ANTENNA TV SUB-CHANNEL READY TO GO IN 30+ MARKETS

[gregg75]

Tribune's Antenna TV, a new sub-channel network has already lined up over 30 affilates. The over the air sub-channel will broadcast on Jan 1, 2011 and air shows like Three's Company, Married....With Children, All In The Family, Sanford & Son, Good Times, Partridge Family, Maude, The Nanny, Three Stoogies, Benny Hill, Donna Reed, Dennis The Menace, etc.

AFFILIATES
WPIX New York
KTLA L.A.
WGN Chicago
WHPL Philadelphia
KDAF Dallas
WDCW Washington D.C.
KIAH Houston
KZIO Seattle
WAFL Miami
KWGN Denver
here's the complete list http://www.wgnamerica.com/shows/antenna/affiliates/ Other cities are

Cleveland, Sacramento, St. Louis, Portland, Indianapolis, San Diego, Hartford, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, Milwaukee, Harrisburg, Grand Rapids, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Greensboro, Memphis,
New Orleans, Wilkes-Barre, Richmond, Des Moines, Huntsville, Davenport.

 

[Robnoxious]

Hmm, with KTLA all ready housing THIS-TV and Antenna-TV shortly, I wonder how much of a hit KTLA's main HD channel will take? I figure Ant-TV will be 4:3 SD format (just like THIS) since all of the shows are from the SD era. I ask because KABC's main channel looks like crap but that's because they split the bandwidth with their LiveWell HD sub (completely worthless to be in HD IMHO) and an AccuWeather forecast channel.

That said, Ant-Tv's lineup looks like a great place to park the clicker when nothing else is on.

 

[dave73]

I can't wait for the channel to go live. Part of the lineup looks good. I only hope there doesn't end up a problem with part of the lineup, as Weigel Broadcasting also shows Married With Children, Maude, All In The Family, Good Times, Sanford & Son, The Nanny, Three Stooges, & Dennis The Menace on WWME-LD/WCIU 26.2 (MeTV). Weigel Broadcasting might be concerned that they may lose the rights to these shows in Chicago, as they have their own local Classic TV channel. MeTV is their Classic Comedy channel & MeToo is their Classic Drama channel.

To Robnoxious: I believe it'll only be a 480i 4:3 channel too, as for the reason you mentioned. I don't know how much it'll affect KTLA, but I don't see it taking a hit on WGN-TV, since they've only had 1 subchannel from the time they had The Tube, and later, LATV (that was moved to WOCK-CD). Adding more than 1 subchannel to 1080i HD stations does affect HD. Just look at NBC O&O stations that also carry Universal Sports, and eventually, all NBC O&O stations with NBC on them will have their own version of Nonstop, which uses more bandwidth than carrying just a weather radar channel. ABC O&O stations (excet for WJRT Flint Michiagn & WTVG Toledo Ohio) all have Livewell Network in HD, which does look like crap. ABC has no intention of eliminating HD from that channel, though they know Belo will be the first broadcast company outside of ABC O&O stations to carry Livewell in SD instead of HD. For Belo, 2 stations are ABC, 2 are CBS, & 1 NBC. In Chicagoland, WYIN out of Merrillville Indiana (station licensed to Gary Indiana) also broadcasts 2 720p HD channels, and that looks like crap, along with 2 widescreen 480i channels.

 

[Markxxx]

From the Website only, Benny Hill, Three's Company and Two Close For Comfort are the only shows on Antenna TV that are not on ME-TV in Chicago.

I would rather ME-TV lose the rights as they have a lot of other shows to replace them with. I'm not sure if Tribune could replace those shows.

I really hope they just don't share the shows, no need to have duplicates in the same market. Already Weigel shares the Andy Griffith Show and Family Guy with WGN

 

[gregg75]

To Dave in Chicago
I'm thinking there must be some rule or something that lets sub-channels show the same programs as already seen locally. I know in Atlanta THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES are on TV 57 and also a sub-channel on Oldie Goldie TV 32 WANN. There must be some way of getting around that.

You'll notice in the list there is no station signed up for Atlanta. I think the hold up is that WANN (the most likely choice) is a low power channel and Tribune is probably holding out for a better signal and station if they can get it. I hope we do get it, as alternative programs (such as the new HUB) come in handy sometimes.

 

[JayR]

AFFILIATES
WPIX New York
KTLA L.A.
WGN Chicago
WHPL Philadelphia
KDAF Dallas
WDCW Washington D.C.
KIAH Houston
KZIO Seattle
WAFL Miami
KWGN Denver

It's actually WSFL.

 

[MCNDRWS]

I'm wondering if Antenna TV will replace RTV in some markets. WNEP-16 In the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA. market is currently running RTV on 16-2.

 

[gregg75]

Possible. I know there have been some complaints about RTV (showing the same shows over so quickly, technical issues). They could always put it on 16.3 though.

 

[Darth_vader]

Antenna TV markets already cleared.
More to come.

...*snip*...

Portland, OR 	KRCW

Looks like I'll be monitoring 32-02 AND/OR 32-03.....

 

[azumanga]

I'm thinking there must be some rule or something that lets sub-channels show the same programs as already seen locally. I know in Atlanta THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES are on TV 57 and also a sub-channel on Oldie Goldie TV 32 WANN. There must be some way of getting around that.

Maybe one or both of these stations run public domain episodes -- the same ones you find on the cheapie DVD sets at the dollar store.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I'm pretty sure shows like "The Beverly Hillbillies" are not in the public domain, and have rights owned by SOMEONE. Those rights may be cheap and non-exclusive at this point, tho.



Antenna TV is tabbed for WJW "Fox 8" here, and apparently, all of the Local TV stations - many of which are former mid-market Fox O&Os. Tribune basically runs Local TV in its management agreement.

 

[tripinva]

No, a number of episodes fell into the public domain.

- Trip

 

[cd637299]

Not sure which station it was, but I believe I've seen some Hillbillies eps where the theme song was dubbed over with generic bluegrass music; apparently major rights issues. Definitely PD.

WSFL in Miami currently has 39-1 WSFL, 39-2 Azteca TV, and 39-3 This TV. I wonder if Antenna TV will be an extra sub for WSFL, or will replace This.

cd

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Sure enough:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beverly_Hillbillies

Many episodes of the first two seasons of the series are in the public domain because CBS, having bought the rights to the series shortly after its cancellation, neglected to renew their copyrights. As a result, these episodes have been unofficially released on home video and DVD on many low-budget labels and shown on low-power television stations and low-budget networks in 16 mm prints. In many video prints of the public domain episodes, the original and much-loved theme music has been replaced by generic music due to copyright issues.

The usual Wikipedia Grain of Salt supplied, though this sounds like it might be legit.

 

[FightingIrish]

Sure enough:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beverly_Hillbillies

Many episodes of the first two seasons of the series are in the public domain because CBS, having bought the rights to the series shortly after its cancellation, neglected to renew their copyrights. As a result, these episodes have been unofficially released on home video and DVD on many low-budget labels and shown on low-power television stations and low-budget networks in 16 mm prints. In many video prints of the public domain episodes, the original and much-loved theme music has been replaced by generic music due to copyright issues.

The usual Wikipedia Grain of Salt supplied, though this sounds like it might be legit.

Sounds like the "Night Of The Living Dead" scenario. Namely, not old enough to be public domain, but someone forgot to renew the copyrights.

 

[FightingIrish]

I can't wait for the channel to go live. Part of the lineup looks good. I only hope there doesn't end up a problem with part of the lineup, as Weigel Broadcasting also shows Married With Children, Maude, All In The Family, Good Times, Sanford & Son, The Nanny, Three Stooges, & Dennis The Menace on WWME-LD/WCIU 26.2 (MeTV). Weigel Broadcasting might be concerned that they may lose the rights to these shows in Chicago, as they have their own local Classic TV channel. MeTV is their Classic Comedy channel & MeToo is their Classic Drama channel.

To Robnoxious: I believe it'll only be a 480i 4:3 channel too, as for the reason you mentioned. I don't know how much it'll affect KTLA, but I don't see it taking a hit on WGN-TV, since they've only had 1 subchannel from the time they had The Tube, and later, LATV (that was moved to WOCK-CD). Adding more than 1 subchannel to 1080i HD stations does affect HD. Just look at NBC O&O stations that also carry Universal Sports, and eventually, all NBC O&O stations with NBC on them will have their own version of Nonstop, which uses more bandwidth than carrying just a weather radar channel. ABC O&O stations (excet for WJRT Flint Michiagn & WTVG Toledo Ohio) all have Livewell Network in HD, which does look like crap. ABC has no intention of eliminating HD from that channel, though they know Belo will be the first broadcast company outside of ABC O&O stations to carry Livewell in SD instead of HD. For Belo, 2 stations are ABC, 2 are CBS, & 1 NBC. In Chicagoland, WYIN out of Merrillville Indiana (station licensed to Gary Indiana) also broadcasts 2 720p HD channels, and that looks like crap, along with 2 widescreen 480i channels.

I never understood why ABC hasn't plugged in their "ABC News Now" service on affiliate subchannels. IIRC, they did do this briefly a few years ago. They're not very popular on cable (crowded out by the usual suspects), but perhaps they could find a subchannel niche. NBC seemed to have a weather niche a few years ago until they gave up Weather Plus (when they bought TWC). Always thought ABC could do the same with their news channel (and perhaps make their affiliates happy).

Live Well Network sounds pretty boring.

 

[pab]

ABC tried "ABC News Now" on subchannels of its O&O's (and offered it to other affiliates) years ago. It flopped. My favorite moment was one program where the host closed with "thank you both for watching." I'm still looking for the other guy.

 

[anotherguyTN]

Sure enough:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beverly_Hillbillies

Many episodes of the first two seasons of the series are in the public domain because CBS, having bought the rights to the series shortly after its cancellation, neglected to renew their copyrights. As a result, these episodes have been unofficially released on home video and DVD on many low-budget labels and shown on low-power television stations and low-budget networks in 16 mm prints. In many video prints of the public domain episodes, the original and much-loved theme music has been replaced by generic music due to copyright issues.

The usual Wikipedia Grain of Salt supplied, though this sounds like it might be legit.

This could possibly be the explanation for why some episodes of the Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke, and Lucy Shows are in PD as well.

 

[gregg75]

You're right! They are showing the oldest Beverly Hillbillies episodes. Thanks for clearing that up.

Now, back to Dave's original question. Could it be the rights that Weigel Broadcasting has for those shows in Chicago expire on Jan 1st? Or could Weigel have made some kind of DEAL with Antenna TV?

 

[MattParker]

The Tribute station around here is current running THAT on its sub-channel. Lots of old TV shows and cheap movies, including the Ziv collection: Bat Masterson, Sea Hunt and - my personal favorite - Highway Patrol. Plus Outer Limits, Mr. Ed and Patty Duke. I guess this means Tribune has switched to a new package. I'm going to miss Broderick Crawford. 10-4?