Classic TV Guide Editions: Most and Fewest Stations Listed?

[Stanislav]

About that Montreal-St. Lawrence edition I recalled from my youth....here (shamelessly cribbed from a couple of other sites) is a listing of the stations carried in 1969 (which would have been our last summer in VT) and 1976:

MONTREAL
2 CBFT (CBC)
6 CBMT (CBC)
10 CFTM-TV (IND.)
12 CFCF-TV (CTV)

SHERBROOKE
7 CHLT-TV (CBC)

OTTAWA
4 CBOT (CBC)
9 CBOFT (CBC)
13-8 CJOH-TV (CTV)

KINGSTON
11 CKWS-TV (CBC)

POLAND SPRING
8 WMTW (ABC)

PLATTSBURGH
5 WPTZ (NBC, ABC)

WATERTOWN
7 WWNY-TV (ABC, CBS, NBC)

SYRACUSE
3 WSYR-TV (NBC)
5 WHEN-TV (CBS)
9 WNYS-TV (ABC)

SCHENECTADY
6 WRGB-TV (NBC)

BURLINGTON
3 WCAX-TV (CBS)
22 WVNY-TV (ABC)
33 WETK-TV (NET)

So, that's only a total of 20 stations -- I guess it just seemed like more back in the day. You can see how frustrating it was for me when we could only actually get 2 of those channels. (If we had upgraded to UHF our last year there, we might have had a grand total of *4* with the addition of 22 and 33.)

Well after that, by 1976, the same edition had expanded to 29 stations (31 if you count the footnotes and allowing for the "demotion" of Cornwall to there) with the addition of:

MONTREAL
17 CIVM-TV (R-Q)

SHERBROOKE
9 CKSH-TV (R-C)

TROIS-RIVIERES
13 CKTM-TV (R-C) (Which I would have sworn was listed when I used to see it)

HULL
30 CFVO (TVA)

PEMBROKE
5 CHOV (CBC)

OTTAWA
6 Global
24 (TVO)

BANCROFT
2 Global

WATERTOWN
16 WNPE-TV (PBS)

And it adds "For programs on 6 Deseronto, 8 Cornwall, see [13];
on 18 Norwood, see [16]."

Oddly enough, NOT carried in that edition (if these cribbed listings are accurate) were Albany on 10 & 13. Seems strange that they would carry Schenectady but not Albany. And strange in the sense that, in our neck of the Vermont woods anyway, Albany-Schenectady stations were probably the most-watched "out of market" stations, at least among people we knew who had roof antennas (better ones than our beat-up 15 year old conical with the rotting twin-lead, anyway.....).

 

[bpatrick]

That 1953 Huntington, WV, edition probably
takes the prize for the fewest stations (two),
but I remember that in the late '70s and into
the '80s the St. Louis edition was considered
to have the fewest:

ST. LOUIS

2 KTVI (ABC)
4 KMOX (later KMOV) (CBS)
5 KSDK (NBC)
9 KETC (PBS)
11 KPLR (Ind.)
30 KDNL (Ind.)

MT. VERNON, IL

13 WCEE (Ind.)

But Dallas/Ft. Worth had only six when I
lived there (1976-79):

DALLAS

4 KDFW (CBS)
8 WFAA (ABC)
13 KERA (PBS)
39 KXTX (Ind.)

FT. WORTH

5 KXAS (NBC)
11 KTVT (Ind.)

And I believe the Houston edition had
only six at the time:

2 KPRC (NBC)
8 KUHT (PBS)
11 KHOU (CBS)
13 KTRK (ABC)
26 KDOG (Ind.)
39 KHTV (Ind.)

New Orleans had five:

4 WWL (CBS)
6 WDSU (NBC)
8 WVUE (ABC)
12 WYES (PBS)
26 WGNO (Ind.)

as did Portland:

2 KATU (ABC)
6 KOIN (CBS)
8 KGW (NBC)
10 KOAP (PBS)
12 KPTV (Ind.)

That's usually the rule when an edition covers
only a metro area. Take Dallas/Ft. Worth: the
North Texas edition circulated outside the metro
area, and in addition to the DFW stations it had
Waco/Temple, Abilene/Sweetwater, Wichita Falls/
Lawton, San Angelo, Tyler, and Ada/Ardmore, OK.

A place like South Georgia has a lot of markets
within a relatively small area (Columbus, Macon,
Albany, Tallahassee). The Jacksonville, Dothan,
and Panama City stations get into Georgia; Atlanta's
are on cable all over the place (subject to blackout
of network shows), and Savannah (South Carolina
edition) has coverage in what was South Georgia's
circulation area. So no wonder there were 34 stations
(or 39 if GPTV stations are counted separately).

Now here's a question: what stations showed up in
the most different editions? I'll vote for:

2 WFMY (CBS) Greensboro, NC
5 WRAL (CBS) Raleigh, NC
8 WGHP (Fox) High Point, NC
11 WTVD (ABC) Durham, NC

all being in Central North Carolina, Eastern North
Carolina, and Central Virginia (before it merged with
Eastern Virginia)

also:

57 WYMT (CBS) Hazard, KY (Kentucky, West
Virginia, Bristol/Kingsport/Johnson City)

13 WBTW (CBS) Florence, SC
15 WPDE (ABC) Florence, SC
(South Carolina, Eastern North Carolina, Central
North Carolina)

Others?

 

[Charles1]

Now here's a question: what stations showed up in
the most different editions?

WTVA-9 from Tupelo, MS was listed in the Central Mississippi (Jackson and Meridian), Northern Alabama (Birmingham and Huntsville) and Memphis (western Tennessee and northern Mississippi) editions. Strangely enough, WCBI-4 from Columbus (same market, and further south) was not listed in the Centrai Mississippi edition, though. It was, however, included in the Northern Alabama edition.

In the late 70's, I recall seeing the Gulf Coast Edition (serving Mobile-Pensacola, Biloxi and Panama City primarily), which carried the listings for WWL-4, WDSU-6 and WVUE-8 from New Orleans. Were the listings from those stations in the edition that served Baton Rouge? That would have made three for them.

 

[bpatrick]

WWL, WDSU, and WVUE were in the Louisiana
edition, along with the stations in Baton Rouge,
Lafayette, Alexandria, Lake Charles, and KNOE/8
and the PBS station (Ch. 13, KLTM, I think) in Monroe.

So yes, that makes three for Chs. 4, 6, and 8. I
remember my first exposure to the New Orleans stations
was through the Gulf Coast edition in the early '70s;
I used to be incredulous that Ch. 8 didn't carry any
of the ABC soaps (All My Children, One Life To Live,
and General Hospital, same as now).

 

[Smittian]

The South Texas Edition in the late 70's-early 80's had...

SAN ANTONIO
4-KMOL (NBC)
5-KENS (CBS)
9-KLRN (PBS)
12-KSAT (ABC)
41-KWEX (SIN)

AUSTIN
7- KTBC (CBS)
18-KLRU (PBS)
24-KVUE (ABC)
36-KTVV (NBC)

WACO-TEMPLE
6-KCEN (NBC)
10-KWTX (CBS,ABC)

CORPUS CHRISTI
3-KIII (ABC)
6-KRIS (NBC)
10-KZTV (CBS)
16-KEDT (PBS)
28-KORO (SIN)

LAREDO
8-KGNS (NBC)
13-KVTV (CBS)

RIO GRANDE VALLEY
4- KGBT (CBS)
5- KRGV (ABC)
23-KVEO (NBC)

VICTORIA
19-KXIX (ABC)

 

[Charles1]

Now here's a question: what stations showed up in
the most different editions?

IIRC, WSFA-12 in Montgomery was also included in the South Georgia edition at one time, primarily because it was available on cable systems in Russell County, Alabama (Phenix City, directly adjacent to Columbus, GA), If that's true, then Channel 12 would be another three-edition station (South Alabama, Gulf Coast, and South Georgia). WJHG-7 and WMBB-13 in Panama City, as well as WTVY and WDHN in Dothan, were definitely three edition stations, appearing in all three of the above mentioned editions.

Although their listings were never included in the Northern Alabama edition, WSFA had several ads in that edition in the mid-to-late '70's announcing their new tower that expanded their coverage area. I remember watching them from Birmingham soon after they began broadcasting from that tower, mainly because they carried "Saturday Night Live" when in first came on, and the Birmingham NBC station didn't.

Curiously enough, neither of Birmingham's VHF stations (WBRC-6 and WAPI/WVTM-13) were ever in more than the Northern Alabama edition, even though Channel 6 was available on cable in several towns served by the Southern Alabama edition.

 

[KML0224]

WFSB-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Hartford, CT was in the Hartford/New Haven, New York Metropolitan, Springfield/Chicopee/Holyoke and Providence Editions. I think they even had a spot in the old Boston Edition (along with WWLP) back when Boston had a regular "Channel Listed In" page (before the cable conversion chart took it over).

 

[rwells2265]

IIRC, WSFA-12 in Montgomery was also included in the South Georgia edition at one time, primarily because it was available on cable systems in Russell County, Alabama (Phenix City, directly adjacent to Columbus, GA), If that's true, then Channel 12 would be another three-edition station (South Alabama, Gulf Coast, and South Georgia).

Given 12's presence on cable systems as far away as north Chilton County and - for many years - in Tuscaloosa (!), I'm surprised it didn't have a listing in the North Alabama Edition ... even though the WSFA Tall Tower is well south of Montgomery (there's a really nice view of it from my parents' house outside of Troy), 12 puts out an impressive signal.

Side note: It always puzzled me why WSFA was on the cable in Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama. WSFA has always originated the Sunday afternoon football review show of UA's arch-rival Auburn University ("You're so right, Carl!"). 12's longtime sports anchor has also had an association with AU for eons. In other words, 12 has long been accused of having a pro-Auburn bias ... their mid '90s news set, in hues of orange and blue, only egged on that perception.

Curiously enough, neither of Birmingham's VHF stations (WBRC-6 and WAPI/WVTM-13) were ever in more than the Northern Alabama edition, even though Channel 6 was available on cable in several towns served by the Southern Alabama edition.

I've long wondered the same thing. WBRC has been on Selma's cable system since the beginning of time ... and until the early '90s, WVTM-13 was seen on Prattville's cable -- just across the river from Montgomery!! Places between the two cities, like Clanton, Alexander City, Rockford and Marion, are within reach of Birmingham and Montgomery TV stations.

In a couple of places (south Tennessee, for instance) I saw TWO TV Guide stacks -- each stamped on the cover with their edition (Nashville or North Alabama). Wonder if Clanton did the same thing?

--Russell

 

[JeeperOne]

Hi everyone:

My nomination for the fewest (At least until the 1980s) would have to be the Denver Edition. It only had 5 (6 when KBDI 12 was added) stations listed. They were (Not surprisingly) as follows....

KWGN 2 (Independent)
KOA 4 (NBC - Would later become KCNC in 1981 and switch to CBS in September 1995)
KRMA 6 (PBS - At the time, not part of a group like it is today)
KLZ 7 (CBS - Not sure when they became KMGH except for the fact it was in the 1970s. They would switch to ABC in September 1995)
KBTV 9 (ABC - Would become KUSA sometime in the 1980s in an effort to stay competitive with Channel 4. They would switch to NBC in September 1995)
====================
KBDI 12 (Little known Independent that later signed on with PBS)

Cheers

 

[genius]

Hey Pat just a quick question since I don't have any in my collection(well, I did at one time but have long since thrown them out ) but did the Southern Colorado edition of TV Guide ever carry listings of KREZ in Durango? I can't remember if they did or not(my memory says they did at some point).

 

[genius]

Also in addition in 1954 the Chicago edition just had five stations as well: WBBM, WNBQ, WBKB, WGN, and WTMJ from Milwaukee.

 

[Markxxx]

Here's a fun site that lists TV Guide Editions

http://www.angelfire.com/ne/msittel/Tvged.html

 

[MikeyBos]

Actually, when the Western and Eastern New England editions were broken up around 1979 or 1980, WFSB was listed in the (1) NY Metro, (2) Hartford/New Haven, (3) Springfield/Chicopee/Holyoke, (4) Worcester and (5) Providence editions. Then sometime in the mid/late-80s, the separate Worcester Edition was sort of annexed into the Boston edition, with not only ch. 3 WFSB but also chs. 22 WWLP and 57 WGBY from Springfield being added to the Boston edition for Worcester viewers as well. All three channels would eventually be removed from the edition by the early 90s.

So WFSB was carried in FIVE editions of the TV Guide...something not terribly uncommon in southern New England. Chs. 4 WBZ-TV, 5 WCVB and 7 WNAC/WNEV were all carried in the (1) Boston, (2) Providence, (3) Worcester, (4) Springfield/Chicopee/Holyoke and (5) New Hampshire editions in the early/mid-80s. I also know at times WBZ-TV has been included in the Vermont edition...not sure if that might have been the case at that time which would mean that it would appeared in six editions simultaneously.

WFSB-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Hartford, CT was in the Hartford/New Haven, New York Metropolitan, Springfield/Chicopee/Holyoke and Providence Editions. I think they even had a spot in the old Boston Edition (along with WWLP) back when Boston had a regular "Channel Listed In" page (before the cable conversion chart took it over).

 

[bk77]

KLZ 7 (CBS - Not sure when they became KMGH except for the fact it was in the 1970s. They would switch to ABC in September 1995)
KBTV 9 (ABC - Would become KUSA sometime in the 1980s in an effort to stay competitive with Channel 4. They would switch to NBC in September 1995)

Cheers

KLZ became KMGH in 1972. Actually there is an interesting story about that switch, it was featured in a movie !!
The 1972 Monte Markham/ Telly Savalas horror/sci-fi flick Visions of Death. The movie about a mad bomber declaring war on the state of Colorado by planting bombs in and around Denver, there is one scene I remember where Markham is seen watching a newscaster ( I am pretty sure it was Bob Palmer ) on KLZ-TV 7. One can even hear the announcer saying "This is KLZ TV 7 Denver". Then later in the same movie after a bomb was defused ( the bomber planted one under I-25 and Colfax Ave (?) ) I noticed a TV car with the call letters "KMGH" on it. So those calls must've changed while they made this movie. Good luck in trying to find this flick. I heard the movie people ran into a problem with the King Soopers supermarket chain as the movie filmed some scenes of one their stores without the OK from King Sooper's owner Kroger and I have been told that Kroger actually took legal action against CBS who made the movie after the movie aired once or twice. But even so, Visions of Death has been known to pop up late at night on some cable channels though.

Now for KUSA which was until the mid 80s, KBTV this brings up a Denver TV mystery.

The 1969 John Forsythe/Jean Simmons/Bobby Darin/Shriley Jones flick "The Happy Ending" was filmed in Denver. Simple story..a bored Denver housewife decides to walk out on her husband to try to find herself. In one scene Jean Simmons is leaving a downtown Denver department store ( I heard the movie was filmed in the long defunct Denver Dry Goods chain ). As she leaves the store she gets into a taxi. On the back of the taxi is an ad for KBTV. It says...

9 at 9
in color KBTV Denver

Did KBTV offer a 9pm newscast in 1968/1969 when this flick was made? Was this 9@9 a local Denver talk show that aired at 9am? Years ago I had a friend who for a brief time worked at KUSA and he was saying even they couldn't figure out that sign on the back of the taxi in "The Happy Ending". Anybody know with this 9@9 was?

 

[MACK184]

Interestingly on the flip side the Southeast Pennsylvania edition carried all of Baltimore and WTTG from DC.

The odd thing is, that for the SE PA edition - 2, 11, and 13 were carried, but it wasn't until 1985 or 1986 that 45 was added to the edition.

The Montana edition of the TVG is the one I've seen the most broadcast stations in. South Georgia also comes close.

Oh how I miss TVG.....

Having lived in Montana a long time ago, my guess is that next to Alaska, Montana had probably the fewest stations in the country, the edition covered virtually all of the state, plus the imported signals from ND, Wyoming, Denver and if I'm not mistaken Seattle as well. Watching TV in Montana back in those days was a real adventure, since most of the in-state stations were affilitated with all 3 networks, the local PDs tended to pick and choose the week's offerings and it wasn't unusual to see the "Tuesday Night Movie" running on Friday night and so on. Ahh...the good old days.

 

[bpatrick]

Was Spokane in the Montana edition? I seem to
recall seeing those stations.

 

[jvparent]

Not sure if PAT responded about KREZ, but at various times in the 70s and early 80s KREZ was listed, along with KREY-10 Montrose right next to KREX-5 Grand Junction. There were a few instances where the three stations split apart to provide public service programming, mostly in the mid-afternoon during the 70s.

 

[KML0224]

From the "Channel Listed In" pages the TV stations there used to send me, I seem to remember channels 2 (CBS), 4 (ABC), 6 (NBC) and 7 (PBS) from Spokane getting listed in the Montana Edition. I don't remember if they were listed under broadcast or cable/pay TV.

 

[POOKIE]

Pookie

there were indeed no tv stations in wausau or la crosse until later in 1954, but two stations signed on in madison in late june and early july of 1953. Not sure why they wouldn't be listed in tv guide.

i think the madison stations were listed in another edition of tv guide which included chicago.