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Future of subchannels?

Yeah - me too. I can't see much future for sub-channels, with so much now available on the internet. As people "cut the cord," and streaming becomes even bigger than it is now, it will be hard for them to survive. Would you rather watch...say...Bewitched with more commercials that ran on the original show, and content edited to fit the half-hour, or sped-up, which I hear they do now - or- would you rather stream it, and have to suffer through a few seconds of internet advertising?

I don't have cable so I spend a lot of time watching subchannels like Cozi and Antenna TV. I can tell you most of the shows on these channels are NOT available on any streaming service (at least not any free or legal streaming service). I have a Tivo Roamio OTA DVR, so I don't have to suffer through any commercials. From what I have read, there is very minimal cost for a station to operate a subchannel, so I don't think it will be hard for them to survive. The number of subchannels has only continued to grow over the past few years, which speaks to their cheapness and popularity.
 
Sinclair could easily have their own news channel and FOX could start up a channel that shows nothing but the Simpsons. I do doubt very much that Antenna TV, MeTV, Buzzr, Cozi and the like will be around 10 years from now.

I think there is a good chance that at least some retro channels could still be around but with some showing more 80's, 90's and perhaps early 2000's shows, perhaps with newer channels for shows from that period. I just hope that none of them go the direction of TV Land with more original shows.
 
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All of the channels mentioned in hamster's post are also ITC on C band satellite for free. I get them on 97W 101W 103W and 105W.
 
I think there is a good chance that at least some retro channels could still be around but with some showing more 80's, 90's and perhaps early 2000's shows, perhaps with newer channels for shows from that period. I just hope that none of them go the direction of TV Land with more original shows.

I hope you are right but I do see MeTV and Antenna doing what Hulu is doing right now, For a small fee you can download the classics and other things of interest since so many are cutting the cord. I know two guys in Richmond, Virginia who are launching a service for Roku later this year or early 2018 for the so-called gay "bear" community a channel called "WOOF". For a fee one can download shows like "Where the Bears Are" and "The Lazy Bear" and comedy shows like Margaret Chow and "Rick and Steve".. They will probably be able to retire in a few years. Now that may not be everyone cup of tea but there is a channel for Roku that is planned to show exotic pets sometime this year. I have no idea how successful that will be but I guess there is some interest. Anything is better than The Lucy Show channel.
 
Now that may not be everyone cup of tea but there is a channel for Roku that is planned to show exotic pets sometime this year. I have no idea how successful that will be but I guess there is some interest. Anything is better than The Lucy Show channel.

In your humble opinion only.
 
Can't remember the trade publication I was reading recently (maybe Broadcasting and Cable?), but there was data that showed over the past 48 months, "dot two" channels were showing significant growth in viewership. Much of that growth was attributed to the increasing interest in OTA viewing. Channels like Bounce, Grit, and other classic movie networks, have replaced subscription and cable channels for the frugal, true cord-cutters. Consumer electronic stores like Best Buy and Amazon, aren't able to keep DTV antennas in stock.

I'm often skeptical of "big increase" claims insomuch as they may be based on a particularly low starting point. But credit where credit is due.

I do wonder just how much room there is in the cord cutting space. Sooner or later, it will reach a sort of equilibrium, and it will be interesting to see where growth for diginets plateaus.

Personally, I tire easilynof reruns from decades ago, but that's just me.
 
The UHF here had a studio and was producing local programming in the 70's.

Same in Tucson, where I lived at that time. The locally produced shows were a headline type news program in the evening and a wrestling show (advertising for the following week) on Saturday afternoon. That seems like a bare minimum to me and I wouldn't be sticking my chest out and bragging about it. Most UHF's that I sampled, largely in the San Joaquin Valley of California, were pretty much Rerun City. Kids shows like Howdy Doody, Western fare and movies.
 
Would you rather watch...say...Bewitched with more commercials that ran on the original show?
That would be great!

I watched "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie" several summers ago when reruns were available on WGN America. I remember watching "Jeannie", but not most of the black and white episodes. But "Bewitched" was mostly new to me.

I'd like to be able to do the same with "The Dick Van Dyke Show", which I don't think I saw episodes of when I was young (and I've seen only a few in recent years), but even if I could find the time, with the antenna I have now, I can't get a dependable signal. I have too many concerns about possible weather-related problems, and too many trees, to feel comfortable getting an outdoor antenna. My introduction to Dick Van Dyke was a series that didn't get a lot of respect, but when you're ten years old, you can't tell what's bad.
 
That would be great!

I watched "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie" several summers ago when reruns were available on WGN America. I remember watching "Jeannie", but not most of the black and white episodes. But "Bewitched" was mostly new to me.

I'd like to be able to do the same with "The Dick Van Dyke Show", which I don't think I saw episodes of when I was young (and I've seen only a few in recent years), but even if I could find the time, with the antenna I have now, I can't get a dependable signal. I have too many concerns about possible weather-related problems, and too many trees, to feel comfortable getting an outdoor antenna. My introduction to Dick Van Dyke was a series that didn't get a lot of respect, but when you're ten years old, you can't tell what's bad.

You don't think it got a lot of respect? Primetime Emmy Awards[edit]
The Dick Van Dyke Show was nominated for 25 Primetime Emmy Awards and won 15.[17]



Award Nominee Result
1961–1962 (presented May 22, 1962)[18]
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy John Rich Nominated
Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy Carl Reiner Won
1962–1963 (presented May 26, 1963)[19]
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead) Dick Van Dyke Nominated
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) Mary Tyler Moore Nominated
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy John Rich Won
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actress Rose Marie Nominated
Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Humor — Won
Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy Carl Reiner Won
1963–1964 (presented May 25, 1964)[20]
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead) Dick Van Dyke Won
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) Mary Tyler Moore Won
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Jerry Paris Won
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actress Rose Marie Nominated
Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Comedy — Won
Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy or Variety Carl Reiner, Sam Denoff and Bill Persky Won
1964–1965 (presented September 12, 1965)[21]
Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment: Actors and Performers Dick Van Dyke Won*
Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment: Writers Carl Reiner for "Never Bathe on Saturday" Nominated
Outstanding Program Achievements in Entertainment Carl Reiner, producer Won
1965–1966 (presented May 22, 1966)[22]
Outstanding Comedy Series Carl Reiner, producer Won
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series Dick Van Dyke Won
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series Mary Tyler Moore Won
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Jerry Paris Nominated
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy Morey Amsterdam Nominated
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy Rose Marie Nominated
Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy Bill Persky and Sam Denoff for "Coast to Coast Big Mouth" Won
Bill Persky and Sam Denoff for "The Ugliest Dog in the World" Nominated
 
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I have a friend who is now in her 60's who did not see Bewitched until she was
thirtysomething because she grew up in an area that did not have an ABC affiliate.
I didn't have that problem. However, where I lived I got my ABC programs from one market and my CBS and NBC programs from another. Actually, I had my choice of NBC stations. I found out later that the NBC station in the market where I lived actually had some ABC shows, but I didn't know that at the time. But since the other market had NBC full-time, that wouldn't have been a problem.
 
Now do a search for the same honors for "The New Dick Van Dyke Show" starring Hope Lange and Fannie Flagg.

"The New Dick Van Dyke Show" ran for only two and a half seasons in the early 70's on CBS, and was mostly a ratings disaster. This version was never nominated for an Emmy, much unlike the original one. It was cancelled after CBS decided not to air an episode that dealt with sex.
 
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