Anything going on with the "i Network"

[PaulKTF]

What happened to their pledge to show independent programing? All I ever see are informercials and the same re-runs they had when they were Pax. What was the point of the re-branding if it's the same exact network we had before?

 

[Tig1150]

Since they changed to 'i" people have left, more changes have been made. The true plan for 'i" is far from set.

 

[PaulKTF]

Since they changed to 'i" people have left, more changes have been made. The true plan for 'i" is far from set.

So in other words; they're clueless and have no idea what to do with it? Just great... :

 

[MarcB]

As I've posted on this board previously. A friend of mine called up Channel 26 in New London, Connecticut and asked them what the purpose of the 'i" network was. The person who answered the phone told him it was for independent program producers to buy time on the network so that their shows could air coast to coast. He was also told a program producer could also buy time on just one "i" station too. At the time he called them there were just two program producers buying time on the network - Gaither Gospel and a brother/sister holy-roller team named Wendy & Rory. Since I rarely watch the network (outside of the Family Feud reruns) I don't know if Wendy & Rory are even still on.My response: Gee this sounds a lot like Leased Access on Cable.

 

[Louis_009]

I thought DIRECTV will drop the "I" channel a few months ago but it still on DIRECTV. I really dont watch that channel as they have alot of paid promgs on there all day and few shows....

 

[DJKraze]

I'm surprised this network still exists, they must be close to going under soon, even with that said, I'm not seeing 24/7 infomercials here on WHPX. Ok, alot of them on the main channel but on the DTV-2 sub channel which is showing the raw, "I" feed, they have quite a bit of time filled, most of the afternoon and evening at least. They should run this programming on the main channel (WHPX-DT1)

 

[TexasTom]

Re: Anything going on with the "i Network"? Yes!

Apparently no one here has noticed that something is going on with the "i" network this fall -- a partnership with NBC to launch a new bilingual kids service. This will launch in September with weekend morning programming on NBC, Telemundo, and "i", and will eventually extend to weekdays on "i" and to a full-time digital multi-cast on the "i" stations.Probably not what most of us here are looking for -- but it is something other than infomercials and reruns that will be on "i" this fall. And it also marks at least some sort of a serious attempt to offer a new broadcast TV kids' network service...something that has the potential to provide a real service in a market that has largely consigned children's programs to cable TV.

 

[jal41]

Re: Anything going on with the "i Network"? Yes!

Apparently no one here has noticed that something is going on with the "i" network this fall -- a partnership with NBC to launch a new bilingual kids service. This will launch in September with weekend morning programming on NBC, Telemundo, and "i", and will eventually extend to weekdays on "i" and to a full-time digital multi-cast on the "i" stations.

NBC Universal has a deal with Ion (former Paxson) to either buy "i" or find a buyer for it within the next 2 years. Unfortunantly, NBCU owns duopolies in many markets, so they cannot buy all of the local "i" stations, unless they divest something.NBC Universal or not, the "i" stations will have a new owner within the next couple of years. NBCU may be using this to prop up the selling price of these stations for Ion to make them attractive to potential buyers."i" has been dead since 1998 (when it started as PAX). Hopefully this waste of bandwidth will be gone very shortly.

 

[mr_mark_taylor]

I'm surprised this network still exists, they must be close to going under soon, even with that said, I'm not seeing 24/7 infomercials here on WHPX. Ok, alot of them on the main channel but on the DTV-2 sub channel which is showing the raw, "I" feed, they have quite a bit of time filled, most of the afternoon and evening at least. They should run this programming on the main channel (WHPX-DT1)

I believe Pax runs a classic TV (mostly public domain stuff) network on their digital feeds...also some of their affiliates carry other programming during the day (either an affiliation with America One, Family Net, etc.)

 

[TexasTom]

Re: Anything going on with the "i Network"? Yes!

NBC Universal has a deal with Ion (former Paxson) to either buy "i" or find a buyer for it within the next 2 years. Unfortunantly, NBCU owns duopolies in many markets, so they cannot buy all of the local "i" stations, unless they divest something.NBC Universal or not, the "i" stations will have a new owner within the next couple of years. NBCU may be using this to prop up the selling price of these stations for Ion to make them attractive to potential buyers."i" has been dead since 1998 (when it started as PAX). Hopefully this waste of bandwidth will be gone very shortly.

They're struggling under a mountain of debt, but I wouldn't declare them dead quite yet. Bud Paxson was just recently forced out, and I think it is only fair to give his replacement a few months before we declare him a failure. As for NBC/GE, I've got no doubt that they want to be able to cash out of Ion when they can. But they also are smart enough to know that they'll make more money if the Ion station group is sold as a going, cash-flowing business, rather than as a turn-around. So I suspect that they'll give the new guy enough time to show whether he can succeed or not.

 

[KML0224]

I haven't watched more than maybe 5 minutes of I/PAX since PAX started in 1998. Not of any interest for me. Not now, not ever.

 

[retrothoughts]

The "i" station in the Tampa Bay area, channel 66 [cable 17 on many systems], shows Devil Rays baseball and Magic basketball games, so it can be argued that in at least one market area, "i" is being used for local sports. Makes you wonder why it hasn't been applied elsewhere, unless there's something I don't know.