Did your TV stations use to replace their "reruns" in the summer?

[Markxxx]

In Chicago, where I live, WGN and WFLD and WSNS (before it went pay) used to air rerun of sitcoms, like every other market. But in the summer all three stations would take these reruns off the air and replace them. In other words give them a chance to "not grow stale."

WSNS stopped when it went pay and about the mid 1980s WGN and WFLD stopped doing this, having their reruns go year round or at least till the new fall crop of network shows went into reruns.

For instance WFLD would air "Mash," "All In The Family," "Happy Days," Then in June - August they'd go to "I Love Lucy," "Munsters" and other shows.

Was this just in Chicago or did other Markets used to do this too?

 

[bhayes1016]

Yep, the indies in Houston and Dallas did that too.

 

[bpatrick]

Network affiliates did it,too. In an early 1970s post from
Western North Carolina, I show Judd For The Defense
at 4:30 on WLOS/13 Asheville, NC. At the time WLOS
ran Perry Mason at 4:30 from September to about June;
since Judd lasted only two seasons they could play the
whole series over the summer and give Perry (who lasted
nine seasons) a break.

 

[mleach]

Washington DC's WTTG and WDCA did this back in the 70s and 80s. However quite often it was the sitcoms that would be dropped in favor of more adventure/drama shows such as the 6 Million Dollar Man, White Shadow, Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, even Switch. Interesting I remember when WDCA called this practice "Youth Watch" or something like that

On the flip side in Baltimore, WBFF more/less stayed with its schedule year round.

 

[jh]

I remember KCRG in Cedar Rapids doing this back in the 70s. Whatever it was they were running at 6 or 6:30 pm would go on hiatus during the summer, with Gilligan's Island moving into that slot. Gilligan's Island normally ran at 9:30am, but during the summer that slot was filled with travel films the station apparently got free.

KCRG also had F Troop, which they only ran during the summer and to fill an odd half-hour on weekend afternoons.

I remember in the late 70s or early 80s, a couple of syndicators putting together packages of 13-week or one-season sit coms to be run during the summer months. I don't remember what series were involved, but remember seeing ads for the packages in Broadcasting magazine.

 

[Braves2005]

One summer in 1981,KMOL(WOAI) in San Antonio showed The Big Valley,Andy Griffith,and Hogan's Heroes. The prior summer in 1980,they showed Petticoat Junction(the only time that I can think of the show was in reruns in San Antonio)
,The Munsters and The Addams Family. This replaced reruns of Happy Days which aired early in the afternoons and syndicated fare such as World Of People.

KENS 5 did the same during the summer as well around that time showing reruns of Bonanza(they were showing the 1967-1970 episodes only,no episodes with Pernell Roberts in there),and Alias Smith And Jones. In the early 80's,for a brief time KENS aired reruns of Gilligan's Island and I Love Lucy during the summer as well.

 

[Maine-i-ac]

In the 80's, Bangor ME CBS affiliate WABI took off what I think was "Dukes of Hazzard" airing at 4:30 to put on a package from Columbia/Screen Gems of "The Monkees" and "Gidget". I recall that being aired heavily in I think '86.

When I was in Connecticut in 80/81 I recall WNEW 5 in New York airing "Three's Company" during the fall/winter/spring and being replaced for the summer by its British counterpart "Man About The House".

 

[classictvfan]

Mark, are you the poster who used to be MarkD?

 

[Markxxx]

Mark, are you the poster who used to be MarkD?

Nope...

 

[KS-IL-IA]

During the '80s and before its Fox days, KSHB in Kansas City would change its schedule to some series with shorter lifespans. One I remember is the sitcom version of "9 to 5."