Superstations

[bk77]

Hampton Roads, Virginia's old WYAH-TV 27 ( now WGNT part of CW ) back in the 70's and early 80's when Pat Robertson owned them was a "somewhat" superstation. I am not sure exactly how far they were seen but I do remember seeing WYAH's listngs appear back then in the old long-defunct Washington Star newspaper... If there weren't any WYAH viewers in the DC metro area..why would The Star even bother featuring the listings from WYAH?

Makes me wonder if Robertson owned the Star, too...

Superstations? I just happen to know of an Internet radio station that positions itself as a "talk superstation..."

The more I think about it I think the Star got confused with WYAH-TV and the old CBN Cable Network from that time. Maybe those listings were actually from CBN. Looking back now, both Pat's CBN and WYAH more or less were airing the same thing. Westerns on weekends, the airing of 700 Club mulitple times a day, old TV shows, cartoons, Let's Make A Deal, that sort of thing. The only difference I can think of between the two was that WYAH had Bozo The Clown, Flintstones, Brady Bunch and Leave it to Beaver where as they didn't air on CBN but everything else was the same , though they may not always had been in sync with each other.

Even back in the early 80s, despite being a "superstation" I dont remember seeing much in the way of local Atlanta commercials on WTBS, yet even though they were NOT a superstation, I do remember seeing some local Norfolk/Virginia Beach ads appear on CBN Cable such as for Lynnhaven Mall, The Norfolk based Giant Open Air Markets, even for the regional Miller & Rhodes department stores. Not too mention just about ever mail order ad CBN aired back then used a "Norfolk, Virginia" address. So for viewers say outside Virginia, for a time back in the 70's and early 80's, watching CBN was kind of like watching a local Norfolk TV station.

 

[rch66]

Thanks for the insight, rch66. The Variety article was very interesting, although Tribune certainly doesn't seem content going status quo with WGN's national signal any longer, based on some of the changes that have been taking place since Memorial Day.

Within the U.S., I figured superstations like WPIX were relegated to the immediate regions they serve, with the exception of the Dish package that is offered. I was vacationing in Buffalo in November, hoping to see WWOR and/or WPIX. Neither were available on the city's local Time Warner cable system. I would imagine that wasn't the case at one time.

For WWOR, I don't think its avail on C-Band anymore (after the WOR shutdown) so it'd be hard for cable companies over 80 miles away, to pick up a signal source, though its legally still a superstation. WWOR or Fox won't shell the expense. Dish's history in carrying it started when they just set up a point of presence near New York, to carry WNBC, WCBS, WNYW and WABC as NBC-E, CBS-E, Fox-E, and ABC-E for distant network customers, (those that qualified for distant networks) and it was easy and profitable to pick up and sell WWOR. This was before local into local services. At one point of time, those who qualified for distant network services could get multiple markets with Dish Network. The broadcasters seeked an injuction against Echostar/Dish Network, forcing Dish to stop.

I was surprised Comcast in Trenton, Central NJ, dropped WWOR, which is supposed to be a "NJ" VHF station. I'm guessing WPHL (MY 17) may have had something to do with it. WWOR is still in Allentown, PA and the Poconos area I think. I've heard that the license fee for the superstations is really low, under $.25, but I know Dish charges them at a $1.50, but I suppose it limits too much sale of it and Dish doesn't want to just bundle it with locals like how cable does because more exposure = more notice by local broadcasters who would ensue to enforce blackouts.

 

[WKRPinOklahomaCity]

That is one of the best things about Dish Network is the superstations, mostly all of them owned by Tribune broadcasting, so you can watch Two & a Half Men and Family Guy at various hours of the evening. KTLA seems to be my favorite, just a damn good tv station. KWGN is the next, then probably PIX 11, and then WSBK & WWOR are okay, nothing really that stands out in their schedules.

 

[ansky212]

That is one of the best things about Dish Network is the superstations, mostly all of them owned by Tribune broadcasting, so you can watch Two & a Half Men and Family Guy at various hours of the evening. KTLA seems to be my favorite, just a damn good tv station. KWGN is the next, then probably PIX 11, and then WSBK & WWOR are okay, nothing really that stands out in their schedules.

Yeah, but Dish is lacking in a lot of other areas, especially sports programming. They don't even carry the YES Network (home of the Yankees), so needless to say, the majority of satellite dishes around NYC are Directv.

 

[willcail]

The only official Superstation that is left is WGN TV. In my area Insight Cable in Columbus Ohio carries WUAB TV from Cleveland Ohio. There is a Low Power TV station GTN TV23 that is carried on that third Satellite Television system Sky Angel.

 

[BRNout]

The only official Superstation that is left is WGN TV. In my area Insight Cable in Columbus Ohio carries WUAB TV from Cleveland Ohio. There is a Low Power TV station GTN TV23 that is carried on that third Satellite Television system Sky Angel.

Not even WGN is a superstation in the original sense. Not any more.

The WGN America feed that viewers outside of the Chicago DMA is different than what is offered by WGN Channel 9 within the market. Only a few shows, including some (but not all) newscasts, are aired on both stations. For the most part, they're different entities.

 

[llokey]

The only official Superstation that is left is WGN TV.

I don't believe that is a true statement. WGN is a cable channel now. However there are five superstations left WSBK, WWOR, WPIX, KTLA, and KWGN. Unless congress acts though they may lose their status.

 

[willcail]

WWOR? Is this the same WWOR that owns WOR 710AM in New York City? Back in the early 1990's Coaxial Cable (now Insight Cable) carries WWOR.

GTN is launching a digital sub channel called the .2 Network in Spring/Summer 2009.

Does WGN America still airs the local 9PM news? I don't have cable, because I refuse to deal with Time Warner. Then I have a high speed DSL and most TV shows get posted online.

 

[ShawnHill1]

WWOR? Is this the same WWOR that owns WOR 710AM in New York City? Back in the early 1990's Coaxial Cable (now Insight Cable) carries WWOR.

GTN is launching a digital sub channel called the .2 Network in Spring/Summer 2009.

Does WGN America still airs the local 9PM news? I don't have cable, because I refuse to deal with Time Warner. Then I have a high speed DSL and most TV shows get posted online.

(W)WOR-TV and WOR-AM haven't been co-owned together since 1987.

And yes, WGN America still broadcasts the 9PM news, although it's sometimes pre-empted due to movies and specials (covered up nationally due to whenever the local WGN broadcasts Bulls or Blackhawks games not cleared for a nationwide broadcast--WGN America only televises 15 of the 25 local WGN Bulls games, while they're not allowed to broadcast any of the WGN Blackhawks games outside of Chicago).

 

[MarcB]

Yeah, but Dish is lacking in a lot of other areas, especially sports programming. They don't even carry the YES Network (home of the Yankees), so needless to say, the majority of satellite dishes around NYC are Directv.

Yeah. They also don't carry The MLB Network, TV One, or the 24 hour feed of The N.

 

[willcail]

Sky Angel is now a IPTV service.
There might be a chance that U Verse might be available at the High rise apartment where I leave. Right now Time Warner is the only choice.