theCoolTV - The New "Tube"?

[DToTheJ]

Remember the popular network The Tube that played music videos 24/7 but shut down in fall 2007 due to financial difficulties?

Turns out there is a new network that recently sprung up called Cool TV - excuse me, The Cool TV (I guess there's a Cool TV in another area that has copyrights on that name : ). I can't help but wonder if this network will eventually go down the same path at some point.

 

[tripinva]

The difference is that The Cool TV has local aspects to it, and there are people who have digital receivers now. I don't think either aspect was true in 2006-2007.

- Trip

 

[KML0224]

The Wiki article says that Sinclair will have the service as a subchannel on stations that it owns. I guess this would include WGME-DT (CBS) channel 13 of Portland, ME.

 

[azumanga]

Then again, there's also ".2 Network", which was to have signed on early last year, but has yet to begin broadcasting. Even though there is more access to the digital infrastructure after the analog shutdown last year, .2 has yet to open.

Wanna bet that .2 will end up dying on the vine, perhaps taking GTN in Columbus, OH with it? (GTN sold its full-powered WSFJ to TBN and got low-powered analog W23BZ in return, probably to get funding for .2.)

 

[DToTheJ]

The Wiki article says that Sinclair will have the service as a subchannel on stations that it owns. I guess this would include WGME-DT (CBS) channel 13 of Portland, ME.

I believe the Wiki said that all but one Sinclair station (somewhere in Wisconsin, I believe) will have theCoolTV slapped onto their sides.

 

[tripinva]

All of the Sinclair markets are picking it up except Milwaukee and Las Vegas.

- Trip

 

[nathannah]

All of the Sinclair markets are picking it up except Milwaukee and Las Vegas.

- Trip

And that's only because Cool already has longtime affiliates in those markets (TMJ in Milwaukee and a LP broadcaster in Vegas that got them started).

 

[dave73]

It would be nice if it came to Chicago. Since WGN-TV is already commited to LATV, I don't see them adding THe Cool TV (not even split some of their bandwidth to add this channel). I don't even see Fox adding this channel on WFLD or WPWR-TV. ABC & NBC have already stretched their bandwidth for their 2 subchannels each (including WLS-TV each running 7.1 & 7.2 in 720p HD). CBS doesn't want subchannels & Weigel Broadcasting (WCIU, WWME-LD & CA, & WMEU-CA) could add it to WWME-LD, but WCIU is already stretched thin too. I don't know if Weigel would show interest in the channel.

I however remember The Tube. I bought a TV tuner card with a built in ATSC tuner in order to watch it on my PC. I even tried to order music from them, but they cancelled my order with little explanation. I later learned about their financial troubles. I do however miss The Tube since they played music videos that haven't been on in years.

 

[DToTheJ]

It would be nice if [theCoolTV] came to Chicago...

I don't know, Dave... Your market is "spoiled" with Me TV and similar programming options. Perhaps at some point, they'll find a way to strike a deal with an operator in major markets for clearance purposes. It'll definitely get their name out in the open. Because, to tell you the truth, the item I read about that channel before starting this thread was the first time I have heard of them.

 

[dave73]

It would be nice if [theCoolTV] came to Chicago...

I don't know, Dave... Your market is "spoiled" with Me TV and similar programming options. Perhaps at some point, they'll find a way to strike a deal with an operator in major markets for clearance purposes. It'll definitely get their name out in the open. Because, to tell you the truth, the item I read about that channel before starting this thread was the first time I have heard of them.

I first heard about The Cool TV when I did a search on rabbitears.info. I also went to the WTMJ site and it sounded interesting. Now that I'm hearing that the channel being expanded to other markets, makes me wish it would come to Chicago. I only mentioned that Weigel doesn't have the bandwidth on WCIU to add another channel. If they were to add The Cool TV, it might be on a subchannel to WWME-LD or upcoming WMEU-LD. We are lucky to have MeTV & MeToo, plus a well programmed WCIU, but a music channel would be nice to have. I just don't know who would agree to agree to carry such a channel.

 

[JeeperOne]

Given the way in which The Tube flopped back in 2007, I can't imagine Local Media (Or whoever owns KWGN 2 nowadays) picking up this new channel. Likewise with duopoly sister station KDVR 31 (FOX)

Add this to the fact that (As someone else posted) CBS doesn't want subchannels, KMGH has NewsChannel 247 on Comcast Digital Channel 247 (And KMGH-DT 7.2 as well if I'm not mistaken), KUSA 9 is loaded with stuff from NBC & it's highly doubtful Gannett would even consider a subchannel for KTVD 20 (MyNetwork TV) for this network & it's pretty safe to say that this new channel doesn't stand a chance in hell in Denver either.

And that's to say nothing RTV affiliate KCDO 3 (Who just got listed on Comcast here in Denver) & both PBS stations. They speak for themselves (KCDO 3 is a satellite of CBS affiliate KGWN 5 Cheyenne, WY & carries Northern Colorado 5 News @ 10:00 PM).

JMO.....

Cheers

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Raycom, which had the Tube on many of its .2 and .3 channels has, by and large, put other programming on those channels, inking a deal with thistv for carriage at some point last year.

 

[1st of 5]

Here in San Antonio, TX, our local Sinclair stations, KABB-29 & KMYS-35, do not have ANY subchannels. They are the only OTAs here that don't air any subchannels. Even that lousy, repetitive rerun excuse for a network, ION has 4 subchannels! Besides, its most likely that your new music video network airs only that same old demograghically approved, advertiser accepted juvenile bump-n-jump noise that rattles those $150 heaps with the $2000 rims on them. Won't be missed here. Enjoy the flash while you can, in this modern electro-gizmo dependent/addicted age probably won't last long, again.

 

[dave73]

Here in San Antonio, TX, our local Sinclair stations, KABB-29 & KMYS-35, do not have ANY subchannels. They are the only OTAs here that don't air any subchannels. Even that lousy, repetitive rerun excuse for a network, ION has 4 subchannels! Besides, its most likely that your new music video network airs only that same old demograghically approved, advertiser accepted juvenile bump-n-jump noise that rattles those $150 heaps with the $2000 rims on them. Won't be missed here. Enjoy the flash while you can, in this modern electro-gizmo dependent/addicted age probably won't last long, again.

Sinclair doesn't have any subchannels on their 2 Milwaukee stations either: WVTV 18 & WCGV 24. The Tube used to be on WCGV 24.2, but they dropped The Tube from all the stations that had The Tube due to mandatory E/I requirements for digital subchannels. Since that time, they haven't had any subchannels on their stations. They're starting to change their mind by carrying The Cool TV on their station in other markets that don't already have it on a competitor. Since Journal Broadcasting already has it on WTMJ 4.3, Sinclair can't add it to one of their Milwaukee stations unless WTMJ wanted to let Sinclair take over the channel. That isn't gonna happen anytime soon since it compliments Journal Broadcasting's radio station WLWK. In Chicago, Foxed owned WFLD & MNT WPWR-TV, CBS O&O WBBM-TV (they don't want subchannels on their O&O stations), Weigel's WWME-LD (only WWME-LD as WCIU has 5 subchannels), & WGBO have no subchannels. WXFT (Univision O&O Telefutura station) simulcasts on 60.2. I don't see Univision adding The Cool TV to their channels just because of their programming being aimed toward the Hispanic population. WGN-TV is already committed to LATV & don't expect them to drop it, nor do I see them taking bandwidth away from WGN-TV to add another subchannel.

As for Ion TV; they don't carry The Worship Network anymore. So their owned & operated stations only hvae Ion TV on XX.1, Qubo on XX.2, & Ion Life on XX.3 (xx= whatever the PSIP channel is for your local market)

 

[tripinva]

And that's to say nothing RTV affiliate KCDO 3 (Who just got listed on Comcast here in Denver) & both PBS stations. They speak for themselves (KCDO 3 is a satellite of CBS affiliate KGWN 5 Cheyenne, WY & carries Northern Colorado 5 News @ 10:00 PM).

JMO.....

Cheers

Check your info. KCDO hasn't repeated KGWN for many years now. It's now an RTV affiliate.

- Trip

 

[dhett]

Raycom, which had the Tube on many of its .2 and .3 channels has, by and large, put other programming on those channels, inking a deal with thistv for carriage at some point last year.

Raycom is still apologizing for the demise of The Tube on KOLD 13.3 in Tucson. I captured this thumbnail image tonight: http://picasaweb.google.com/dhett21/TV#5474760774003808338.

Also, Belo beat out Raycom to get ThisTV in Tucson. They already have it on KMSB 11.2.

 

[azumanga]

And that's to say nothing RTV affiliate KCDO 3 ...They speak for themselves (KCDO 3 is a satellite of CBS affiliate KGWN 5 Cheyenne, WY & carries Northern Colorado 5 News @ 10:00 PM).

Check your info. KCDO hasn't repeated KGWN for many years now. It's now an RTV affiliate.[/quote]

While the station is not exactly a KGWN satellite, it does carry its special NC5 newscast.