They preempted that for this?

[rwells2265]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

Re the "Heidi" game:

What they did was cut away from the Jets - Raiders (1968) game with something like 1:30 left to go.  The NY Jets were up by 3 points and had the ball.  So, some knuckleheads at NBC in New York figured the game was over and they flipped the switch to the rather boring looking kids' movie, Heidi.   **SNIP**
Needless to say, NBC had to do a mea culpa - Brinkley actually showed the last minute of the game on Nightly News (in case you missed it) and such a thing never happened again. 

In Alabama, there was barely a peep.  As mentioned earlier, Birmingham's primary NBC station, WAPI-TV 13 (WVTM) originated The Bear Bryant Show, the weekly U. of Alabama football review program at 4 PM ... and Montgomery NBC affil WSFA-12 produced The Auburn Football Review ("You're so right, Carl!"), which followed at 5:00.  Both programs, back to back, were relayed to all NBC stations in the state.  No big surprise, Alabama and Auburn trumped pro football. 

The only station in Alabama airing the Jets/Raiders game from NBC was little ol' Channel 42 in Birmingham.  (Okay, MAYBE Tuscaloosa station WCFT-33 picked up the game, too)    Bottom line: that game had next to zero viewership.  Most people watched Bear talk about yesterday's game while chugging Coke after Coke and munching on Golden Flake potato chips, followed by Shug Jordan - jealous of Bear because it's a little hard to eat a Princess telephone.    (Bell sponsored Auburn's program)

Imagine the MAJOR tension that had to have permeated in the master controls of both Channels 13 and 42 when 6:00 (CST) approached, and 13 - planning to air "Heidi" - wondered if Curt G. and company were going to clear the air in time!!

More can be found here:
http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/heidi.htm

--Russell

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

This is why Sunday night shows often start late on NFL weekends - though FOX wisely came up with the OT idea as a buffer. It's now in each network's NFL contact that they MAY NOT pull the plug and must cover the game in its entirety...at the minimum in it's home market. They can switch away from blowouts, as long as its not in a primary or secondary market for one of the teams that is playing.

But does anyone also remember Fox's "Heidi in reverse" around 2004-05 that was discussed almost weekly during football season on the National TV board (back in fall 2005 on here when this practice was at its worst). How Fox would run minutes of commercials after the end of the postgame show, then run the openings of shows like a "Simpsons" rerun, "Malcolm in the Middle," or King of the Hill, then a few more minutes of commercials--followed (about as much as 15 or so minutes after the completion of the game or postgame show) by this disclaimer which went something like: "Due to the length of this game we will now be joining [insert title here] in progress." And this was with as little as less than 5 minutes of the scheduled program in some instances. I remember seeing many posters on here claim that this practice contributed to the eventual cancellation of shows like Malcom and KOTH. IIRC by 2006, this "inexplicable network preemption on a more national scale" ended mercifully with Fox scheduling the OT to round out the 7/6 hour when most NFL games would run over.

Here's one of the December 2005 National TV threads complaining endlessly about this practice by Fox:

http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=22149.0

 

[charlestondxman]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

They did it again. WCIV preempted the Friday night new show Supernanny so they could show the Operation Smile Train, that charity that helps to relieve cleft lip disease.

Instead, they are showing Supernanny at 3pm Sunday, and Cougartown (which was preempted for that spine informercial) at 5:30pm Sunday, so they can fill holes in ABC's gaping Sunday afternoon lineup. Why not show them during primetime?

Next Wednesday night, they are airing the same spine informercial that they aired earlier in the week, at 8pm as the lead-in for their primetime lineup, preempting The Middle (at least this is a rerun). Why would you do that?

On the 19th, they are preempting the ABC movie The Santa Clause 2, a Christmas themed movie for their own movie, Magic in the Water (not a Christmas themed movie).

No wonder WCIV is a distant #3 in the ratings (even in primetime), and is often passed by WTAT (Fox). At least they do some local programming (Lowcountry Live at 10am weekdays), and have concise news.

 

[nomadcowatbk]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

This is why Sunday night shows often start late on NFL weekends - though FOX wisely came up with the OT idea as a buffer. It's now in each network's NFL contact that they MAY NOT pull the plug and must cover the game in its entirety...at the minimum in it's home market. They can switch away from blowouts, as long as its not in a primary or secondary market for one of the teams that is playing.

But does anyone also remember Fox's "Heidi in reverse" around 2004-05 that was discussed almost weekly during football season on the National TV board (back in fall 2005 on here when this practice was at its worst). How Fox would run minutes of commercials after the end of the postgame show, then run the openings of shows like a "Simpsons" rerun, "Malcolm in the Middle," or King of the Hill, then a few more minutes of commercials--followed (about as much as 15 or so minutes after the completion of the game or postgame show) by this disclaimer which went something like: "Due to the length of this game we will now be joining [insert title here] in progress." And this was with as little as less than 5 minutes of the scheduled program in some instances. I remember seeing many posters on here claim that this practice contributed to the eventual cancellation of shows like Malcom and KOTH. IIRC by 2006, this "inexplicable network preemption on a more national scale" ended mercifully with Fox scheduling the OT to round out the 7/6 hour when most NFL games would run over.

Here's one of the December 2005 National TV threads complaining endlessly about this practice by Fox:

http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=22149.0

That killed Futurama

 

[azumanga]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

On the 19th, they are preempting the ABC movie The Santa Clause 2, a Christmas themed movie for their own movie, Magic in the Water (not a Christmas themed movie).

Not to mention it is also a practically-unknown film, with unknown actors. In fact, Maltin and Ebert practically panned the picture themselves, dismissing it as practically uninteresting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_in_the_Water

Doesn't the station have any other film in their library that's worth pre-empting another show for?

At least they do some local programming (Lowcountry Live at 10am weekdays)...

Is "Lowcountry Live" a pay-to-play program, like WFLA's "Daytime"?

 

[oldschooler1]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

They did it again. WCIV preempted the Friday night new show Supernanny so they could show the Operation Smile Train, that charity that helps to relieve cleft lip disease.

Instead, they are showing Supernanny at 3pm Sunday, and Cougartown (which was preempted for that spine informercial) at 5:30pm Sunday, so they can fill holes in ABC's gaping Sunday afternoon lineup. Why not show them during primetime?

Next Wednesday night, they are airing the same spine informercial that they aired earlier in the week, at 8pm as the lead-in for their primetime lineup, preempting The Middle (at least this is a rerun). Why would you do that?

On the 19th, they are preempting the ABC movie The Santa Clause 2, a Christmas themed movie for their own movie, Magic in the Water (not a Christmas themed movie).

No wonder WCIV is a distant #3 in the ratings (even in primetime), and is often passed by WTAT (Fox). At least they do some local programming (Lowcountry Live at 10am weekdays), and have concise news.

If they are a distant #3, then they're probably always hard up for cash. The bottomline is the bottomline, my friend. They can make more running their own movie selling all the breaks for themselves. They likely got way more money running that infomercial for cleft palates than they'd get in that same hour from the two minutes or so that ABC allows for local avails.

 

[Hal Erickson]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

In Milwaukee, the NBC affiliate WTMJ bypassed "The Virginian" four four years, running a weekly color travelogue in its place. "Virginian" was picked up by independent WUHF-TV as its one-and-only color program (at least during the 1963-64 season).
WTMJ did all right with the travelogue, but this encouraged them to drop other shows as well. In January of 1968 the station saw so little potential in "Laugh-In" that for several weeks they pre-empted it, and once again WUHF took up the slack. Ironically, WTMJ's replacement program consisted of "Man From UNCLE" reruns--and never mind that "UNCLE" had dropped so far in the ratings by then that NBC had elected to replace it with "Laugh-In."
Some shows we NEVER got in Milwaukee despite 3 VHF networkers and 1 UHF indie, including the 1962 prime-time network run of "Soupy Sales", the 1970 Larry Storch sitcom "The Queen and I", CBS's Tuesday-night "Marshal Dillon" reruns of 1961-1964, and the 1962 Nick Adams drama series "Saints and Sinners" (not to mention scores of popular syndicated programs).

 

[charlestondxman]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

Mark Harmon is the only well-known actor in that movie. They show 90s movies frequently filling-in for ABC shows.

Lowcountry Live is definitely a pay-to-play program. All of the segments are sponsored and are locally-run (but its more like a newscast).

Even their set comes from a local business. WCIV used to be #2, but when they switched to ABC, that was right when they were getting low-rated, so they dropped to #3 while WCBD moved to #2. It's been on for several years (since 2005). Before that in the 10am slot, they were stuck with Tony Danza and Jane Pauley, and Lowcountry Live was originally named the Dish.

Remember, this is the station that used to run Creflo Dollar as the lead-in to the ABC soaps (and did for several years). They still run ads for the Believer's Voice of Victory, and treat it like a regular program. They've also run the same religious programs at 7:30 and 8am Sunday for well over a decade (Walterboro Christian Center). WCIV does try hard and has a good newscast.

 

[trusty]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

In the '60s it took a number of years before 13 picked up The Tonight Show ... WBMG-42 (WIAT) aired it soon after signing on in 1965. 13 carried it some time in the late '60s, but did so on a one-hour delay in order to shoehorn an "extra hour" of prime time to emulate the EST zone. 13's late news aired at 11, followed by Carson.

In those days, "sex and violence" was used as one word to guide the "morals" of programming - mostly for tape-delay to later hours. In 1976-77, Carson (an "adult" program) was delayed one hour; in its place, I kid you not, were reruns of "The Untouchables".

 

[bpatrick]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

WXIA did the same thing in 1973, bumping ABC's "Wide World
Of Entertainment" to 12:40 AM (and then on a night-behind) to
air "The Untouchables"; later it ran "Mission: Impossible," then
"Bonanza," at 11:30 and finally put "Wide World" on a one-hour
delay at 12:30 (cutting its 11 PM news from 40 minutes to 30).
Later, starting around 1976, it aired "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman"
at 11:30, delaying ABC's programming to 12. So much for "sex and
morals", but again, this is Atlanta, not Birmingham, so there may be
some differences in the stations' thinking. (Didn't WBRC run "MH, MH"
at 10:30, though?)

At the time I left Birmingham, WBRC was also delaying "Wide World"
an hour (but on a one-hour delay), with "Perry Mason" at 10:30, followed
by "Wide World" at 11:30; its local news came on at 10.

 

[mleach]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

Remember, this is the station that used to run Creflo Dollar as the lead-in to the ABC soaps (and did for several years). They still run ads for the Believer's Voice of Victory, and treat it like a regular program. They've also run the same religious programs at 7:30 and 8am Sunday for well over a decade (Walterboro Christian Center). WCIV does try hard and has a good newscast.

On a similar note, I still wonder what exactly is the reason why Virginia's top three markets ( Hampton Roads, Richmond and Roanoke-Lynchburg ), mid-morning at least one big station still airs the 700 Club.

WAVY 10 ( NBC ) : Between Today and WAVY News 10 @ Noon
WRIC 8 ( ABC ): Between 8 news @ 9am and The View
WSLS 10 ( NBC ): Between Today and a local program at Noon called "Our Blue Ridge"

On the flip side I checked out the other markets in VA such as Charlottesville, Bristol Tri-Cities and Harrisonburg...no Pat & Company..at least not during the mid morning on the big three affiliates but in the bigger markets..he is there.

I am sure the reason for the 700 Club to air on a big network station such as WAVY is strictly money ( maybe I had answered my own question ) but still it is a bit odd to see Pat Robertson next to Today or in WRIC's case..The View.

 

[azumanga]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

I am sure the reason for the 700 Club to air on a big network station such as WAVY is strictly money ( maybe I had answered my own question )...

Apparently, Pat probably wants his show seen by as many people as possible in his home market -- never mind that it's against "The View" and "The Price Is Right".

 

[hipman2]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

One year, I forgot which, KGTV in San Diego pre-empted The Skins golf tournament because it wanted to run the local weekend news at 5pm. Many golfers here weren't too happy with that.

In 1975, channel 39, then ABC, shifted Wide World of Entertainment from 11:30pm to 3:30pm for a few months. I kid you not. Not sure what they were thinking except to sign off at midnight? I guess they couldn't get enough syndicated fare to fill in the late afternoon period.

In about 1988, channel 8 ran Entertainment Tonight at 11:30, delaying the CBS Late Movie to midnight. They shifted ET to 7:30 after Larry Himmel at Large there concluded its series.

Channel 10 never ran ABC Rocks at all. It was a Friday (early Saturday) show following the Friday Nightline.

 

[mleach]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

I am sure the reason for the 700 Club to air on a big network station such as WAVY is strictly money ( maybe I had answered my own question )...

Apparently, Pat probably wants his show seen by as many people as possible in his home market -- never mind that it's against "The View" and "The Price Is Right".

Maybe so but if that were the case, kinda surprised that the 700 Club hasn't done the same in places like Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham and other cities in North Carolina. Not on some UHF but on a big station like say WRAL or WBTV...mid morning since he has his followers in the Carolinas...perhaps maybe even more-so than Virginia.

 

[Ultimajock]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

In 1975, channel 39, then ABC, shifted Wide World of Entertainment from 11:30pm to 3:30pm for a few months. I kid you not. Not sure what they were thinking except to sign off at midnight? I guess they couldn't get enough syndicated fare to fill in the late afternoon period.

...perhaps the programmer was one of those guys who'd shifted the CBS version of The Merv Griffin Show from the late night pattern to a daytime slot a few years earlier?...

 

[bpatrick]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

Actually several CBS affiliates shifted Merv to the afternoon;
Tim Lones may recall that WJW was one; WAGA was another.
And in Louisville, WLKY (then ABC) picked up Merv when WHAS
(then CBS) pre-empted him, then kept him in the same timeslot
where he'd been the first time around in syndication: 3:30 PM.

 

[azumanga]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

Actually several CBS affiliates shifted Merv to the afternoon...

I also recall many of the lucky stations that affiliated with the short-lived United Network in 1967 carried its sole program, "The Las Vegas Show" with Bill Dana, in an afternoon or morning slot, as they already had plans for late night (if they were an NBC affiliate, that generally meant Johnny).

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

More recently, St. Louis NBC affiliate KSDK bumped the "Community" Christmas special last Thursday night in favor of a local special. St. Louis Post-Dispatch story on this preemption below:

http://www.stltoday.com/entertainme...cle_63321e68-01b0-11e0-8002-00127992bc8b.html

 

[Corky Marlowe]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

In Milwaukee, the NBC affiliate WTMJ bypassed "The Virginian" four four years, running a weekly color travelogue in its place.

An hour and a half of travelogues? ("The Virginian" was an hour and a half, right?)

 

[MattParker]

Re: Most Inexplicable Network Program Pre-Emption

There are some strange shows that have an inexplicably strong followings.

In Detroit, WWJ-TV used to pre-empt NBC shows for travelogues.

WBAL-TV, Baltimore used run a duck-pins show occasionally in prime time.

Many stations at one time or another have run sports-talk shows in season, often featuring the local team's coach or manager.

When first run syndication was still a factor, stations often dropped weaker-performing or more controversial network shows for Highway Patrol, Sea Hunt, How to Marry a Millionaire or Grey Ghost (among others).

In Philadelphia, WPVI pre-empted one hour of Good Morning, America for a local rip-off version of Captain Kangaroo called "Captain Noah."

Many stations in many markets never bothered to carry the CBS Morning News, Morning or _______ Morning (which now survives only as Sunday Morning). For the most part they did local morning news programs which did much better in the ratings than the Early Show did later on. In some cases, such as former Storer stations, they continue to do their morning news as Fox affiliates and beat the Early Show. (The Early Show continues, proving sleeping the boss can increase job security.)