subchannels

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.

CUNY TV, the television service of the City University of New York, today announced its new, expanded free digital broadcast signal on ch. 25.3, which, it says, nearly quadruples its […]

Starting today, CW programming in Burlington, Vt.-Plattsburgh, N.Y. (DMA 97) will be seen on the ch. 5.2 subchannel of Hearst’s NBC affiliate WPTZ. The network previously was carried on a […]

Starting Feb. 4, Hearst’s NBC affiliate in Harrisburg, Pa., will provide a half hour of latenight news an hour earlier (10 p.m.) seven days a week, but it will be broadcast over the air on the station’s ch. 8.2 and on Comcast and Blue Ridge Cable’s systems.

Allbritton-owned ABC affiliate WSET Roanoke, Va. (DMA 66), is now delivering WeatherNation’s national, regional and local weather news in conjunction with WSET weather experts to track around-the-clock coverage of breaking […]

The network will be carried on WDAM’s 7.2 subchannel beginning next Monday, making it ABC’s 242nd affiliate. The station will produce local news as a lead-in to ABC’s Good Morning America, World News and Nightline.

WZZM , the Gannett-owned ABC affiliate in Grand Rapids, Mich. (DMA 42), will replay its 6 a.m. newscast on its ch. 13.2, WZZM 13 On Target Weather Network, Mondays through […]

Perhaps it’s time that buyers take a closer look at TV staitons’ digital subchannels as a stronger option to local cable. They’re available in 100% of TV households, deliver higher ratings and more reach than many top tier cable networks, let alone the smaller niche verticals, all for lower CPMs.

The new network targeted to African-American audiences will appear on a subchannel of Fox’s MNT affiliate.

The Fort Myers, Fla., CBS affiliate is airing WINK News Now 24/7 on ch. 11.2. It includes a steady stream of weather graphics, news updates and repeats of recent WINK newscasts.

The business news weekly aimed at African Americans will be carried on subchannels in New York, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Francisco, Miami and San Diego beginning Feb. 12.

The Hearst NBC affiliate in Baltimore, which has seen a drop in its year-to-year news audience, is adding another newscast on its WBAL Plus subchannel starting March 5 that will be anchored by Kate Amara.

The deal with Raycom Sports for carriage on NBC Philadelphia Nonstop builds on the station’s earlier coverage of ACC football.

Journal Broadcast Group’s ABC affiliate KIVI Boise, Idaho (DMA 112), began offering Retro Television’s programming lineup of classic TV shows on ch. 6.3 in October. “We are very happy to […]

Media General CBS affiliate WBTW Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C. (DMA 103), has added Antenna TV on its ch. 13.2. Antenna TV features a combination of hit movies and classic television shows […]

Baltimore viewers will have an extra hour of locally produced news available starting Oct. 3 when Hearst’s NBC affiliate WBAL adds 60 minutes to its weekday morning newscast. The newcast will air on ch. 11.2, while NBC’s Today airs on the main channel.

What distinguishes this diginet from the host of others vying for subchannel carriage is its heavy emphasis on original programming, which is being produced by the ABC O&Os. It’s leveraging the underutilized talents and facilities of TV stations. And if, as hoped, more get on board, it could become a true programming cooperative where everybody contributes and takes at the same time.