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Silly question about network bugs

K

KML0224

Guest
While I was transferring my VHS copy of Super Bowl XXIX onto DVD (aired by ABC in 1995), I noticed at that time that the ABC logo bug only appeared sporatically in the corner a couple of times a quarter, unlike how it is constant now, except for certain in-show advertising or 10 seconds out of a commercial (so a local affiliate can place their logo there). The same videotape also had segments on it from David Letterman's CBS show from the winter of 1995. There was no corner "eye" in the bottom right at all. Correct me if I'm wrong, but CBS first started putting the bug in the corner during their news programs. Also, NBC has now taken the Olympic rings out from under the peacock bug. In other words, it's hard to imagine a station these days which doesn't have one. Do any even still exist?

P.S. I was NOT dubbing that copy of Super Bowl XXIX for any type of sale (the game was a boring one-sided blowout for San Francisco). I simply dubbed it for 1- A DVD's durability over time and 2- How much less space a DVD takes up (jewel box and all!) compared to the standard VHS tape. :)<P ID="signature">______________
The 2006 New York Yankees...on to title #27!</P>
 
> While I was transferring my VHS copy of Super Bowl XXIX onto
> DVD (aired by ABC in 1995), I noticed at that time that the
> ABC logo bug only appeared sporatically in the corner a
> couple of times a quarter, unlike how it is constant now,
> except for certain in-show advertising or 10 seconds out of
> a commercial (so a local affiliate can place their logo
> there). The same videotape also had segments on it from
> David Letterman's CBS show from the winter of 1995. There
> was no corner "eye" in the bottom right at all. Correct me
> if I'm wrong, but CBS first started putting the bug in the
> corner during their news programs. Also, NBC has now taken
> the Olympic rings out from under the peacock bug. In other
> words, it's hard to imagine a station these days which
> doesn't have one. Do any even still exist?

One of the local class A's in my area (WOIL-CA/47 Sylacauga, AL) doesn't have a bug as far as I know, but they do have an ENORMOUS crawler that they use for legal id's that takes up 20% of the screen and uses the classic yellow block font every station had in the early 80s.

Every other station I know of has one.
 
WNBC seems to use their bug for just news programs, with syndicated fare sans bug. WABC also seems to do the same.<P ID="signature">______________
<a href=http://www.triborough.org/blog/>Random Observations on Life, the Universe and Television</a></P>
 
> P.S. I was NOT dubbing that copy of Super Bowl XXIX for any
> type of sale (the game was a boring one-sided blowout for
> San Francisco). I simply dubbed it for 1- A DVD's durability
> over time and 2- How much less space a DVD takes up (jewel
> box and all!) compared to the standard VHS tape. :)

Can you burn me a copy of that Game. I would love a copy!!
 
Here in Hartford FOX 61/WB 20 have a logo they use all the time during non-network programming. WFSB 3/CBS and WVIT 30/NBC O&O has a NBC 30 logo. And they have a different one the use during the news. Channel 3 has a logo thats says EyeWitness News and a 3 next to it during their newscasts. WTNH 8/ABC and WCTX 59/UPN don't use a logo during local programming. When a show comes back from a commercial break WCTX will stick it's UPN 9 logo up for about a minute. Other than the news I don't think WTNH uses its News Channel 8 Logo, expect for a commercial promoting a local show.

When WHCT Channel 18 (Now WUVN) came back from the dead in February 1997, they were only on the air 9AM-5PM and the only programming the had was from Bud Paxson's Worship Network, they had in Yellow capital Letters on the screen at all times WHCT CHANNEL 18 HARTFORD, CT. At least with that at the bottom of the screen my Dad was able to figure out that it was they who was causing interference with Cable Channel 69, which at that time on TCI Cable was USA Network. TCI didn't know WHCT had come back on the air and they didn't believe him when he called and complained about the interference on 69 until they saw it for themeselves. After tons of complaints USA was finally moved to 34 and 69 became the infomercial network.
 
> Can you burn me a copy of that Game. I would love a copy!!
>

Can that be done LEGALLY? I still have the tape (for now). The game was taped on a mono VCR from WTNH-TV (ABC) channel 8 of New Haven, CT (Hartford market). The same tape also has an episode of "WWF Mania" from USA Network on it from 1995. The episode had live inserts from the Hartford Civic Center since a handful of tickets for "WWF WrestleMania XI" went on sale that late January morning way back when. (I was in that crowd somewhere and got Shawn Michaels' and Ted DiBiase's autographs that day.)
<P ID="signature">______________
The 2006 New York Yankees...on to title #27!</P>
 
Yes, WTXX-TV (WB) channel 20 and WTIC-TV (FOX) channel 61 are pretty consistent with their bug in the corner nearly all of the time. WFSB-TV (CBS) channel 3 keeps a clear "3 Circle" bug in the corner during local origination, except for newscasts, when the "Eyewitness News 3" bug appears. For some reason, it goes off the screen during weather segments! WFSB-DT channel 33 (a.k.a. "3-1") also had a "3-HD" bug in the bottom right for a time. It was recently removed and an analog viewer of "regular" channel 3 never saw it. WTNH-TV (ABC) channel 8 doesn't use a bug during syndicated programming, but does leave the "8" bug on screen during newscasts. Sister station WCTX-TV (UPN) channel 59, like you said, leaves their ID in the corner for a good 30 seconds or more after coming out of commercial.

As for channel 18 of Hartford, is THAT why USA Netowrk moved? I live in New Britain (southwest of Hartford for those who don't know) and remember that switch now you mentioned it (back when USA was home to then-WWF all the time). I simply thought it was moved since the lower cable channel numbers are the ones which usually get more viewership!<P ID="signature">______________
The 2006 New York Yankees...on to title #27!</P>
 
> Yes, WTXX-TV (WB) channel 20 and WTIC-TV (FOX) channel 61
> are pretty consistent with their bug in the corner nearly
> all of the time. WFSB-TV (CBS) channel 3 keeps a clear "3
> Circle" bug in the corner during local origination, except
> for newscasts, when the "Eyewitness News 3" bug appears. For
> some reason, it goes off the screen during weather segments!
> WFSB-DT channel 33 (a.k.a. "3-1") also had a "3-HD" bug in
> the bottom right for a time. It was recently removed and an
> analog viewer of "regular" channel 3 never saw it. WTNH-TV
> (ABC) channel 8 doesn't use a bug during syndicated
> programming, but does leave the "8" bug on screen during
> newscasts. Sister station WCTX-TV (UPN) channel 59, like you
> said, leaves their ID in the corner for a good 30 seconds or
> more after coming out of commercial.
>
> As for channel 18 of Hartford, is THAT why USA Netowrk
> moved? I live in New Britain (southwest of Hartford for
> those who don't know) and remember that switch now you
> mentioned it (back when USA was home to then-WWF all the
> time). I simply thought it was moved since the lower cable
> channel numbers are the ones which usually get more
> viewership!
>

It is my understanding that most stations have the option to ovveride the bug if they so wish...replace it with their own, or simply not use one. The bug plays a very important role in the television world though...and I don't mean burning into your screen so you have to buy a new set either.
 
ABC's Bug and The Academy Awards?

That's why ABC usually waits about 10 seconds after coming out of commercial to put their bug back in the corner. It gives the affiliate the option of putting their logo there first. WTNH-TV channel 8 of New Haven used to do that all of the time.

Speaking of which, is there a reason why ABC never keeps their bug in the corner during the Academy Awards telecast?<P ID="signature">______________
The 2006 New York Yankees...on to title #27!</P>
 
Re: ABC's Bug and The Academy Awards?

> Speaking of which, is there a reason why ABC never keeps
> their bug in the corner during the Academy Awards telecast?

I think that it is part of the contract for the telecast.
<P ID="signature">______________
<a href=http://www.triborough.org/blog/>Random Observations on Life, the Universe and Television</a></P>
 
> WNBC seems to use their bug for just news programs, with
> syndicated fare sans bug. WABC also seems to do the same.

WXIA Atlanta only uses a bug for news shows and Dr. Phil. The other Atlanta stations have one on during local/syndicated programming.

WGCL Atlanta has a weird bug, with the space below the CBS 46 logo flashing between the time/temperature and station's website address, even during syndicated programming. WGCL also places their CBS 46 logo to the left of the CBS logo during all CBS entertainment programming. During the "CBS Morning News" and "The Early Show", WGCL places their newscast time/temperature/website bug completely over the CBS logo.
 
> > Can you burn me a copy of that Game. I would love a
> copy!!
> >
>
> Can that be done LEGALLY? I still have the tape (for now).
> The game was taped on a mono VCR from WTNH-TV (ABC) channel
> 8 of New Haven, CT (Hartford market). The same tape also has
> an episode of "WWF Mania" from USA Network on it from 1995.
> The episode had live inserts from the Hartford Civic Center
> since a handful of tickets for "WWF WrestleMania XI" went on
> sale that late January morning way back when. (I was in that
> crowd somewhere and got Shawn Michaels' and Ted DiBiase's
> autographs that day.)
>
I don't believe it's legal, technically, because the network disclaimer, as I remember it, says "any reproduction..., in whole or in part, is *strictly* prohibited."

You could probably give ONE copy to a friend and be OK, ethically. But don't burn off copies for everyone who asks. Even if you don't sell the DVD's, the NFL would still consider that theft of its product (because whether or not *you* make money isn't the question; it's whether or not the *NFL* makes money).

Ape.
 
Re: ABC's Bug and The Academy Awards?

> > Speaking of which, is there a reason why ABC never keeps
> > their bug in the corner during the Academy Awards
> telecast?
>
> I think that it is part of the contract for the telecast.
>

I guess its become so ubiquitous that I didn't even notice that it *wasn't* there. I just take it for granted.

I think it was around 1997 or 1998 that the bugs started staying up all the time during network programming.

WTVA leaves their stylized "9" logo up 24-hours per day (including during commercials). During syndicated programming it is in the spot that normally holds the NBC peacock. During network programming, it is next to the peacock. Their co-operated stations WLOV-27-Fox and WKDH-45-ABC also leave their local bugs up all the time.

From what I can tell, based upon the number of technical gaffes (like not putting up the news bug, half of the time, during news programming), WTVA's - and WLOV and WKDH - master control is still manually operated. This would explain why the bug is left up all the time.
 
Re: ABC's Bug and The Academy Awards?

I noticed the lack of a bug on the HD broadcast from KATV-DT during ABC's broadcast of the oscars. Seemed out of place since those things have taken over the airwaves.

Seems CBS has had network bug since the early 90's, and ABC followed suit soon afterwards.

Time was when only bugs on tv were phone numbers during religious programming.
 
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