N
Nertz
Guest
I have noticed that some station's historical listings show they had multiple affiliations. How did this work? I wonder from both the technical and marketing perspectives.
-
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> I have noticed that some station's historical listings show
> they had multiple affiliations. How did this work? I wonder
> from both the technical and marketing perspectives.
----------
From my understanding, most stations with multiple affiliations had a "primary" affiliation, and one or more "secondary" affiliations. For example, the infamous WWNY/7 in Watertown, New York was always a primary CBS affiliate, but had programming from as many as three other networks throughout its history. In 1970 they also had some programs from NBC, ABC, and NET/PBS, and for awhile in the 90s they had a bit from FOX.
Some stations in smaller markets still have multiple affiliations, and the one I am most familiar with is WFFF/44 in Burlington, VT. Their primary affiliation has always been with FOX, but since 1998 they have also had a secondary affiliation with the WB. WFFF has always promoted itself as "FOX 44", but they also promote a nightly two-hour programming block that they call "The WB Time". (By the way, it is not yet known if WFFF will have a "CW Time" in the fall or if CW will be on current UPN station WGMU-CA/39; some speculate that it will go to WGMU since WFFF is launching a 10 PM newscast this fall.)
My guess is that stations with multiple affiliations used network promos from their primary network, and promoted programming from other networks in the same manner as syndicated programming, using local branding. That is pretty much how WFFF's "WB Time" works.
In Canada, I can think of only two English stations that held multiple affiliations. One was CFQC Saskatoon, which was originally a CBC affiliate but added CTV as a secondary affiliation in the 1960s, until 1971 when the CBC opened their own station there (CBKS) and CFQC went to fully CTV. The other was CKLW Windsor, which was also originally a CBC affiliate, but also was a secondary DuMont affiliate after WJBK in Detroit switched from DuMont to CBS.<P ID="signature">______________
From WNBC-TV New York this is Liiiiive at Fiiiiive!</P>
> they had multiple affiliations. How did this work? I wonder
> from both the technical and marketing perspectives.
----------
From my understanding, most stations with multiple affiliations had a "primary" affiliation, and one or more "secondary" affiliations. For example, the infamous WWNY/7 in Watertown, New York was always a primary CBS affiliate, but had programming from as many as three other networks throughout its history. In 1970 they also had some programs from NBC, ABC, and NET/PBS, and for awhile in the 90s they had a bit from FOX.
Some stations in smaller markets still have multiple affiliations, and the one I am most familiar with is WFFF/44 in Burlington, VT. Their primary affiliation has always been with FOX, but since 1998 they have also had a secondary affiliation with the WB. WFFF has always promoted itself as "FOX 44", but they also promote a nightly two-hour programming block that they call "The WB Time". (By the way, it is not yet known if WFFF will have a "CW Time" in the fall or if CW will be on current UPN station WGMU-CA/39; some speculate that it will go to WGMU since WFFF is launching a 10 PM newscast this fall.)
My guess is that stations with multiple affiliations used network promos from their primary network, and promoted programming from other networks in the same manner as syndicated programming, using local branding. That is pretty much how WFFF's "WB Time" works.
In Canada, I can think of only two English stations that held multiple affiliations. One was CFQC Saskatoon, which was originally a CBC affiliate but added CTV as a secondary affiliation in the 1960s, until 1971 when the CBC opened their own station there (CBKS) and CFQC went to fully CTV. The other was CKLW Windsor, which was also originally a CBC affiliate, but also was a secondary DuMont affiliate after WJBK in Detroit switched from DuMont to CBS.<P ID="signature">______________
From WNBC-TV New York this is Liiiiive at Fiiiiive!</P>
> The other was CKLW Windsor, which was also originally a CBC
> affiliate, but also was a secondary DuMont affiliate after
> WJBK in Detroit switched from DuMont to CBS.
>
In the 1970s and early-1980s (maybe the late-1960s, too), CKLW / CBET was also a secondary CTV affiliate, as they carried some CTV programming, like "The Pig and Whistle" and "The Starlost". These shows, of course, helped plug up holes in CBC's schedule due to American programming that Detroit stations had the rights to.
Another CBC / CTV dual affiliate was Victoria's CKEK-TV, which was affiliated to both in the 1970s and early-1980s, until a CBC transmitter opened up in Victoria, making CKEK strictly CTV. (It's now the CH outlet for Vancouver Island.)
> affiliate, but also was a secondary DuMont affiliate after
> WJBK in Detroit switched from DuMont to CBS.
>
In the 1970s and early-1980s (maybe the late-1960s, too), CKLW / CBET was also a secondary CTV affiliate, as they carried some CTV programming, like "The Pig and Whistle" and "The Starlost". These shows, of course, helped plug up holes in CBC's schedule due to American programming that Detroit stations had the rights to.
Another CBC / CTV dual affiliate was Victoria's CKEK-TV, which was affiliated to both in the 1970s and early-1980s, until a CBC transmitter opened up in Victoria, making CKEK strictly CTV. (It's now the CH outlet for Vancouver Island.)
C
ccmfan
Guest
In Memphis WB has always been secondary to other networks. For a few years they were secondary to WPTY ABC 24, and were shown from 11:05 PM to 1:05 AM. (Or whatever time Nightline ended to 2 hours later.) Now WB is on WLMT UPN 30 and runs from 10:00 PM to Midnight. It's probably pretty certain that once CW starts up that it will be on WLMT and the 10 PM to midnight slot will be filled with something else.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by ccmfan on 02/14/06 02:08 AM.</FONT></P>
O
oldiesfan
Guest
> I wonder from both the technical and
> marketing perspectives.
I'd also like to know some of the technical
setups--maybe bpatrick can fill us in on
the likes of how did they get feeds from
more than one net. Did the guy at the
local AT&T testboard switch the network
during a station break?
> marketing perspectives.
I'd also like to know some of the technical
setups--maybe bpatrick can fill us in on
the likes of how did they get feeds from
more than one net. Did the guy at the
local AT&T testboard switch the network
during a station break?
> In the 60s, WLBC-TV, Muncie, IN was a primary NBC affiliate, but had ABC as a
secondary affiliation. Muncie was close to Indianapolis, and if you look at an old NBC network map, they got their NBC feed over the air from Indianapolis
affiliate WFBM-TV. I only got to experience WLBC first hand over 4 Tuesday nights in the winter of 1963. I saw an episode of the ABC show "Stoney Burke"
one Tuesday night at 7:00. The network played the show Monday night at 9.
I watched the open of "Stoney" from the ABC feed the following Monday, and it was the same show I viewed the previous Tuesday. I'm guessing ABC gave them an early feed.
secondary affiliation. Muncie was close to Indianapolis, and if you look at an old NBC network map, they got their NBC feed over the air from Indianapolis
affiliate WFBM-TV. I only got to experience WLBC first hand over 4 Tuesday nights in the winter of 1963. I saw an episode of the ABC show "Stoney Burke"
one Tuesday night at 7:00. The network played the show Monday night at 9.
I watched the open of "Stoney" from the ABC feed the following Monday, and it was the same show I viewed the previous Tuesday. I'm guessing ABC gave them an early feed.
O
oldiesfan
Guest
> Muncie was close to Indianapolis, and if you look
> at an old NBC network map, they got their NBC feed
> over the air from Indianapolis affiliate WFBM-TV.
Now where on the internet can we find an old NBC
Telco lines map? And for ABC and CBS too!
> I watched the open of "Stoney" from the ABC feed
> the following Monday, and it was the same show I
> viewed the previous Tuesday. I'm guessing ABC gave
> them an early feed.
Seems improbable to me, that is, Muncie getting a
special pre-feed. From ABC. In the 1960s.
(Terre Haute maybe, but certainly not Muncie ;-)
> at an old NBC network map, they got their NBC feed
> over the air from Indianapolis affiliate WFBM-TV.
Now where on the internet can we find an old NBC
Telco lines map? And for ABC and CBS too!
> I watched the open of "Stoney" from the ABC feed
> the following Monday, and it was the same show I
> viewed the previous Tuesday. I'm guessing ABC gave
> them an early feed.
Seems improbable to me, that is, Muncie getting a
special pre-feed. From ABC. In the 1960s.
(Terre Haute maybe, but certainly not Muncie ;-)
> > The other was CKLW Windsor, which was also originally a
> CBC
> > affiliate, but also was a secondary DuMont affiliate after
>
> > WJBK in Detroit switched from DuMont to CBS.
> >
> In the 1970s and early-1980s (maybe the late-1960s, too),
> CKLW / CBET was also a secondary CTV affiliate, as they
> carried some CTV programming, like "The Pig and Whistle" and
> "The Starlost". These shows, of course, helped plug up holes
> in CBC's schedule due to American programming that Detroit
> stations had the rights to.
>
> Another CBC / CTV dual affiliate was Victoria's CKEK-TV,
> which was affiliated to both in the 1970s and early-1980s,
> until a CBC transmitter opened up in Victoria, making CKEK
> strictly CTV. (It's now the CH outlet for Vancouver Island.)
>
They weren't the only ones...prior to Saint John CBC affiliate CHSJ establishing a transmitter network in Northern New Brunswick, CKCW Moncton's transmitters in the region (CKCD-7 Campbellton/CKAM-12 Upsalquitch Lake plus transmitters at Mont-Bechervaise/Gaspe and Mont-Blanc/Perce in Quebec) did double duty, running programs from both networks.
> CBC
> > affiliate, but also was a secondary DuMont affiliate after
>
> > WJBK in Detroit switched from DuMont to CBS.
> >
> In the 1970s and early-1980s (maybe the late-1960s, too),
> CKLW / CBET was also a secondary CTV affiliate, as they
> carried some CTV programming, like "The Pig and Whistle" and
> "The Starlost". These shows, of course, helped plug up holes
> in CBC's schedule due to American programming that Detroit
> stations had the rights to.
>
> Another CBC / CTV dual affiliate was Victoria's CKEK-TV,
> which was affiliated to both in the 1970s and early-1980s,
> until a CBC transmitter opened up in Victoria, making CKEK
> strictly CTV. (It's now the CH outlet for Vancouver Island.)
>
They weren't the only ones...prior to Saint John CBC affiliate CHSJ establishing a transmitter network in Northern New Brunswick, CKCW Moncton's transmitters in the region (CKCD-7 Campbellton/CKAM-12 Upsalquitch Lake plus transmitters at Mont-Bechervaise/Gaspe and Mont-Blanc/Perce in Quebec) did double duty, running programs from both networks.
B
bayusm1
Guest
I think what the poster ment, was stations like WDTV in Pittsburgh which had their choice of programing from all networks.
> I think what the poster ment, was stations like WDTV in
> Pittsburgh which had their choice of programing from all
> networks.
>
I recall in the 70s I used to get TV schedules from stations out west and most had some kind of multiple agreement.
I recall writing to both Channel 2 in Cheyanne and another one in Montana. And basically said they could "cherry pick," is the word they used. Oddly enough the Cheyanne station used to run all three network nightly news. And they would start prime time at 6pm and go till 9:30pm to get all the network shows in.
But oddly enough for some reason they didn't always pick the most popular of their secondary network shows, to air.
<P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>
> Pittsburgh which had their choice of programing from all
> networks.
>
I recall in the 70s I used to get TV schedules from stations out west and most had some kind of multiple agreement.
I recall writing to both Channel 2 in Cheyanne and another one in Montana. And basically said they could "cherry pick," is the word they used. Oddly enough the Cheyanne station used to run all three network nightly news. And they would start prime time at 6pm and go till 9:30pm to get all the network shows in.
But oddly enough for some reason they didn't always pick the most popular of their secondary network shows, to air.
<P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>
> > I wonder from both the technical and
> > marketing perspectives.
>
> I'd also like to know some of the technical
> setups-./SNIP/Did the guy at the
> local AT&T testboard switch the network
> during a station break?
>
I worked for three Texas stations in the 1980s that were affiliates of more than
one network. The answers are slightly different in each case.
KXII in Sherman, Texas/Ardmore, Oklahoma, was a CBS primary station, and NBC secondary. CBS came from a Western Union line. NBC came from a direct line from KXAS in Fort Worth. I say "direct," but that's not quite the case. The station had a microwave shack halfway between Sherman and Dallas where we received both signals. We sent a remote control signal via radio to make the switch from CBS to NBC and to a backup CBS signal--KDFW off-air.
Since we could only receive one network signal at a time, we could either air the show when it fed on the network, or not at all. We couldn't air one network while taping another.
At KLTV in Tyler, we were primarily an ABC station, but we took football, News at Sunrise and Late Night with David Letterman from NBC, and football from CBS. On Sundays, it was very common for us to take a Houston Oilers game from NBC at noon, then switch to a 3:00 Dallas Cowboys game from CBS. In our case, it all came from Western Union. We would have to call them during a station break and get them to switch from CBS to an NBC feed from AT&T and back to ABC. It all fed to a microwave shack in Kaufman, Texas, where, by remote, we could also switch to off-air signals from the major channels in Dallas, as a backup. There was one other backup you'll see in a moment. It changed a bit when we got satellites.
KTRE in Lufkin was a semi-satellite of KLTV. We ran local newscasts and local commercials, but all of our network and syndicated programming came down a microwave from KLTV. Sounds simple enough, but if KLTV had a problem with the network feed, KTRE wouldn't necessarily know what was going on. Their backup was the Houston stations. They shared the microwave system with the local cable companies that brought signals in from Houston. It usually looked pretty good.
KLTV could receive KTRE's signal off air. So in a real pinch, KLTV might acutally air KTRK's signal, via KTRE. It looked horrible.
All three stations had previously been NBC primaries, but I suspect the basic systems worked about the same.
> > marketing perspectives.
>
> I'd also like to know some of the technical
> setups-./SNIP/Did the guy at the
> local AT&T testboard switch the network
> during a station break?
>
I worked for three Texas stations in the 1980s that were affiliates of more than
one network. The answers are slightly different in each case.
KXII in Sherman, Texas/Ardmore, Oklahoma, was a CBS primary station, and NBC secondary. CBS came from a Western Union line. NBC came from a direct line from KXAS in Fort Worth. I say "direct," but that's not quite the case. The station had a microwave shack halfway between Sherman and Dallas where we received both signals. We sent a remote control signal via radio to make the switch from CBS to NBC and to a backup CBS signal--KDFW off-air.
Since we could only receive one network signal at a time, we could either air the show when it fed on the network, or not at all. We couldn't air one network while taping another.
At KLTV in Tyler, we were primarily an ABC station, but we took football, News at Sunrise and Late Night with David Letterman from NBC, and football from CBS. On Sundays, it was very common for us to take a Houston Oilers game from NBC at noon, then switch to a 3:00 Dallas Cowboys game from CBS. In our case, it all came from Western Union. We would have to call them during a station break and get them to switch from CBS to an NBC feed from AT&T and back to ABC. It all fed to a microwave shack in Kaufman, Texas, where, by remote, we could also switch to off-air signals from the major channels in Dallas, as a backup. There was one other backup you'll see in a moment. It changed a bit when we got satellites.
KTRE in Lufkin was a semi-satellite of KLTV. We ran local newscasts and local commercials, but all of our network and syndicated programming came down a microwave from KLTV. Sounds simple enough, but if KLTV had a problem with the network feed, KTRE wouldn't necessarily know what was going on. Their backup was the Houston stations. They shared the microwave system with the local cable companies that brought signals in from Houston. It usually looked pretty good.
KLTV could receive KTRE's signal off air. So in a real pinch, KLTV might acutally air KTRK's signal, via KTRE. It looked horrible.
All three stations had previously been NBC primaries, but I suspect the basic systems worked about the same.
O
oldiesfan
Guest
> KXII in Sherman, Texas/Ardmore, Oklahoma,
> was a CBS primary station, and NBC secondary.
> CBS came from a Western Union line.
(snip)
> At KLTV in Tyler, we were primarily an ABC
> station...In our case, it all came from
> Western Union.
Can you explain the Western Union setup further?
(And I don't mean the Five Americans song ;-)
I've heard of Telco (AT&T) lines, microwave
links, off-air pickups, and a combination of
an off-air/microwave feed, but I didn't know
W.U. was in the TV networking biz, other than
to maintain the Naval Observatory Time clocks
which were a staple of many radio/TV stations.
In the very early days of radio, telegraph lines
were used for some networking (typically by those
not in the AT&T camp) but all the stories I've
read said the quality was very poor. Which leads
me to wonder how W.U. lines could handle TV.
> was a CBS primary station, and NBC secondary.
> CBS came from a Western Union line.
(snip)
> At KLTV in Tyler, we were primarily an ABC
> station...In our case, it all came from
> Western Union.
Can you explain the Western Union setup further?
(And I don't mean the Five Americans song ;-)
I've heard of Telco (AT&T) lines, microwave
links, off-air pickups, and a combination of
an off-air/microwave feed, but I didn't know
W.U. was in the TV networking biz, other than
to maintain the Naval Observatory Time clocks
which were a staple of many radio/TV stations.
In the very early days of radio, telegraph lines
were used for some networking (typically by those
not in the AT&T camp) but all the stories I've
read said the quality was very poor. Which leads
me to wonder how W.U. lines could handle TV.
> > > I wonder from both the technical and
> > > marketing perspectives.
> >
> > I'd also like to know some of the technical
> > setups-./SNIP/Did the guy at the
> > local AT&T testboard switch the network
> > during a station break?
> >
> I worked for three Texas stations in the 1980s that were
> affiliates of more than
> one network. The answers are slightly different in each
> case.
>
> KXII in Sherman, Texas/Ardmore, Oklahoma, was a CBS primary
> station, and NBC secondary. CBS came from a Western Union
> line. NBC came from a direct line from KXAS in Fort Worth.
> I say "direct," but that's not quite the case. The station
> had a microwave shack halfway between Sherman and Dallas
> where we received both signals. We sent a remote control
> signal via radio to make the switch from CBS to NBC and to a
> backup CBS signal--KDFW off-air.
>
> Since we could only receive one network signal at a time, we
> could either air the show when it fed on the network, or not
> at all. We couldn't air one network while taping another.
>
>
> At KLTV in Tyler, we were primarily an ABC station, but we
> took football, News at Sunrise and Late Night with David
> Letterman from NBC, and football from CBS. On Sundays, it
> was very common for us to take a Houston Oilers game from
> NBC at noon, then switch to a 3:00 Dallas Cowboys game from
> CBS. In our case, it all came from Western Union. We would
> have to call them during a station break and get them to
> switch from CBS to an NBC feed from AT&T and back to ABC.
> It all fed to a microwave shack in Kaufman, Texas, where, by
> remote, we could also switch to off-air signals from the
> major channels in Dallas, as a backup. There was one other
> backup you'll see in a moment. It changed a bit when we got
> satellites.
>
> KTRE in Lufkin was a semi-satellite of KLTV. We ran local
> newscasts and local commercials, but all of our network and
> syndicated programming came down a microwave from KLTV.
> Sounds simple enough, but if KLTV had a problem with the
> network feed, KTRE wouldn't necessarily know what was going
> on. Their backup was the Houston stations. They shared the
> microwave system with the local cable companies that brought
> signals in from Houston. It usually looked pretty good.
>
> KLTV could receive KTRE's signal off air. So in a real
> pinch, KLTV might acutally air KTRK's signal, via KTRE. It
> looked horrible.
>
> All three stations had previously been NBC primaries, but I
> suspect the basic systems worked about the same.
>
I'm not an engineer; I do know that I lived in two markets where
there were stations with multiple affiliations at the time:
Raleigh/Durham and Birmingham, and that in both cases all stations
involved could air one network and tape the other; I remember, for
example, that Birmingham's Channel 42 (CBS primary, NBC secondary)
used to air Ed Sullivan live from 7-8 (CT) on Sunday, and tape
The Mothers-In-Law (7:30) for airing immediately after Sullivan.
Channel 13 (NBC primary, CBS secondary) used to air Bonanza on
pattern and tape The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and Durham's
Channel 11 (CBS primary, NBC secondary) used to run Gunsmoke and
Here's Lucy on pattern and tape Laugh-In.
But I don't know whose line they used (Western Union, microwave
from Atlanta, or what). I do suspect that WBRC (ABC in Birmingham
at the time) did use a microwave from Atlanta's Channel 11 (also
ABC at the time), since 11's station ID came in on WBRC one Sunday
night.
> > > marketing perspectives.
> >
> > I'd also like to know some of the technical
> > setups-./SNIP/Did the guy at the
> > local AT&T testboard switch the network
> > during a station break?
> >
> I worked for three Texas stations in the 1980s that were
> affiliates of more than
> one network. The answers are slightly different in each
> case.
>
> KXII in Sherman, Texas/Ardmore, Oklahoma, was a CBS primary
> station, and NBC secondary. CBS came from a Western Union
> line. NBC came from a direct line from KXAS in Fort Worth.
> I say "direct," but that's not quite the case. The station
> had a microwave shack halfway between Sherman and Dallas
> where we received both signals. We sent a remote control
> signal via radio to make the switch from CBS to NBC and to a
> backup CBS signal--KDFW off-air.
>
> Since we could only receive one network signal at a time, we
> could either air the show when it fed on the network, or not
> at all. We couldn't air one network while taping another.
>
>
> At KLTV in Tyler, we were primarily an ABC station, but we
> took football, News at Sunrise and Late Night with David
> Letterman from NBC, and football from CBS. On Sundays, it
> was very common for us to take a Houston Oilers game from
> NBC at noon, then switch to a 3:00 Dallas Cowboys game from
> CBS. In our case, it all came from Western Union. We would
> have to call them during a station break and get them to
> switch from CBS to an NBC feed from AT&T and back to ABC.
> It all fed to a microwave shack in Kaufman, Texas, where, by
> remote, we could also switch to off-air signals from the
> major channels in Dallas, as a backup. There was one other
> backup you'll see in a moment. It changed a bit when we got
> satellites.
>
> KTRE in Lufkin was a semi-satellite of KLTV. We ran local
> newscasts and local commercials, but all of our network and
> syndicated programming came down a microwave from KLTV.
> Sounds simple enough, but if KLTV had a problem with the
> network feed, KTRE wouldn't necessarily know what was going
> on. Their backup was the Houston stations. They shared the
> microwave system with the local cable companies that brought
> signals in from Houston. It usually looked pretty good.
>
> KLTV could receive KTRE's signal off air. So in a real
> pinch, KLTV might acutally air KTRK's signal, via KTRE. It
> looked horrible.
>
> All three stations had previously been NBC primaries, but I
> suspect the basic systems worked about the same.
>
I'm not an engineer; I do know that I lived in two markets where
there were stations with multiple affiliations at the time:
Raleigh/Durham and Birmingham, and that in both cases all stations
involved could air one network and tape the other; I remember, for
example, that Birmingham's Channel 42 (CBS primary, NBC secondary)
used to air Ed Sullivan live from 7-8 (CT) on Sunday, and tape
The Mothers-In-Law (7:30) for airing immediately after Sullivan.
Channel 13 (NBC primary, CBS secondary) used to air Bonanza on
pattern and tape The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and Durham's
Channel 11 (CBS primary, NBC secondary) used to run Gunsmoke and
Here's Lucy on pattern and tape Laugh-In.
But I don't know whose line they used (Western Union, microwave
from Atlanta, or what). I do suspect that WBRC (ABC in Birmingham
at the time) did use a microwave from Atlanta's Channel 11 (also
ABC at the time), since 11's station ID came in on WBRC one Sunday
night.
> > I have noticed that some station's historical listings
> show
> > they had multiple affiliations. How did this work? I
> wonder
> > from both the technical and marketing perspectives.
> ----------
> From my understanding, most stations with multiple
> affiliations had a "primary" affiliation, and one or more
> "secondary" affiliations. For example, the infamous WWNY/7
> in Watertown, New York was always a primary CBS affiliate,
> but had programming from as many as three other networks
> throughout its history. In 1970 they also had some programs
> from NBC, ABC, and NET/PBS, and for awhile in the 90s they
> had a bit from FOX.
Another station in the same area that had multiple affliations was WKTV in Utica. At one time they were affiliated with NBC, CBS, ABC, & Dumont. By the 1960's they were a primary NBC secondary ABC. I asked one of the "old guys" there how that worked. Some of the shows came thru microwave, especially the live stuff. They would, also kinescope stuff for later replay. Sometimes the networks would send 16 mm prints of the shows. I sure would like to know what happened to those kinescopes and films. I guess I could ask Dick Clark. He was working there.
>
> show
> > they had multiple affiliations. How did this work? I
> wonder
> > from both the technical and marketing perspectives.
> ----------
> From my understanding, most stations with multiple
> affiliations had a "primary" affiliation, and one or more
> "secondary" affiliations. For example, the infamous WWNY/7
> in Watertown, New York was always a primary CBS affiliate,
> but had programming from as many as three other networks
> throughout its history. In 1970 they also had some programs
> from NBC, ABC, and NET/PBS, and for awhile in the 90s they
> had a bit from FOX.
Another station in the same area that had multiple affliations was WKTV in Utica. At one time they were affiliated with NBC, CBS, ABC, & Dumont. By the 1960's they were a primary NBC secondary ABC. I asked one of the "old guys" there how that worked. Some of the shows came thru microwave, especially the live stuff. They would, also kinescope stuff for later replay. Sometimes the networks would send 16 mm prints of the shows. I sure would like to know what happened to those kinescopes and films. I guess I could ask Dick Clark. He was working there.
>
> > KXII in Sherman, Texas/Ardmore, Oklahoma,
> > was a CBS primary station, and NBC secondary.
> > CBS came from a Western Union line.
> (snip)
> > At KLTV in Tyler, we were primarily an ABC
> > station...In our case, it all came from
> > Western Union.
>
> Can you explain the Western Union setup further?
> (And I don't mean the Five Americans song ;-)
<snip> but I didn't know
> W.U. was in the TV networking biz, other than
> to maintain the Naval Observatory Time clocks
> which were a staple of many radio/TV stations.
> <snip>
>
I don't really know the details of it. I was very
young at the time and mostly fascinated by all the
signals floating around. I believe the WU lines (now
owned by Verestar operated similarly to AT&T. But
at least in my region, WU carried CBS & ABC, and
AT&T handled NBC.
When I was in Sherman, the WU engineer in Dallas also
had access to "alternate" CBS feeds, such as when the
network had different NFC games going out to different parts
of the country.
The original post also asked about the "marketing" aspects
of the multi-net stations. At all of my stations, they would
tie into their primary network's promotion theme, but they
maintained their local identity (Channel 12; KLTV, The East
Texas Station; and KTRE Channel 9.) Very few stations, though
were calling themselves "ABC7" at the time.
During NBC programming, we would block promos for NBC shows we
didn't carry, and "cover" them with local promos, PSAs or
promos for other NBC shows we did carry. It was understood
that we wouldn't block an NBC promo and replace it with a CBS promo.
At KLTV, it was often a challenge to find enough NBC promos to
cover all the promos during a basketball game. I once ran the same
Letterman promo 4 times in the same game.
> > was a CBS primary station, and NBC secondary.
> > CBS came from a Western Union line.
> (snip)
> > At KLTV in Tyler, we were primarily an ABC
> > station...In our case, it all came from
> > Western Union.
>
> Can you explain the Western Union setup further?
> (And I don't mean the Five Americans song ;-)
<snip> but I didn't know
> W.U. was in the TV networking biz, other than
> to maintain the Naval Observatory Time clocks
> which were a staple of many radio/TV stations.
> <snip>
>
I don't really know the details of it. I was very
young at the time and mostly fascinated by all the
signals floating around. I believe the WU lines (now
owned by Verestar operated similarly to AT&T. But
at least in my region, WU carried CBS & ABC, and
AT&T handled NBC.
When I was in Sherman, the WU engineer in Dallas also
had access to "alternate" CBS feeds, such as when the
network had different NFC games going out to different parts
of the country.
The original post also asked about the "marketing" aspects
of the multi-net stations. At all of my stations, they would
tie into their primary network's promotion theme, but they
maintained their local identity (Channel 12; KLTV, The East
Texas Station; and KTRE Channel 9.) Very few stations, though
were calling themselves "ABC7" at the time.
During NBC programming, we would block promos for NBC shows we
didn't carry, and "cover" them with local promos, PSAs or
promos for other NBC shows we did carry. It was understood
that we wouldn't block an NBC promo and replace it with a CBS promo.
At KLTV, it was often a challenge to find enough NBC promos to
cover all the promos during a basketball game. I once ran the same
Letterman promo 4 times in the same game.
I don't remember which channel they planned to use, but that CBC Victoria transmitter was to have been on channel 3 (Open) or 10 (CKVU/Citytv today). Unfortunately it never got past the engineering test stage. Just wasn't in the budget, I guess.
B
Bob1370
Guest
> I have noticed that some station's historical listings show
> they had multiple affiliations. How did this work? I wonder
> from both the technical and marketing perspectives.
>
Early on, before the TV allocation "freeze" ended in 1952, most markets outside the top 10 were one or two channel towns, and they'd each carry one, two, three or even all four networks then operating. That loosened somewhat after 1952 as more stations went on the air, but multiple affiliation was still quite common for years afterward. Through the late 1950s and early 1960s, even some of the top 50 markets in the US only had a couple of VHF stations licensed. With three networks' programs to pick from, each operating channel in such a market would pick one network as a prime source while they'd agree on a split of the offerings of the remaining (usually the weakest) network. The shared network's programming would be divvied up by agreement among the stations, who would then decide when to air them (live or by kinescoped/taped rebroadcast).
Each channel's master control center would have feeds constantly available from both its primary network (which it would more often than not air live) and its secondary network (whose programs might occasionally air live but more often got kinescoped or, after 1957-58, taped off the network line for later airing).
ABC usually got the short end of the stick in two station markets, since more of its shows were considered weaker draws until the network started getting some real traction for its prime time programming in the biggest markets.
Multiple affiliations disappeared from the top 100 markets after the late 50s for two reasons. First, a second round of new VHF stations were finally licensed in all the large markets, enabling each of the three main networks to have its own primary affiliate in all the principal metros of the country. Second, the all-channel TV set legislation of 1964 helped UHF stations start to become more competitive once more people had sets that could pick them up.
> they had multiple affiliations. How did this work? I wonder
> from both the technical and marketing perspectives.
>
Early on, before the TV allocation "freeze" ended in 1952, most markets outside the top 10 were one or two channel towns, and they'd each carry one, two, three or even all four networks then operating. That loosened somewhat after 1952 as more stations went on the air, but multiple affiliation was still quite common for years afterward. Through the late 1950s and early 1960s, even some of the top 50 markets in the US only had a couple of VHF stations licensed. With three networks' programs to pick from, each operating channel in such a market would pick one network as a prime source while they'd agree on a split of the offerings of the remaining (usually the weakest) network. The shared network's programming would be divvied up by agreement among the stations, who would then decide when to air them (live or by kinescoped/taped rebroadcast).
Each channel's master control center would have feeds constantly available from both its primary network (which it would more often than not air live) and its secondary network (whose programs might occasionally air live but more often got kinescoped or, after 1957-58, taped off the network line for later airing).
ABC usually got the short end of the stick in two station markets, since more of its shows were considered weaker draws until the network started getting some real traction for its prime time programming in the biggest markets.
Multiple affiliations disappeared from the top 100 markets after the late 50s for two reasons. First, a second round of new VHF stations were finally licensed in all the large markets, enabling each of the three main networks to have its own primary affiliate in all the principal metros of the country. Second, the all-channel TV set legislation of 1964 helped UHF stations start to become more competitive once more people had sets that could pick them up.
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