MyNetworkTV to switch to 'programming service', ceasing most originals next fall

[arnoldevns]

I think some of you are missing the point here. My Network TV isn't changing much at all. They're dropping saturday nights, which get pre-empted on many affiliates for sports. It's a little-watched night anyway that even the CW doesn't program.

My Network TV drew even with CW in the ratings when WWE debuted. It's been beating CW or neck and neck with it ever since. Aside from WWE, the biggest ratings boost they've had is from adding movie nights. From what I can tell they're just going to stick with that plan and change a couple of night of original programming over to off-network reruns that will likely get the same or higher ratings. This also does not exclude My Network TV from offering special events on some nights as they do now. (they would be wise to pick up Miss America from cable for cheap)

Meanwhile, CW will spend a mint on orignial programming to attract a similar sized audience. There's no question this move will make My Network TV the more viable of the two networks from a financial standpoint.

News Corp. will find a way to make this work from both the network and affiliate side since this thing was formed primarily to fill the prime-time hole left on 9 of their stations when UPN went belly-up.

 

[willcail]

Since WSXY 6.2 is the MYTV/This TV affiliate(s) I'm guessing more This TV programming.

 

[oldvnewschool]

What I want to know is how long does the WWE's current contract with My Network TV is.

If it has only a one season deal, it could switch to WGN America if WGN offers a good dollar profit.

And it would give it two WWE Programs to go with NBC-Universal's Raw & ECW.

 

[JayR]

Brian McKnight on MY Saturday nights

A follow-up to my previous post...

From Broadcasting & Cable:

Litton Interested In MyNetwork's Saturday Time Slots

It seems syndicator Litton Syndications has an eye on MY affiliates now that Saturday night will be open for programming choices.

From EURWeb.com:

'BRIAN MCKNIGHT SHOW' TO DEBUT IN THE FALL: Talk show to air Saturday nights on My Network TV.

Forget the affiliates...Litton went straight to MY.

 

[bostonmediaguy]

Re: Brian McKnight on MY Saturday nights

A follow-up to my previous post...

From Broadcasting & Cable:

Litton Interested In MyNetwork's Saturday Time Slots

It seems syndicator Litton Syndications has an eye on MY affiliates now that Saturday night will be open for programming choices.

Except that it's not what the primary source (TV Newsday) reports... only that with MyNet turning Saturdays over to the affiliates, Litton will have a better chance getting prime time-slot for the show.

From EURWeb.com:

'BRIAN MCKNIGHT SHOW' TO DEBUT IN THE FALL: Talk show to air Saturday nights on My Network TV.

Forget the affiliates...Litton went straight to MY.

 

[Poledo]

So Nate, what was the real reason Pax/iON never made it to Mobile, even with all our extra TV signals? Did anything besides cash flow factor into it? The original Paxon CP was sold to Daystar. It might sign on next week as WDMP (OTA=23, PSIP=18?). WSRE analog channel 23 is still announcing a 2/17 analog shutdown as of today (2/14).

 

[dhett]

It might sign on next week as WDMP (OTA=23, PSIP=18?).

When WDPM signs on, according to FCC regs, they should ID as 31.1, as that is WSRE-DT's RF channel. Odd rule, but that's how they chose to play it.

 

[Poledo]

It might sign on next week as WDMP (OTA=23, PSIP=18?).

When WDPM signs on, according to FCC regs, they should ID as 31.1, as that is WSRE-DT's RF channel. Odd rule, but that's how they chose to play it.

I don't know if that applies here. WDPM was originally allocated as channel 60 (or 61?) many years ago, before PAX launched. Somehow they got their allocation changed to channel 18, but I think that too was an analog allocation. They wound up going with channel 23 for their digital. I would assume they would psip the original analog channel on the allocation, either 60 (61?) or 18, but since the station never signed on as an analog, I can see your point of IDing as 31. IDing as 31 would be confusing because WSRE forced a very strong home shopping network translator off the air when they chose channel 31 for their digital, but maybe I'm the only person that remembers the old channel 31 in Pensacola.

 

[Nate Wesley]

So Nate, what was the real reason Pax/iON never made it to Mobile, even with all our extra TV signals? Did anything besides cash flow factor into it? The original Paxon CP was sold to Daystar. It might sign on next week as WDMP (OTA=23, PSIP=18?). WSRE analog channel 23 is still announcing a 2/17 analog shutdown as of today (2/14).

No idea.

 

[Poledo]

The topic that's been looked over in this thread is the term "programming service." Obviously by using this term, "My" doesn't intend on developing into a full fledged network anytime soon. I assume that they will be sending the 10 hours of weekday prime time programming to the "affiliates", which are now indies, with the intention of Smackdown staying on Friday nights and allowing the rest of the shows to be tailored to the needs of each station. I expect that the My name will be dropped from the feeds, although some of the indies/affiliates may choose to keep it on a local basis. I expect many stations will be trying to find their own unique brand, especially the stations in the top 25 markets, although with money being tight and the "My" brand already being out their, the stations running on a tighter budget will likely keep the branding.

Can anyone guess as to the difference between a "programming service", a network, and a syndicatior? All I see is that the 10 hours of programming will be sent to a single station as a block instead of the syndication company bidding out shows to each station in every market.

 

[mjlarochelle]

Can anyone guess as to the difference between a "programming service", a network, and a syndicatior? All I see is that the 10 hours of programming will be sent to a single station as a block instead of the syndication company bidding out shows to each station in every market.

To me it seems like a syndication block which has been negotiated with independent stations, which happen to use the "My" branding as part of the deal. Weren't there a couple services like this back in the late 80s/early 90s? Seems to me PETN was one.

 

[arnoldevns]

Can anyone guess as to the difference between a "programming service", a network, and a syndicatior? All I see is that the 10 hours of programming will be sent to a single station as a block instead of the syndication company bidding out shows to each station in every market.

There's very little difference between a programming service and a network. I suppose stations will have more freedom to run shows "out of pattern" - but why would they? You're losing sight of the reason My Network TV exists: to fill a 2 hour hole in prime time for stations that lost UPN or WB and didn't get the CW.
I'm sure the name My Network TV will remain. It's a branding mechanism the stations have now used for 2 years. No reason to ditch that.

Like I say, this "change" is not much of a change at all.

 

[Mario500]

Re: MyNetworkTV to switch to 'programming service', ceasing most originals next

Joe Smith, the operations manager for WEAR-TV and WFGX-TV, has responded to a message from an AVS Forum user from Chickasaw, Alabama who is actually interested in the latter station being accessible to Mobile residents. Here is the message:

WFGX will indeed move to the tall tower location in central Baldwin county, the same tower where we have our WEAR-TV antenna. But there are many engineering steps that must be completed. First, we're getting a full-power transmitter from a station in Tampa ... so we have to wait for that station to take out their transmitter and ship it to us - that will take several weeks. We have to prepare the transmitter building in Baldwin county - several more steps and several weeks. We have to purchase a new broadcast antenna and transmission line, wait for the antenna to be built, and wait for the antenna and line to be shipped. We then have to hire a tower crew to take down the channel 3 analog antenna and transmission line, and put up the WFGX digital antenna and transmission line, while our engineers are installing the transmitter and associated equipment. We will then have a short period of testing the antenna, line, and transmitter, all to meet FCC regulations. We hope to be on air no later than September 2009, and earlier if at all possible.
We regret the inconvenience to our viewers, but this is as fast as we can get it done. And if the FCC decides that we MUST stay on-the-air until the new June 12th analog shutoff date, then all the above tasks will extend out by at least another four months...so we're hoping they do allow us to shut off our analog signals on February 17, as we've been planning (and telling our viewers) for the past year.
Thanks for your interest in WFGX-TV/DT, and have a very nice day!

I believe this is an unnecessary move and that Mobile and the surrounding areas are better off without WFGX-TV. MyNetworkTV is not worth moving the transmitter to Baldwin County, especially after the news of its future programming. If the network were to shut down, many viewers would realize how bad a decision it was to change transmitter sites only to have is another station (broadcasting or cable/satellite) with very little quality programming. More choices is not always better these days.

WFGX-TV's co-ownership with WEAR-TV has affected certain programs that were once accessible to the entire market via the latter station, such as the weekday version of "Inside Edition", "The Jerry Springer Show", and "The Maury Povich Show". "The Daily Buzz" once aired in its entirety on WBPG-TV, which has since replaced it with paid programming from 5:00 AM to 8:00 AM (while co-owned station WALA-TV has a morning newscast), but now a shorter version airs on WFGX-TV.

Folks who were loyal to "SmackDown" on WBPG-TV and WJTC-TV can still wait for the program to return on a better venue. Since it has changed networks twice, it's very likely to happen again soon.

If it were not for the ownership and the network affiliation, WFGX-TV could have been put to better use to serve Fort Walton Beach, Florida like other stations with limited reach. Like WHEP-AM in Foley, Alabama, WFGX-TV could have been a true community station with a good mix of local and syndicated programming.

 

[vchimpanzee]

YEEEEEEEEEAH BOYYYYYYYYYY!!!!

I've enjoyed a lot of the movies.

And I learned even more than Fox had already taught me about how magicians and illusionists do their tricks. It does make me respect not only their intelligence and skill but also the same qualities in the beautiful assistants.

Arsenio showed me some very funny videos and (unintentionally) hilarious educational films from the Dark Ages. But Tom is still the king.

Chris has a talented brother, but then he shows that on Chris' CW show--the best show on The CW right now. Too bad the gags didn't live up to the hype.

And "The Fresh Prince" was remade with Carlton as the father. Okay, no one from THIS show will go on to be the top movie star at the box office.

The cops treated O.J. with respect and he did the same back. Very nice to see.

 

[Poledo]

Re: MyNetworkTV to switch to 'programming service', ceasing most originals next

If it were not for the ownership and the network affiliation, WFGX-TV could have been put to better use to serve Fort Walton Beach, Florida like other stations with limited reach. Like WHEP-AM in Foley, Alabama, WFGX-TV could have been a true community station with a good mix of local and syndicated programming.

WFGX had the potential to be just as big in the Fort Walton community as WAWD, WPAN, and WFBD, now it's just going to be wasted on the 500,000 person strong Mobile market. What a shame! Remember the WFGX Fort Walton newscast? That lasted all of three months.

Seriously, if I'm not mistaken WEAR owns the tower they're on in Baldwin county and either donates or leases space to PBS, WSRE. Your post already stated that they're buying used equipment and I can't see why they would have to build a new building at the transmitter site, why can't they just use the old WEAR analog shack? Also, why can't they just simulcast in SD on 3-2 for the time being and go ahead and get on Mobile area cable TV. Is there anything preventing this?

I've read that Fort Walton has over 95% cable/satellite penetration, so that must make OTA TV stations worthless down there. Mobile should have more OTA households. If Fort Walton didn't have such high cable penetration, I'd say that they needed their four TV stations to pick up network affiliations or at least simulcast a Mobile or Panama City station, but apparently that isn't needed. One other thing, it was rumored for years that WFGX was going to move to Freeport (in the area of WMXZ-FM) and become a CBS affiliate for Fort Walton and Panama City allowing WTVY to move their digital signal back to a site closer to Dothan. That seemed like a good plan, but it didn't happen.

 

[Nate Wesley]

Re: MyNetworkTV to switch to 'programming service', ceasing most originals next

I believe this is an unnecessary move and that Mobile and the surrounding areas are better off without WFGX-TV. MyNetworkTV is not worth moving the transmitter to Baldwin County, especially after the news of its future programming. If the network were to shut down, many viewers would realize how bad a decision it was to change transmitter sites only to have is another station (broadcasting or cable/satellite) with very little quality programming. More choices is not always better these days.

WFGX-TV's co-ownership with WEAR-TV has affected certain programs that were once accessible to the entire market via the latter station, such as the weekday version of "Inside Edition", "The Jerry Springer Show", and "The Maury Povich Show". "The Daily Buzz" once aired in its entirety on WBPG-TV, which has since replaced it with paid programming from 5:00 AM to 8:00 AM (while co-owned station WALA-TV has a morning newscast), but now a shorter version airs on WFGX-TV.

Folks who were loyal to "SmackDown" on WBPG-TV and WJTC-TV can still wait for the program to return on a better venue. Since it has changed networks twice, it's very likely to happen again soon.

If it were not for the ownership and the network affiliation, WFGX-TV could have been put to better use to serve Fort Walton Beach, Florida like other stations with limited reach. Like WHEP-AM in Foley, Alabama, WFGX-TV could have been a true community station with a good mix of local and syndicated programming.

I'd love to know how MyNetworkTV ended up on WFGX-TV in the first place--especially since the NewsCorp folks had to know it didn't remotely cover the entire Mobile-Pensacola TV metro. Couldn't they have at least talked to WKRG about putting it on their subchannel?

 

[Mario500]

Re: MyNetworkTV to switch to 'programming service', ceasing most originals next

I'd love to know how MyNetworkTV ended up on WFGX-TV in the first place--especially since the NewsCorp folks had to know it didn't remotely cover the entire Mobile-Pensacola TV metro. Couldn't they have at least talked to WKRG about putting it on their subchannel?

Sinclair Broadcast Group signed 17 of the company's stations, including WFGX-TV, to be affiliates of MyNetworkTV prior to the first network broadcast on September 5th, 2006. Here are some comments by David Smith of Sinclair and Jack Abernathy of FOX Television Stations:

“We are excited once again to be part of the birth of a new network. Given the great success of Fox over the years and their demonstrated history of thinking outside the box, we believe that over time this new network model will become a standard in the industry,” Sinclair CEO David Smith said in a statement.

“The advantages MyNetworkTV provides to our stations are compelling, with both a creative programming model for our viewers and a favorable inventory split.," he said. "We are especially excited about the Internet opportunities that will exist at the local level."

“Sinclair is operated by some of the smartest people in the business," said Fox Television Stations CEO Jack Abernethy said. "Their decision to become MyNetworkTV affiliates further endorses our approach to provide local broadcasters with network programming and a business model required to succeed in today’s converging digital marketplace.”

 

[JayR]

To me it seems like a syndication block which has been negotiated with independent stations, which happen to use the "My" branding as part of the deal. Weren't there a couple services like this back in the late 80s/early 90s? Seems to me PETN was one.

It's actually PTEN.

The other one was Action Pack.

 

[dhett]

To me it seems like a syndication block which has been negotiated with independent stations, which happen to use the "My" branding as part of the deal. Weren't there a couple services like this back in the late 80s/early 90s? Seems to me PETN was one.

It's actually PTEN.

The other one was Action Pack.

By its very name, however, PTEN, proclaimed itself to be a network. Read the talk page from the PTEN Wikipedia article, and you'll see that was the subject of much controversy.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Forgot one. "In Living Color". I'm still offended but it's great to see certain stars before they became famous.

None of the "Twilight Zone" reruns are new to me. I saw them on UPN.

Mostly it's the movies.