WILL RTV SURVIVE ?

[tripinva]

wjar was supposed to flip to me tv as well not sure when!!

I still can't figure out where this rumor started, since it has never been listed as an affiliate on the MeTV website nor is it listed as one (now or future) currently.

- Trip

 

[mgsports]

What Scripps should do is for it's Station start a 24/7 Local News Channel so for KC it's could have Action Weather Plus as a Digital Sub Channel and then KSHB can add RTN and Universal Sports Network to.

 

[carolinaradio]

What Scripps should do is for it's Station start a 24/7 Local News Channel so for KC it's could have Action Weather Plus as a Digital Sub Channel and then KSHB can add RTN and Universal Sports Network to.

I don't think any high powered affiliate is going to add RTV anymore.

Lest we forget that RTV is about to lose another big affiliate, WXYZ-TV in Detroit. They're switching to Live Well.

 

[dave73]

What Scripps should do is for it's Station start a 24/7 Local News Channel so for KC it's could have Action Weather Plus as a Digital Sub Channel and then KSHB can add RTN and Universal Sports Network to.

I don't think any high powered affiliate is going to add RTV anymore.

Lest we forget that RTV is about to lose another big affiliate, WXYZ-TV in Detroit. They're switching to Live Well.

That was a problem RTV had with Chicago, that no full power station wanted to affiliate with RTV. Weigel Broadcasting was already running MeTV & MeToo on WWME-CA/LD 23, then to 23.1 when they went digital (analog side after June 2009 simulcasted WCIU 26.1, & now simulcasts WCIU U Too on the analog side), along with being simulcasted on WCIU 26.2, (now on 26.3 after the channel shuffle), & WMEU-CA 48 & simulcasted on WCIU 26.3 (now 26.4 after the channel shuffle). At that time, MeTV & MeToo were local with MeTV being comedy & MeToo being drama. Since MeTV is now nationwide, MeToo has now become the Chicago MeTV with some of the Sony shows that had to be removed from the national MeTV channel. WGN-TV at the time had The Tube & LATV on 9.2 (LATV is now on WOCK-CD 13.3), & weren't interested in adding any additional subchannels. The 4 network O&O stations also wouldn't add RTV, with CBS & Fox not offering any subchannels, while NBC carries Chicago Nonstop & Universal Sports, & ABC carrying both an HD & SD version of the Livewell Network. That left just 1 low power station to pick up RTV, that was WPVN-LD, started up by Polnet, owner of a number of AM stations in the Chicago market (mostly daytimers) for Polish & other brokered programming, & part-time TV network Polvision. Since Polvision isn't a 24 hour network, they put RTV on the main channel, & have other leased & brokered subchannels that are on 24 hours a day closest to the main channel, & have Polvision at the farthest end of the subchannel. If RTV were to go off the air, then Polnet will have to rush at finding something else to fill the main channel.

Just recently, WKOW Madison Wisconsin dropped RTV for MeTV. I don't see RTV returning to Madison Wisconsin at all. For now, I don't see RTV returning to Milwaukee Wisconsin either since WITI dropped RTV for Antenna TV (Weigel owns WBME Racine/Milwaukee, & carries MeTV on 49.1). If RTV survives, & Polnet can get WPVS-LD on the air, then RTV might return to Milwaukee, along with Polnet expanding Polvision to Milwaukee (WPVS-LD is licensed to Sheboygan, WI, but will cover Milwaukee & not Sheboygan, whereas WPVN-LD is licensed to Aurora, IL, & barely covers Aurora).

 

[Madmansam]

No, that would be like Pepsi and Coke joining hands.

I thought it would be more of a Pepsi and RC Cola joining hands? Antenna TV does isn't that large enough (affilates wise) to be considered a Coke (or even a Pepsi). But I do agree with the overlap. What about either a "Antenna TV-RTV" merger or "MeTV-RTV" Merger? Problems with that scenario?

 

[carolinaradio]

I thought it would be more of a Pepsi and RC Cola joining hands? Antenna TV does isn't that large enough (affilates wise) to be considered a Coke (or even a Pepsi). But I do agree with the overlap. What about either a "Antenna TV-RTV" merger or "MeTV-RTV" Merger? Problems with that scenario?

I doubt Antenna TV wants to stoop to RTV's level. If Antenna TV would get the Warner library and really start marketing themselves to new affiliates, they would grow. Who knows, they may be doing that. They're signing on in Charlotte later this month. I think there is room for MeTV and Antenna TV.

Cox has already flipped some RTV subchannels to Me-TV (WPXI, WSB) and I would not at all be surprised to see it flip the remaining RTV subchannels.

Hearst, Media General, Hubbard...Media General is apparently already flipping RTV to Me-TV in Spartanburg SC.

I'll add that I don't even remember when most of these shows aired, and I love them (the stuff on Me, not RTV, that stuff seems so ancient). I doubt I'm alone.

You have nailed it. Even though you don't remember some of the shows on Me/Antenna, the RTV shows (post-Universal) seem like they're being transmitted via wax cylinders.

Yeah.....stuff like Mary Tyler Moore, M*A*S*H, I Love Lucy, Bob Newhart, The Twilight Zone - that's timeless. Police Story, Daniel Boone, I Spy....not so much. It would be a HUGE boost to Me-TV if Media General, who seems to have the most RTV affiliates, would switch them all to Me when they could, if possible. I would not be surprised if they did. WSPA is supposed to switch to Me but it's taking forever.

 

[powergate92]

What popular programming is left on RTV?

Starsky & Hutch, Route 66, I Spy, The Rifleman, Peter Gunn, The Archie Show, Lassie, and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, to name some.

I'm sorry, I don't consider the Canadian "Police Story" and assorted public domain B&W programming "mainstream".

What "public domain B&W programming"? All the B&W shows on RTV have most if not all of their episodes still under copyright. RTV has licensed the rights to air those copyrighted episodes from their current owners.

Programming libraries are CRUCIALLY important to these "retro networks". They're aiming at boomers like me, who want to visit their old favorites. RTV has NOTHING now.

RTV still has retro shows that people watch. Has long as their are people watching those shows, RTV has something not nothing.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

RTV still has retro shows that people watch. Has long as their are people watching those shows, RTV has something not nothing.

It may as well have nothing. Most of those shows are not even in the same league as the shows on Me-TV and Antenna TV, or the Universal shows RTV just lost. Peter Gunn? Who under the age of 70 even remembers that show?

I do appear to be wrong about my "public domain" comment, but just about everyone agrees the post-Universal RTV lineup is significantly weaker.

 

[gregg75]

I think Luken calls the folks at My Network TV and ION daily to get pointers on how to
run a network.

 

[carolinaradio]

RTV still has retro shows that people watch. Has long as their are people watching those shows, RTV has something not nothing.

It may as well have nothing. Most of those shows are not even in the same league as the shows on Me-TV and Antenna TV, or the Universal shows RTV just lost. Peter Gunn? Who under the age of 70 even remembers that show?

I do appear to be wrong about my "public domain" comment, but just about everyone agrees the post-Universal RTV lineup is significantly weaker.

That is the difference between the current RTV and Me-TV/Anenna TV - a lot of their programming, especially Me's, is timeless. As a young viewer that likes classic television shows, I find this stuff RTV is airing like The Saint, Daniel Boone, etc extremely dated and ancient. I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Bonanza, and Mary Tyler Moore do not seem that way. They need shows that have stood the test of time

 

[EricStein]

That is the difference between the current RTV and Me-TV/Anenna TV - a lot of their programming, especially Me's, is timeless. As a young viewer that likes classic television shows, I find this stuff RTV is airing like The Saint, Daniel Boone, etc extremely dated and ancient. I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Bonanza, and Mary Tyler Moore do not seem that way. They need shows that have stood the test of time

I tuned in to RTV's Sunday night airing of "The Comedy Shop" (which originally aired in syndication circa 1978-79), and the show was absolutely dated. The audio was muffled as well.

When RTV still had its Facebook page, it once asked its "friends" whether or not they would like to see "The New Soupy Sales Show" (his 1979 syndicated show) on RTV. The answer by viewers was an astounding "no." At least they listened to their viewers that time.

 

[TomParks]

I wish they would purchase some titles from warner. Mama's Family, Alice, Waltons, etc. They still have a large number of stations and are on FTA satellite as well. The viewers are there if they have watchable material. INSP runs the Waltons along with Highway to Heaven and Our House.....really good shows.

 

[mysticnitekatt]

So their programing has become a eclectic, but they'll ride this out. The affiliate defections will lessen and station counts will stabilize by years end. The only stations they've lost to Antenna TV were the Tribune/Local LLC ones. The remaining "loses" to MeTV will settle down by January. By that time, there will be few RTV affiliates in markets without MeTV.

Antenna TV is not a threat to RTV, or MeTV for that matter.

Thanks for joining us, Mr. Luken!



Look, "eclectic" is kind. What popular programming is left on RTV? I haven't gone through the entire schedule, but it would appear the loss of the Universal catalog has dealt a body blow to the network's schedule.

We have an RTV affiliate here, but it's a combo of low-power outlets with spotty cable carriage, so I can't see RTV here unless I go into the "RTV Viewing Position" with my antenna, with a nod to "Married...with Children". (Which, by the way, is on Antenna TV now.)

Name one mainstream "retro" show on RTV after the Universal dump.

I'm sorry, I don't consider the Canadian "Police Story" and assorted public domain B&W programming "mainstream". When you sit down and watch a show on one of these channels, you watch because you watched and remembered the show back when it was on.

I know "All in the Family" and "Maude" and the like (Antenna TV) or "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "MASH" (Me-TV). Is there even one show in this category now on RTV? When they had the Universal library, they had shows like "The Rockford Files" and "Kojak". What's there now?

Programming libraries are CRUCIALLY important to these "retro networks". They're aiming at boomers like me, who want to visit their old favorites. RTV has NOTHING now.

The other problem for RTV, vs. Me-TV and Antenna TV, is the groups.

RTV will never be on any Tribune/Local TV LLC stations as long as that group runs Antenna TV.

Cox dumped RTV nationwide for Me-TV. I suspect if Me-TV makes more group deals (they already have some) those "losses" will grow, not stem.

Me-TV already has its nose in the tent with many individual stations in big groups - they're about to launch here on Raycom's WOIO/19 (CBS).

I do wonder if Antenna TV plans to expand on a larger basis beyond Tribune/Local TV LLC...maybe they are content as an in-house subchannel for the group, with a handful of outliers.

Anyway, even forgetting Me-TV and Antenna TV's own fate...RTV's programming is bottom of the barrel now. It needs "the hits", not table scraps, and without those, it's another LPTV programming feeder like A1/UATV/etc. The mere fact that Me-TV and Antenna TV are AVAILABLE to big market subchannels will stunt RTV's growth, and imperil its existence.

First off, I'm not Mr.Luken,so don't be a wise guy just because I support RTV.

"Route 66", "Starsky and Hutch" and "Highway to Heaven" are all "mainstream retro" from their respective Decades. "Peter Gunn". "I Spy","Naked City","The Saint" and are all cult-classics with long (3+ seasons or more) runs. Let's not forget "The Riffelman" - one of the most successful half-hour westerns. The show is so good, AMC started running it!

Wiegel's plan has been to go to all the affiliate groups of it's THIS TV and ofter them MeTV as part of a sweetheart deal. This includes stations with RTV affiliations. In one simple move, they bump RTV off in a market (sometimes they get back on with a LP stations - Like in Atlanta and Pitt) , and effectively beat Antenna TV

I'd expect the MeTV/RTV affiliate shake-out to end by the end of the year - by that time Me-TV will have signed up those stations they could who are THIS TV affiliates that also have RTV on some of their stations. There are several markets now where two station groups have stations and only one will end up an affiliate.

I don't expect we'll see 15 more stations switch from RTV. Antenna TV is not a threat - seems Tribune isn't even trying! 44 affiliates, and 32 are Tribune and Local TV LLC!

 

[mysticnitekatt]

What Scripps should do is for it's Station start a 24/7 Local News Channel so for KC it's could have Action Weather Plus as a Digital Sub Channel and then KSHB can add RTN and Universal Sports Network to.

I don't think any high powered affiliate is going to add RTV anymore.

Lest we forget that RTV is about to lose another big affiliate, WXYZ-TV in Detroit. They're switching to Live Well.

*face-plam* Me-TV or Antenna TV I can understand, but Live-Well?!

What's sad is Wolfman Mac's CHILLER DRIVE IN is out of that market (Used to be on The MyTV Affiliate) ,and how he can't be seen in his own back yard!

 

[mysticnitekatt]

There's a slew of older, B&W shows ("I Spy", "Route 66", "Daniel Boone" and the like), sure to bring in the greatgrandparent demo. Some people who watched those shows originally may not even be alive now.

And there's "The Bill Cosby Show", which I'm going out on a limb and assuming is not the NBC megahit "Cosby".

The new shows they brought in are no older than some of the stuff they aired before - they might be a little light on the 1970's side of things now, but late- 1950's to late-1960's is still classic.

 

[mysticnitekatt]

RTV shows do suck now. I'd much rather see BULLWINKLE than much of the
junk they airing. They have the rights to BULLWINKLE and other Classic
Media cartoons..........................why not pull them out now? Just for a
temporary fix if nothing else.

It's junk in your option - except for the Canadian Content shows which are "way off" mission statement, the network still have a mix of classic shows others find entertaining.

 

[mysticnitekatt]

wjar was supposed to flip to me tv as well not sure when!!

I still can't figure out where this rumor started, since it has never been listed as an affiliate on the MeTV website nor is it listed as one (now or future) currently.

- Trip

Well, Rabbitears.info had listed RTV being replaced on WFMZ by MeTV when in fact they were adding an additional sub-channel.,according to RTV. So sometimes, information can be incorrect.

 

[mysticnitekatt]

No, that would be like Pepsi and Coke joining hands.

I thought it would be more of a Pepsi and RC Cola joining hands? Antenna TV does isn't that large enough (affilates wise) to be considered a Coke (or even a Pepsi). But I do agree with the overlap. What about either a "Antenna TV-RTV" merger or "MeTV-RTV" Merger? Problems with that scenario?

Neither needs to merge actually - MeTV doesn't need RTV stations, and Antenna TV would be fine with just the Trib and Local TV LLC stations!

 

[mysticnitekatt]

Yeah.....stuff like Mary Tyler Moore, M*A*S*H, I Love Lucy, Bob Newhart, The Twilight Zone - that's timeless. Police Story, Daniel Boone, I Spy....not so much.

Classic TV is more than just the same classic shows that play over and over again.

Why hasn't CBS Syndication offered MeTV "Our Miss Brooks",or even "Amos and Andy" (Not that Sabin would risk trying to air that!)

 

[mysticnitekatt]

That is the difference between the current RTV and Me-TV/Anenna TV - a lot of their programming, especially Me's, is timeless. As a young viewer that likes classic television shows, I find this stuff RTV is airing like The Saint, Daniel Boone, etc extremely dated and ancient. I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Bonanza, and Mary Tyler Moore do not seem that way. They need shows that have stood the test of time

That's on your option - you said yourself, you're a younger viewer - but what doesn't appeal to you,might appeal to someone else.

"The Rifleman" for instance has NEVER been out of syndication.