.2 Network dead at the gate?

[azumanga]

According to the latest revision of the Wikipedia article for the .2 Network, the website for them, which originally featured plenty of information about the channel, is now nothing more than its logo and a phone number. An editor there tried calling them, and got a message saying that that number was out of service.

Its sister channel in Columbus, GTN, is still alive and well, with a full website (though with a link to .2 Network's site). GTN was demoted from full-powered WSFJ to low-powered W23BZ when the owners sold WSFJ to TBN for seed money to start up .2 Network, getting TBN's low-powered transmitter in Columbus in the process to keep GTN going from there (though this move costed them carriage on Time Warner Cable).

So, is this the end of .2 Network, before it even started at all?

 

[cd637299]

No idea, but I think .2 Network has been talked about now for more'n 2 years now.

This TV may be as close as can be to what .2 intended.

BTW....soapbox....isn't there an opportunity, with subchannels & such, to start a classic TV network---a TRUE classic TV network OTA? RTV won't cut it, with the limited reruns available.....TV Land has gone reality/1990s/etc....This TV has not enough classic series, just movies....

Won't anyone take a chance?

cd

 

[Markxxx]

I live in Chicago and ME-TV (comedy) and Me-Too (drama) do this exactly.

I don't know why Weigel (the owners) can make it work in Chicago, perhaps it's market specific.

 

[cd637299]

I want my ME-TV! Oops I don't live in Chicago.

cd

 

[FightingIrish]

No idea, but I think .2 Network has been talked about now for more'n 2 years now.

This TV may be as close as can be to what .2 intended.

BTW....soapbox....isn't there an opportunity, with subchannels & such, to start a classic TV network---a TRUE classic TV network OTA? RTV won't cut it, with the limited reruns available.....TV Land has gone reality/1990s/etc....This TV has not enough classic series, just movies....

Won't anyone take a chance?

cd

RTV just needs to pony up more money to get stuff other than the old Universal shows they air. I heard Paramount/CBS/Viacom or whoever demanded too much money for broadcast rights to their old shows that weren't being aired anywhere else anyway. Hence, RTV's offerings got a bit smaller a couple years ago. Perhaps RTV's programming (and overall appearance) will improve once they get more money. Otherwise, that's the closest you'll get. Is American Life still around?

I live in Chicago and ME-TV (comedy) and Me-Too (drama) do this exactly.

I don't know why Weigel (the owners) can make it work in Chicago, perhaps it's market specific.

MeTV is also on a Weigel station in Milwaukee (albeit only on channel 49, where they mix comedies, dramas, movies, etc.). Milwaukee already has a station (FOX6) that carries RTV on a subchannel, added long after MeTV came on there. Both have successfully avoided overlap issues. Lots of old shows out there, after all. Some obscure, forgotten stuff airs too. Never heard of "Run For Your Life" until it landed on RTV here. Same with "Naked City" on MeTV.

Weigel's big on the subchannel thing. They are part-owners of This TV (with MGM).

 

[Robnoxious]

I always knew and have said on this very board that the .2 Network would never see the light of day. When they pushed their initial launch date from right around Analog Television Sunset to another date "To Be Determined" they were dead in the water. They obviously didn't have the capital they claimed to have had to light it up. I checked .2's webpage periodically and after the 8th or 9th time of noticing it's homepage never changed a thing, I knew it was a dead placeholder for a pipe dream long since passed.

THIS-TV and Weigel smartly struck while the iron was still hot and now can boast 85%+ total U.S. saturation.

It's too bad no one outside of home shopping/infomercials, Godcasters and foreign language programming are really utilizing DTV subchannels. RTV with their extremely narrow selection of episodes hardly cuts it. DTV was supposed to open up more choices but it seems it only opened up more choices of the things most television viewers would rather go without.

 

[JayR]

DTV was supposed to open up more choices but it seems it only opened up more choices of the things most television viewers would rather go without.

Absolutely correct!

WFTX, the FOX affiliate which serves the Fort Myers/Naples market, picked up LATV for its subchannel. Talk about worthless! None of the programs, including CMLL, compel me to tune in.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

As far as RTV goes, I don't think they will be coming into "more money" anytime soon. They've lost two affiliates in Kentucky (one in the Evansville market and one in the Paducah market). And although I haven't looked into it, I would be surprised if this is not a trend elsewhere.

 

[dave73]

I always knew and have said on this very board that the .2 Network would never see the light of day. When they pushed their initial launch date from right around Analog Television Sunset to another date "To Be Determined" they were dead in the water. They obviously didn't have the capital they claimed to have had to light it up. I checked .2's webpage periodically and after the 8th or 9th time of noticing it's homepage never changed a thing, I knew it was a dead placeholder for a pipe dream long since passed.

THIS-TV and Weigel smartly struck while the iron was still hot and now can boast 85%+ total U.S. saturation.

It's too bad no one outside of home shopping/infomercials, Godcasters and foreign language programming are really utilizing DTV subchannels. RTV with their extremely narrow selection of episodes hardly cuts it. DTV was supposed to open up more choices but it seems it only opened up more choices of the things most television viewers would rather go without.

In Chicago, Weigel's WCIU added low power stations, WWME-LD (MeTV) & WMEU-CA (MeToo) to their subchannels, along with This TV (part owner of this channel), & their original brokered ethnic programming, FBT.

WLS-TV has Livewell HD on 7.2 & is also in 720p HD, though it can't handle HD very well. There's also Accuweather on 7.3.

WTTW is also utilizing their subchannels by having their main channel on 11.1, locally programmed WTTW Prime (an all Primetime PBS channel) on 11.2, Create on 11.3, & V-Me on 11.4.

I don't know how other markets compare, but I don't find Universal Sports worth watching on WMAQ 5.3, Ion TV and all subchannels Qubo (not a kid, so it's not marketed to me) and practically saw everything on Ion Life (WCPX 38.1 - 38.3). Mhz Worldview varies from time to time, but I rarely watch it on WYCC 20.3. WYCC wastes a channel by simulcasting their main channel on 20.2, WXFT also simulcasts 60.1 on 60.2. WYIN also simulcasts 56.1 on 56.2 & 56.4, but added PBS Kids Go to 56.3 a couple of months ago. WYIn also wastes bandwidth by having 56.2 a simulcast, plus having that channel along with 56.1 in 720p each. 56.3 & 56.4 are 480i, but in widescreen. I'm not sure if that's a bad thing or not. WJYS is an overall waste of a channel by airing mostly infomercials on 62.1 & 62.4 with some brokered religious programming, and have low power station WEDE-CA on 62.2.

WFLD, WPWR-TV, WGBO-DT, WGN-TV, & WBBM-TV have no subchannels. Not sure the reason for WFLD/WPWR-TV as they're sister stations. Also not sure about WGBO-DT. Supposedly, WGN-TV will have a subchannel in the future, but not sure what it might be. They lost The Tube when it went off the air, and lost LATV a couple of months ago, or maybe 3 months ago to low power digital station WOCK-CD. As we know, WBBM-TV can't have subchannels because CBS O&O stations (that includes their independent & CW stations) don't allow subchannels in order for all the bandwidth to be available to the station.

 

[FreddyE1977]

is .2 the network formally known as White Springs TV (the remnants of the former Chuck Harder empire?)
If so it is well-documented that they don't have two nickels to rub together anymore.

 

[azumanga]

is .2 the network formally known as White Springs TV (the remnants of the former Chuck Harder empire?)

No -- it's a network founded by the Guardian Entertainment Group in Columbus, Ohio, a family broadcaster who were the founders of WSFJ (see original post).

 

[Carmine5]

is .2 the network formally known as White Springs TV (the remnants of the former Chuck Harder empire?)

No -- it's a network founded by the Guardian Entertainment Group in Columbus, Ohio, a family broadcaster who were the founders of WSFJ (see original post).

I actually wrote Dave Wilson, Director of Programming, at Guardian Entertainment about The Dot 2 Network a couple of months ago. I was seriously considering carrying them on my LDTV station in California.

Here in part was his reply:

"At this time, the network is still in the development stage. Our current programming contracts greatly limit the number of "primary" stations we are allowed to carry across the country, so we are currently focusing on digital tier opportunities as we search for affiliates. The future of the network will be greatly impacted by the final decision on the spectrum return policies currently in discussion in Washington."

It sounds to me as if they're having some contractual problems in getting the programs cleared for airing. Of course, at the heart of nearly all such problems is money. Too bad. I thought .2 had great potential.

On a different note, RTV is currently experimenting with HD on a couple of stations in Florida. So we may begin seeing RTV in HD nationwide soon. Also, Luken Communications is planning another RTV-type network which is set to launch this fall. This new "network will feature a mix of animated and live action shows," according to their press release.

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2010/08/09/44308/luken-to-debut-kidsboomers-network

c5

 

[avtosalon]

WFLD, WPWR-TV, WGBO-DT, WGN-TV, & WBBM-TV have no subchannels.

WGN-TV does have a sub-channel. Although not everyone can tell that it's there because the sub-channel isn't mapped.

Currently airing on 19-4 is the message screen regarding LATV:

LATV

LATV ya no es parte de nuestra
programacion digital. Gracias por
sintonizar.

LATV is no longer part of our digital programming
line-up. Thanks for watching.

For some reason, my converter boxes can not receive this channel, but my HDTV can. Probabaly a good idea to yank 19-4 off the air, so 9-1's picture can be the best possible.


For those who want to know, here is a complete list of Weigel's current 'Me' stations:

Chicago
Digital 23-1 'Me TV' WCIU-TV, actual Channel 27
Digital 23-2 'Me TV' WWME-LD, actual Channel 39 (low power)
Digital 26-2 'Me TV' WCIU-TV, actual Channel 27
Digital 26-3 'Me Too' WCIU-TV, actual Channel 27
Digital 48-1 'Me Too' WCIU-TV, actual Channel 27
Analog 48 'Me Too' WMEU-CA Blue Island, IL (low power)

Milwaukee
Digital 49-1 'Me TV' WBME-TV Racine, WI, actual Channel 48
Analog 63 'Me TV' WYTU-LP (low power)

South Bend (not branded as 'Me TV')
Digital 69-1 'my Michiana' WMYS-LD, actual Channel 23 (low power)
Analog 69 'my Michiana' WMYS-LP (low power)

 

[azumanga]

It sounds to me as if [.2 is] having some contractual problems in getting the programs cleared for airing. Of course, at the heart of nearly all such problems is money. Too bad. I thought .2 had great potential.

With Tribune's new Antenna TV service including several programs from the Sony Pictures library, I think it'll be tougher for .2 to survive at this point. And considering that many new subchannel services have opened up to varying degrees of success, I think .2's ship had already sailed.

 

[dave73]

Analog 48 'Me Too' WMEU-CA Blue Island, IL (low power)

Actually, WMEU-CA is no longer licensed to Blue Island. Weigel had the COL changed to Chicago, though the original entry still lists it as Blue Island, and Weigel never had it removed. That was because it was a translator for one of the big religious broadcasters before Weigel bought it. When they tested out the signal from the Sears Tower in 2004, they ID'd as W48DD Blue Island/Chicago. Once it went on the air with actual programming, the WFBT-CA call letters were moved to that channel, along with changing the COL to Chicago. I'm just waiting to see when it goes digital, and if I'll get the station, as I have a difficult time getting WWME-LD OTA. I do get it via WCIU 23.1/26.2 with no trouble.

 

[avtosalon]

Actually, WMEU-CA is no longer licensed to Blue Island.

According to the FCC website, shown on the first listing, the COL is Blue Island, Illinois. I wanted my list to reflect what the FCC indicates.

I know that only 'Chicago' is used on the air, and the listings below the first one have 'Chicago'. The station has 'Special Temporary Authority' to change the COL to 'Chicago', which means that is temporary and could change back if the 'Construction Permit' is not built.

By the way, analog Channel 23 WWME-CA (which now simlucasts Weigel's primary station WCIU-TV 26-1), was originally licensed to Mokena, Illinois.


http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=9382

 

[dave73]

Actually, WMEU-CA is no longer licensed to Blue Island.

According to the FCC website, shown on the first listing, the COL is Blue Island, Illinois. I wanted my list to reflect what the FCC indicates.

I know that only 'Chicago' is used on the air, and the listings below the first one have 'Chicago'. The station has 'Special Temporary Authority' to change the COL to 'Chicago', which means that is temporary and could change back if the 'Construction Permit' is not built.

By the way, analog Channel 23 WWME-CA (which now simlucasts Weigel's primary station WCIU-TV 26-1), was originally licensed to Mokena, Illinois.


http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=9382

If you look at the original license for WMEU-CA, the transmitter was near Mokena, according to the GPS Coordinates. The rest of the entries are for Chicago on the Sears Tower. Now I don't know why the original entry wasn't deleted is unknown. Whenever WMEU-CA becomes WMEU-LD and goes digital, it'll definitely be Chicago.

As for WWME-CA; I don't remember a channel 23 being licensed to Mokena. The few times in the early 90's that I picked up a 23 that was licensed to Palatine, Illinois. I don't know if both were on at the same time, but I picked up a Palatine 23.


Now as for the original topic of the .2 Network. I heard about this 2 years ago on the news. It sounded like something I would have been interested in watching, if it ever got on the air. The people who tried to get the .2 Network screwed up big time. Selling their full power station was the biggest mistake they made. What they should have done instead was initially lease out a subchannel or 2 to other broadcasters to try to fund the .2 Network (or they should have created a brokered channel to raise some money). Maybe going with one of the most expensive movie & syndication packages also hurt them at funding their potential network.

So when Antenna TV goes on the air, I see this as sealing the fate of the .2 Network. They'll have many of the programs that .2 Network would have carried. Besides, I don't know what stations in each market would have been willing to carry the channel. In Chicago, Weigel Broadcasting already has MeTV & MeToo in Chicago & MeTV in Milwaukee (Antenna TV might be a threat to locally produced MeTV & MeToo in Chicago), and WCIU is already maxed out on bandwidth. So WCIU is out on both bandwidth, & the fact that MeTV & MeToo are smiulcasted on WCIU's 23.1/26.2 & 26.3/48.1. Weigel wouldn't have even carried .2 on WWME-LD, as it would have competed with MeTV, MeRoo, and to an extent, WCIU. WBBM-TV isn't allowed to have subchannels per CBS. WMAQ is maxed out on bandwidth, and they're probably mandated by NBC to carry Universal Sports. WLS-TV is also maxed out on bandwidth due to HD content on both 7.1 & 7.2, plus all ABC O&O stations carry Livewell HD & a localized/nationalized version of Accuweather. WGN-TV is carrying their upcoming Antenna TV on 9.2. WFLD (Fox) & WPWR-TV (MNT) so far have no subchannels, though WPWR-TV has a mobile DTV channel mapped to 51.6 (can be picked up on some TV's) that shows a weather radar. WCPX is Ion TV, and they're not giving up Qubo & Ion Life on their subchannels. WSNS (Telemundo) has no plans to carry anything English, as well as WXFT (Telefutura) & WGBO-DT (Univision).