WHICH IS THE BEST CURRENT SUPERSTATION

[BRNout]

Aren't we including the most famous "Superstation" - TBS? If so, TBS gets my vote, due to Conan. I'm not personally a Lopez fan, but it shows that TBS is definitely spending some money to produce programming.

I've DVRed Glory Daze - haven't watched it yet, but I've seen positive feedback about it.

Not any more. TBS is no longer a local Atlanta station ever since WTBS became WPCH "Peachtree TV". And, ironically, WPCH is now the one with superstation status - in Canada. Was able to watch it on Rogers Cable in metro Toronto earlier this year.

 

[gregg75]

I think #1 on Mark's list would clearly qualify WGN AMERICAN as a superstation.

TBS evolved into a network and the cord was cut when 17 in Atlanta became WPCH. I can't say
as I blame them for doing that, they got an extra station out of it and we got more choices in Atlanta.

But as stated earlier, all these so called superstations have evolved into nothing at this point. I was thinking maybe one or two could actually stand tall, but it doesn't look like any have much to be proud of at this time.

 

[BRNout]

TBS national and WTBS Atlanta were a nearly-straight simulcast right up until the relaunch of the Atlanta station as "Peachtree TV." Only the ads and some Saturday morning public-affairs programming differed between the Atlanta broadcast feed and the national feed.

I don't know Scott - last time I looked, WTBS showed a few of those programs in Atlanta that were subject to the syndex rule. This was just a few years ago, but WTBS did look to be quite different from TBS during the daytime while much the same at night. Hate to argue with you (because I hate to lose) so I'll grant you 2 things for certain on the subject:

1) TBS has managed a number of syndication deals for shows (such as Seinfeld and Friends) which allowed it rights both nationally and in Atlanta as a local station;
2) Because of this, there was a lot more duplication on WTBS/TBS just before the flip to WPCH than what you see on WGN/WGN America.

But WTBS did have some other shows that were only shown locally. After 1996, there was a bit of a separation between feeds.

It's not quite that simple, and the "fools" at Wikipedia aren't quite that foolish. At least where the FCC and the Copyright Royalty Tribunal are concerned, there are some specific meanings to "superstation," allowing the handful of stations with grandfathered superstation status to be distributed in ways that other local stations are not. The specific rules are enshrined in 47CFR76.120, and WGN is included as one of those "superstations." I'm not a communications lawyer, so I won't pretend to be able to explain how WGN America can still provide a nearly completely different program service and still qualify, but it does.

Perhaps 'fool' was a little too strong of a word that belies the mood I was in after reading gregg75's post. But Wikipedia isn't always correct either.

Most of WGN's schedule (locally, in Chicago) consists of programs that would be syndexed out on cable systems all over the US. Those programs, plus their CW fare and some sporting events, are all shown only in WGN's home market. That represents a radical change from the WGN satellite feed of, say 1995, when almost everything was shared between the local and sat feeds. At this point, WGN and WGN America have very little programming in common - basically the 9 PM news and a couple of shows that don't violate syndex. And a few specials such as WGN's airing of holiday parades (Tournament of Roses comes to mind - though it's actually KTLA's coverage that's used).

Personal opinion about why it's still WGN America: because so many cable systems have had WGN for so long that they wanted to use the name to make sure that the channel isn't dropped. With some Cubbies games and WGN News at 9, they can still reasonably get away with it in most of the US. In other words, a great marketing tool to cable systems and viewers that plays on a legacy brand and Chicago connection. Truly, it's a great idea in today's marketplace - but I don't know that I'd consider it to be a superstation either. Not really.

 

[DToTheJ]

...At this point, WGN and WGN America have very little programming in common - basically the 9 PM news and a couple of shows that don't violate syndex. And a few specials such as WGN's airing of holiday parades (Tournament of Roses comes to mind - though it's actually KTLA's coverage that's used)...

Don't forget the Jerry Lewis Telethon - although with the new format starting next year, I wonder when it would air on WGN... probably right before the afternoon Cubs or White Sox game scheduled for Labor Day...

 

[kenrayc]

We can split hairs on whether WGN America and TBS are Superstations, but I pick WGN, then TBS, KTLA 5 Los Angeles, and WWOR 9.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

WGN America is, in practice, a cable channel that carries some limited programming from WGN-TV Chicago. It's interesting that they're still able to legally carry the "superstation" moniker, though, as noted above.

I do wonder, as well, about the "WGN-TV Chicago" IDs, even during non-simulcast periods, and if this is somehow related to its legal status.

Oh, that's WGN AMERICA, not WGN AMERICAN.

 

[mleach]

When Denver's KDVR took control of KWGN a few years ago I seem to remember the "plans" were to make KWGN "The Deuce" more "Denver" and less like a typical TV station one would find elsewhere with those Maury Povich "Who's the daddy" shows. As I can recall reading in the Denver Post ( Bill Husted ? column ) at the time even though KWGN still planed on being a CW affiliate the other plans were to have KWGN be much more local such as local trouble-shooter Tom Martino doing a THREE hour talk show in the morning and have KWGN also air "Slacker & Steve" for afternoons in a simulcast with Denver's Alice 105.9 FM. Several local bars such as the Denver Wrangler and Traxx were to offer "weekend entertainment on the Deuce" and KOA's Rick Barber was somehow I seem to recall reading the Post to get involved with KWGN too , perhaps a latenight talk show simulcast between KWGN and KOA plus some hip hop show with members of the Denver Nuggets NBA team sponsored by Denver based Blackjack Pizza.

Other than Tom Martino ( well then again he is on KDVR now )..I guess none of this will happen now since KWGN is no longer "The Deuce" so I assume they want to continue with well..more Maury Povich but still it would had been interesting to see had KWGN went with "Mostly Denver" or whatever they had planned to do.

 

[upstate29651]

I think #1 on Mark's list would clearly qualify WGN AMERICAN as a superstation.

If you read the item in question, as you state you did, you would see WGN-A is clearly NOT a superstation.

G