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Mountain Time Network Programming

S

SteveRichards

I was curious as to what point in time that the network affiliates in the Mountain Time Zone started airing most network programs in pattern one hour behind the Central Time Zone. During my lifetime (I was born in 1970), the networks have always promoted shows as airing at 8:00/7:00 Central & Mountain, for example. I know Mountain stations are required to do the delay on their own, as the networks still don't (with the exception of NBC...are there any others?) provide a Mountain Time feed. I'm sure that network programming in the Mountain Time Zone was quite the cluster in the early days, as many smaller stations were no doubt affiliated with two or three networks, and in some cases, I'm sure they relied on over-the-air feeds from bigger and/or neighboring markets.

Any info that anyone can share on this subject would be appreciated.
 
From approx. 1958 through 1966, during daylight saving time, the networks had a one-hour delayed feed which was primarily for standard time areas in the Eastern and Central zones.

MST stations got this feed but it didn't help as it still brought in prime time from 5:30-9, so patchwork schedules stayed in place, one example was flipping the 7:30-8:30 ET hour to 9:00 and clearing 8:30-11:00 ET live 6:30-9:00. This alternate feed was dropped as of 1967 when the Uniform Time Act kicked in.


While Arizona observed DST in 1967, they opted out beginning in 1968 (and ever since). The fall 1967 season on CBS affil KOOL-TV Phoenix (and KOLD-TV Tucson which was fed by KOOL) aired in much the same way (patchwork) as in previous years.

Later that (67-68) season, when DST began in April 1968, KOOL began airing prime time "in pattern" on a two-hour delay (record 4:30-8:00 MST, play 6:30-10:00). This experiment continued into the beginning of the 68-69 season, but after the time change in late October 1968, they reverted back to the patchwork schedule.

Come spring 1969 DST it was another go at in pattern and this time KOOL stayed with it year-round from then on (with a few exceptions from time to time into the early 1970s).


By sometime in the early to mid-1970s all three Phoenix affils aired prime time in pattern. The actual year escapes me. At that time they were also the network (live or delayed) feed source for their Tucson counterparts.

Through the 1960s, KVOA-TV Tucson (NBC) had their own Telco line and--if you want to talk about patchwork--their prime schedule really was...and a mess (one-week delays, shows shifted to different nights, some 16mm film).

KGUN-TV Tucson (ABC) had been tied to KTVK Phoenix since at least back to the early '60s. Back then, KTVK did air ABC prime in pattern (except for live net on Saturdays), but it was all on 16mm film. Same night (zero DB) but via film prints shipped to them--even the ABC Sunday Movie.
 
I have posted Denver schedules from 1967; at the
time then-ABC affiliate KBTV/9 (now NBC affiliate
KUSA) carried Monday-through-Friday primetime
from 6:30-10, and all three affiliates went along
with the East Coast on weekends (5:30-9 on
Saturdays, 5-9 on Sundays). As for daytime,
9 went along with the East Coast, airing Dateline:
Hollywood at 8:30 AM (10:30 AM Eastern, the
first show on the ABC schedule at the time), and
The Dating Game at 2 PM (4 PM Eastern, the last
show). CBS and NBC shows airing 10-11 AM Eastern
(8-9 AM Mountain) aired in the afternoon.

When I get a chance, I want to find some more
Denver schedules from the '60s and '70s, and perhaps
I can shed some light on the original question.
 
re: KTVK

In the early seventies, KTVK fed programming to Tucson, Albuquerque and El Paso. In the winter time it was a strict one hour delay, but during daylight time they delayed programming one hour for Albuquerque and El Paso and a total of two hours for Phoenix and Tucson.

I recall they also recorded the overnight pre-feeds pf some shows which came in handy one evening when a power outage hit the station. As a result they lost several minutes on the recording of the network feed. The tech was able to find the prefeed, sync it with the already rolling delay tape and make a seamless switch to finish out the show.

I understand ABC compensated them very well for feeding this part of the network.

Just my memories and two cents worth.

Mike
 
bpatrick said:
I have posted Denver schedules from 1967; at the
time then-ABC affiliate KBTV/9 (now NBC affiliate
KUSA) carried Monday-through-Friday primetime
from 6:30-10, and all three affiliates went along
with the East Coast on weekends (5:30-9 on
Saturdays, 5-9 on Sundays). As for daytime,
9 went along with the East Coast, airing Dateline:
Hollywood at 8:30 AM (10:30 AM Eastern, the
first show on the ABC schedule at the time), and
The Dating Game at 2 PM (4 PM Eastern, the last
show). CBS and NBC shows airing 10-11 AM Eastern
(8-9 AM Mountain) aired in the afternoon.

When I get a chance, I want to find some more
Denver schedules from the '60s and '70s, and perhaps
I can shed some light on the original question.
Click to expand...

Its messages like this that makes me want to kick myself in the butt !!

About 10 years ago I actually had in my collection a 1959 Denver edition of TV Guide. Wasn't much but the ad for then KOA-TV 4 ( Now KCNC ) featuring a special of new homes in the Littleton, CO area for the "atomic generation" was quite funny plus an ad for a kiddie amusement park that was located on the roof of the old Cherry Creek Shopping Center, that was odd. I have quite a few friends who were born and raised in Denver and even they dont remember that. Things you can learn in old editions of TV Guide. Sadly, for some reason I have totally lost that edition of TV Guide.

Wasn't Denver America's largest city WITHOUT television prior to that early 1950s freeze? Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and I think even Kansas and New Mexico had at least one TV station before those in Denver even had a chance to see TV. If this is true, that is quite odd.

I know Denver's ( and Colorado's ) first TV station was then KFEL ( now KWGN ) channel 2. I remember several years back when they had their 50th anniversary special they showed a clip of the "Fred & Fae" show that was the first thing their aired when they signed on. I also seem to recall from that special that KWGN was the first station in Denver to go color. An indie beating the network affiliates in that department is odd in itself.
 
I believe Denver got its first station in 1952,
after the freeze was lifted, and it was the
present KWGN/2. I've often wondered why
it chose to be independent; I'm sure that
ABC, CBS, and NBC would have bent over
backwards to have it as an affiliate, since it
is on Channel 2.
 
bpatrick said:
I believe Denver got its first station in 1952,
after the freeze was lifted, and it was the
present KWGN/2.
Click to expand...

Having never been in Colorado, I must ask... has it ever imaged itself as "Kwaggin' 2"? :D

ixnay
 
sorry to go off topic but for those who have an interest in Denver should check out the 1972 Telly Savalas/ Monte Markham movie "Visions Of Death".

The movie in itself isn't much but watching it really is a step back in time as far as Denver goes. Not only in the movie is there a clip of a then KLZ-TV newscast ( just before the switch to KMGH..and the anchor doing the news I believe was long time KCNC anchor Bob Palmer ) but I believe even KWGN and Denver's then very popular KIMN Radio was featured in the movie as well.

The scene of Monte Markham going down Broadway ( Denver's main street ) in his sportscar, other than the site of the Colorado state captiol building in the background, really does look like one is watching a whole different city.
 
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