ABC Family to rebrand as ABCF

[azumanga]

What if they said "ABCF", but actually spelled out "amily" in small font on the screen. It would still have "Family" in the name, but it may just not be verbalized!

It all depends on what else is in that contract. If ABC Family could get away with doing that, it would've done so years ago.

 

[LKellerIII]

This sounds like just a ploy to drop the "family" name so they can broadcast more adult material. Just like when "the Nashville Network" became TNN and later Spike so they could drop the country music.

ABC Family has been broadcasting more adult material for a long time now. They don't need a name change to do that - but it would look better if they de-emphasize "family." They probably get a lot of complaints from parents who assume that their programming is family oriented, then get a huge shock when they sit down with their 'tweens to watch Secret Life of the American Teenager, which is basically all about the sex lives of a group of under 18 kids.

 

[azumanga]

ABC Family has been broadcasting more adult material for a long time now. They don't need a name change to do that - but it would look better if they de-emphasize "family." They probably get a lot of complaints from parents who assume that their programming is family oriented, then get a huge shock when they sit down with their 'tweens to watch Secret Life of the American Teenager, which is basically all about the sex lives of a group of under 18 kids.

Considering the contract stilpulations, I wonder if ABC Family is programming like that, just to tick Pat Robertson off? He's probably kicking himself for not making the contract more iron-clad.

 

[MarcB]

Considering the contract stilpulations, I wonder if ABC Family is programming like that, just to tick Pat Robertson off? He's probably kicking himself for not making the contract more iron-clad.

DING. Give "azumanga" a cookie. azumanga hit the nail right on the head.

 

[johnnyu]

Who cares??????????????? You don't have enough money to pay me to watch it.

 

[mescutia]

ABC Family has been dead to me since they canceled "The Middleman".

 

[LKellerIII]

Considering the contract stilpulations, I wonder if ABC Family is programming like that, just to tick Pat Robertson off? He's probably kicking himself for not making the contract more iron-clad.

DING. Give "azumanga" a cookie. azumanga hit the nail right on the head.

Uh...sorry, azumanga's a great guy, but I'm taking back the cookie. I'm not buying that a major corporation (Disney, yet) is making programming decisions just to tick off Pat Robertson. Don't get me wrong, I think ticking off Pat Robertson is a wonderful goal ;D

Generally speaking however, corporations make business decisions to make money and generate profits.

I assume ABCF's target audience is 'tweens and young adults. I can assure you that my 14 year old daughter is not tuning in ABCF to see The 700 Club, or the more "wholesome" programming that the network used to run. And personally, I see nothing particularly wrong with a program that discusses sex in a frank and open way with teenagers who are dealing with these issues. I wish TV was doing that when I was a kid.

Like it or not, this is a new age. In an era when anybody can see any kind of sexual or violent content they want on the internet by clicking a button to "certify" that they're 18 (Ha, ha, ha!), and even basic cable channels are pushing the envelope, ABCF has to either catch up or lose viewers. Have you seen what's on the Big 4 broadcast networks lately? Not very "family" oriented.

 

[azumanga]

I'm not buying that a major corporation (Disney, yet) is making programming decisions just to tick off Pat Robertson.

Generally speaking however, corporations make business decisions to make money and generate profits... ABCF has to either catch up or lose viewers. Have you seen what's on the Big 4 broadcast networks lately? Not very "family" oriented.

But still, you have to wonder what is really up with the network, especially one that is required to include "Family" in its name.

 

[LKellerIII]

I'm not buying that a major corporation (Disney, yet) is making programming decisions just to tick off Pat Robertson.

Generally speaking however, corporations make business decisions to make money and generate profits... ABCF has to either catch up or lose viewers. Have you seen what's on the Big 4 broadcast networks lately? Not very "family" oriented.

But still, you have to wonder what is really up with the network, especially one that is required to include "Family" in its name.

What I'd speculate is 'up' is that ABC has "re-purposed" the network, but doesn't want to be too obvious about it, so they're engaging in gradual name re-engineering. You know, like:

Comcast ---Xfinity from Comcast --- Xfinity

or...

Datsun --- Datsun, by Nissan --- Nissan.

If their contract with Robertson really does require "Family" to be in the name, they'll have to use some finesse. But their contract obviously doesn't require them to run only fundamentalist Christian-friendly material, so I suspect their contract mainly requires them to run The 700 Club.

 

[radiolives]

What about ABC Teen as the shows are more for teens then family. Just look at the show Pretty Little Liars and that other show I can't even think the name of, deals with teens in highschool and sex.

 

[MarcB]

There are 3 shows I like watching on ABC Family - Sabrina, Full House, and if I'm up at 7AM - Boy Meets World. Occasionally I'll watch an episode of My Wife and Kids (which I believe is gonna be a Nick at Nite exclusive come September) and Ground For Life.

What's really annoying are the promos for the 4 hour long blocks of America's Funniest Videos which air Thursdays and Fridays 7PM-11PM.

Although it doesn't appear to be my cup of tea ABC Family will begin carrying reruns of "Friday Night Lights" weeknights at 6PM starting Tuesday after Labor Day. Might be a ratings winner for them.

 

[Irishfl]

ABC Family has been broadcasting more adult material for a long time now. They don't need a name change to do that - but it would look better if they de-emphasize "family." They probably get a lot of complaints from parents who assume that their programming is family oriented, then get a huge shock when they sit down with their 'tweens to watch Secret Life of the American Teenager, which is basically all about the sex lives of a group of under 18 kids.

That reminds me of this one time watching c-span 2. It was a senate hearing about parental controls thru cable & if a la carte was needed, and they had a higher up from comcast testifying. One of the things comcast was touting was the fact that they offer a family tier for people who don't like paying for programing they disagree with.

Anyway onne Senator (forget who) asked "Now I noticed you don't have ABC Family on your family tier. Do you find that odd?" The comcast exec simply replied that the channel actually shows alot of programing that doesn't pass its requirements.

Considering the contract stilpulations, I wonder if ABC Family is programming like that, just to tick Pat Robertson off? He's probably kicking himself for not making the contract more iron-clad.

Its too bad old Pat didn't hold out until the TV rating system came into effect. He could've also stipulated nothing over TVG could air on the network. When you look back at this deal, it was on one hand a great deal for Robertson with the lifetime of free programing, yet it shows how naive Pat was to corporate greed. Its obvious Pat stipulated the word family had to stay in the name as a way to control the format the network would be. I mean who would think a network with family in its title would show anything other then family programing...right? Little did he know.

Now what really would've been interested is if someone bought the channel and got creative with the family requirement. Lets see the channel could be called
Not family tv
Family stinks net
Gay & Lesbian family tv (now that would really anger Pat. I bet he withdraw the 700 club airings)
Nude family network (a channel about nudism)

 

[formeraa]

And, now that the gay guy on "Secret Life" has a boyfriend, we're all waiting for the first gay kiss...

Oh wait, that's right, Greek already did that...

I'm sure Pat is thrilled about these developments. :

 

[mescutia]

I wonder if the contract allows Disney to just buy out the contract with Robertson and free itself to do whatever it wants with the channel.






Nah... That would make sense.

 

[azumanga]

I wonder if the contract allows Disney to just buy out the contract with Robertson and free itself to do whatever it wants with the channel.

Nah... That would make sense.

Maybe they did make an offer to Pat, only for him to nix it, saying that the stipulations in the contract are not negotiable or alterable in any way.

 

[Irishfl]

And, now that the gay guy on "Secret Life" has a boyfriend, we're all waiting for the first gay kiss...

Oh wait, that's right, Greek already did that...

I'm sure Pat is thrilled about these developments. :

ABCF should buy the rights to rerun such shows as Queer As Folk, Queer eye for the straight guy, and The L Word. Then air them before and after every 700 club airing.

 

[JayR]

ABCF should buy the rights to rerun such shows as Queer As Folk, Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, and The L Word. Then air them before and after every 700 Club airing.

HA HA HA!!!

That would be a hoot! ;D

 

[LKellerIII]

Its too bad old Pat didn't hold out until the TV rating system came into effect. He could've also stipulated nothing over TVG could air on the network.

That requirement would have seriously affected the value of the network. Not to be cynical, but no corporate buyer in his right mind would pay good money for a network that could only run G rated programming. Remember, it was Rupert Murdoch and News Corp owned it first and sold it to Disney. Murdoch is notorious for pushing the envelope.

 

[MarcB]

Remember, it was Rupert Murdoch and News Corp owned it first and sold it to Disney. Murdoch is notorious for pushing the envelope.

Maybe so, but I recall when FOX Family launched they showed cartoons/kids shows most of the day. I don't remember what else they were running.

 

[LKellerIII]

Remember, it was Rupert Murdoch and News Corp owned it first and sold it to Disney. Murdoch is notorious for pushing the envelope.

Maybe so, but I recall when FOX Family launched they showed cartoons/kids shows most of the day. I don't remember what else they were running.

You're correct that the 'envelope' was not 'pushed' in this case until Disney took over. Nevertheless, I can't see Murdoch hemming himself in with the requirement to run only TVG rated programming. Even Robertson himself is a businessman, and principles only go so far. I doubt he would have eroded the value of his property by demanding such a requirement. His main concern seemed to be that The 700 Club should not become an orphan program without a network.

It also occurs to me that Disney can say with some confidence that they DO provide a network with only family friendly programming - called the Disney Channel.