los Angeles, Word Broadcasting’s WBNA Louisville, Ky., and a station in Bakersfield, Calif., that GetTV is not yet ready to identify. At launch today, the network will be in 17 of the top 20 markets.
Me-TV Picks Up Big-Market Primary Slots
The classic TV multicast network from Weigel Broadcasting will be on the primary channels of KVNV New York and KJWP Philadelphia.
With the addition, the classic TV diginet expands its coverage to 90% of the U.S., with 157 affiliates. In Odessa, Texas, it moves from a multicast channel to KWWT’s primary channel.
Gannett-owned NBC affiliate WGRZ Buffalo, N.Y. (DMA 52), has added WeatherNation TV to its ch. 2.2 as well as on Time Warner Cable ch. 1245. WeatherNation TV currently operates in cities across America, including Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis, Seattle and Denver, providing hyper-local, local, regional and national weather news all day, every day. “We thank […]
The classic TV diginet is back on the air in the No. 5 market, signing CBS’s independent to air it on ch. 21.2 beginning next week.
Draper Holdings-owned CBS affiliate WBOC Salisbury, Md. (DMA 142), is launching the classic TV diginet Antenna TV on Dec. 17 on its 16.2 subchannel and Comcast ch. 207. It’s branding the channel WBOC Classics. “We are thrilled to offer our viewers wholesome, family entertainment on WBOC Classics,” says WBOC GM Craig Jahelka. “These are the […]
Giving Thanks For The ‘Classic TV’ Diginets
The years when television offered so much innocent fun are long gone, but wonderful memories remain. It is in that context that I also feel thankful for the sudden abundance of retro-programming networks — all of which, I’m pleased to say, are available to me on my cable system. Amid the madness and the multitasking and the mounting daily stresses of this new millennium, there are instant diversions to be found on Me-TV, Antenna TV, This TV and Cozi TV.
Gannett renews the African-American multicast network in Atlanta and Washington, Nexstar renews in nine markets through 2017. In addition, WSYR Syracuse, N.Y.; WFFT Fort Wayne, Ind.; WTVW Evansville, Ind.; and WMDN Meridian, Miss., are set to launch.
With these stations from Bonten, Cocola and Maranatha, the classic film multicast channel’s clearances rise to 42% of the U.S.
Chattanooga-based Luken Communications has rebranded one of its diginets. What was The Nashville Network is now The Heartland Network, featuring a broad spectrum of what it calls “true country music,” including bluegrass, Americana, Texas country and more, has launched on 18 existing Luken affiliate stations including WSMV Nashville; WBMA Birmingham, Ala.; KIVI Boise, Idaho; and […]
WILM Adds MeTV As Secondary Station
Capitol Broadcasting’s CBS affiliate WILM Wilmington, N.C. (DMA 131), announced today that it has struck a deal with Weigel Broadcasting’s MeTV to be the classic TV diginet’s Wilmington affiliate. MeTV will be broadcast on ch. 10.2 for free over-the-air viewers; cable channel assignments will be announced at a later date. WILM GM Constance H. Knox […]
African-American multicast network Bounce TV today expanded its management team. Felicia Hamilton has been named to the newly-created position of SVP of research and Damien West has been hired to the new position of director of affiliate relations. Hamilton reports to Bounce TV COO Jonathan Katz. West reports to VP of Affiliate Relations Tracy Underwood. […]
The Nashville Network diginet has signed an affiliation agreement with Bahakel Communications ‘ CW affiliate WBMM Montgomery, Ala. (DMA 118). WBMM will begin broadcasting TNN on Oct. 1 over the air on ch. 22.2. Cable carriage information will be forthcoming. “We’re extremely pleased to add The Nashville Network to our offering of stations here in […]
WSMV Named Flagship Affiliate For TNN
The former cable network is returning as a diginet, with Meredith’s Nashville NBC affiliate offering it on ch. 4.2 beginning Nov. 1.
Me-TV Adds Five More Hearst Stations
The diginet will now be carried on subchannels of WCVB Boston, KCRA Sacramento, WBAL Baltimore, KOCO Oklahoma City and WXII Greensboro, N.C. The group owner also extended affiliation deals with Me-TV in nine additional markets.
The addition of the diginet owned by the ABC Owned Television Stations Group brings its national coverage to 60% of U.S. households.
