WLVI and WSBK

[upn38fan]

Now that WLVI CW56 has been sold to Sunbeam Television Corp, posters on Wikipedia claim that WLVI will drop The CW next fall and it will go to WSBK, which really saddens me. TV is getting worse by the day, but I thought TV38 going independent would be a nice change. If it changes to The CW the whole station will lose its local feel forever. It lost it for a while with UPN, but has started to pick up where they left off and now they're independent. Why can't The CW just stay on 56?

By the way, TV38 is doing great as an independent so far. They just need to drop infomercials weekday mornings.

 

[Skynet74]

I have a hunch that CW will be a miserable failure. Can anyone here even name one show on the Network that they watch? I bet you that it does worse than the WB did.

 

[Garrett]

Now that WLVI CW56 has been sold to Sunbeam Television Corp, posters on Wikipedia claim that WLVI will drop The CW next fall and it will go to WSBK, which really saddens me. TV is getting worse by the day, but I thought TV38 going independent would be a nice change. If it changes to The CW the whole station will lose its local feel forever. It lost it for a while with UPN, but has started to pick up where they left off and now they're independent. Why can't The CW just stay on 56?

By the way, TV38 is doing great as an independent so far. They just need to drop infomercials weekday mornings.

That is SPECULATIVE and needs to be REMOVED from the page. No decision has been announced on that yet. And besides, why would CBS even wait a year? If they wanted to do that, they could do it right now.

The biggest problem with Wikipedia's site is there's a bunch of radio and tv "know-it-alls" who really know nothing, but jump at every chance to insert what they "think" they know.

By the way, if you go back to those pages, the moderators have already edit the incorrect information and added "citation needed" to the claim that "it may be possible for TV 38 to become CW."

And, as I've said before, as "nice" as it would seem for a few of you to think Channel 38 is better off as an indi, they will only make money as an affiliate.

 

[Skynet74]

And, as I've said before, as "nice" as it would seem for a few of you to think Channel 38 is better off as an indi, they will only make money as an affiliate.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well I don't know about that. WSBK was very successful for many years as an independant. With strong programming an Independent station can do very well. WSBK carries the hottest game shows in syndication as well as some of best court shows on television. Probably not as successful as they were back in the 70's and 80's..... but they are still a far cry from being a 24 hour shopping channel.

 

[KML0224]

True, but can they even be classified as a superstation anymore? I say no. They haven't been on cable in New Britain or Hartford, CT since 2000 or so.

 

[upn38fan]

True, but can they even be classified as a superstation anymore? I say no. They haven't been on cable in New Britain or Hartford, CT since 2000 or so.

That's because of UPN, and how all local stations started to air the same thing in daytime, prime-time, etc. They removed WSBK from Cox Cable in CT because most programming was always blacked out anyways. I'd think that being an indi (with your own identity) unlike The CW superstations, is better.

 

[MarcB]

I have to disagree. Even before I moved to Southington which is COX Cable, I was familar with their line up becuase my uncle lives there. In addition to the CT locals they carried WCBS, WNYW, WWOR, WPIX, WNBC, and WSBK. None of these stations were ever blacked out. (They never carried WABC). By time I moved to Southington in '03 only WNBC and WPIX were left. Nothing was ever blacked out on either. Today we still have WPIX, again with nothing blacked out. The only thing COX blacks out is the BRAVES-METS games when they're on TBS and WPIX/WTXX. Then they run a duplicate feed of CNN Headline News over TBS.

 

[Garrett]

And, as I've said before, as "nice" as it would seem for a few of you to think Channel 38 is better off as an indi, they will only make money as an affiliate.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well I don't know about that. WSBK was very successful for many years as an independant. With strong programming an Independent station can do very well. WSBK carries the hottest game shows in syndication as well as some of best court shows on television. Probably not as successful as they were back in the 70's and 80's..... but they are still a far cry from being a 24 hour shopping channel.

IN the 70S AND 80S. But this is NOT the 70S and 80S. Independents are few and far between, and with the emergence of CABLE and INTERNET, viewing habits have changed. There is very little programming available for independents to survive. TV38fan is Nostalgic. But outside of the few of you who long for "the good old days," an Independent can not survive today. Little kids watching repeats of sitcoms will not make a profit for a TV station. Everyone else is watching CSI and My Name is Earl. And that is the way it is going to be. Get used to it.

 

[genius]

IN the 70S AND 80S. But this is NOT the 70S and 80S. Independents are few and far between, and with the emergence of CABLE and INTERNET, viewing habits have changed. There is very little programming available for independents to survive. TV38fan is Nostalgic. But outside of the few of you who long for "the good old days," an Independent can not survive today. Little kids watching repeats of sitcoms will not make a profit for a TV station. Everyone else is watching CSI and My Name is Earl. And that is the way it is going to be. Get used to it.

Well judging from what syndicated programming(Dr. Phil, Wheel of Fortune etc.) they are airing, I think they could be okay. Maybe not on a KTVK or WJXT level, but perhaps better than KRON.

 

[Skynet74]

WSBK will be fine. That 12 year affiliation with UPN wasn't exactly a grand Success. How many Breakthrough hits came out of that 12 years? UPN was barley a Network. No network programming in the Morning or the Afternoon. You got two hours a night. Even as a UPN affiliate they were almost an Independent. They still ran 22 Hours of local programming each day. Now it's only two more hours of Local since they switched back to Independent. Exactly how big of a difference do you think that two hours each day is going to make? My hunch is not much difference at all.

 

[upn38fan]

Thank you Skynet and genious. Garrett, just what do you have against TV38? If you don't think its any good, don't post anything.

And I hope that I wasn't the "kid watching old sitcoms".

One final thought: An independent station has it the best. They pick and choose what to air and when to air it. A network affiliated with another network is stuck when it comes to programming in prime-time. If it doesn't get ratings, they can't decide to not air it. If Dr. Phil, Jeopardy II and the TV38 News doesn't work out in prime-time they could try anything. With UPN, they were stuck with garbage between 8 and 10 (exception of a few shows).

 

[Garrett]

I have nothing against TV 38.
However, your continuous posts about TV38 and WLVI being better as independents are ill informed. What you enjoy watching, and what makes money are very different things. I don't know how many other ways to say it, but what WSBK and WLVI were in the 80's were low budget, and those models will not work today (and TV38 is really not independent, because they are owned by Big Daddy CBS).

I've said all I can say about this, I'm done.

 

[Skynet74]

I don't think you've said enough Garrett because you still seem a bit confused. Your last statement vefifies that point. You said.... (TV38 is really not independent, because they are owned by Big Daddy CBS).

Garrett, The format of a Channel has nothing to do with who owns it. NBC owns affiliates in several markets, but does that mean WHDH Boston is less of a Powerhouse because it's owned by an Independent company?

Channel 38 is an Independent because of it's programming. Not because of who does or doesn't own it. Remember that for the future.

When it comes to the Big Four Networks, ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX. YES..... any station affiliated with those Networks is at an adavantage. That I can agree on. However an Independent with a strong programming lineup can still do well.

The way you talk Garrett, any Independant station should just throw in the towel and give up. But why should they? They are making moiney and they are succeeding on several levels.

Just because YOU don't like the programming that Independents air, it does not mean your family, friends and neighbors arn't watching them. It just means that YOU arn't watching them.

 

[Markxxx]

In a way you're both right, but remember what is acceptable to a small company often is NOT acceptable to a huge national corporation.

Take this for an example if Channel 38 were owned by a "ma and pop," type of deal a 1% profit could be very acceptable. But to a huge corporation like CBS they may demand all their stations get a 5% profit. Infomercial may get them the other 4% over the independent "Ma and Pa" type owner.

Big companies have to answer to stockholders and board of directors and the SEC, a non public corporation doesn't have to deal with that. Their overhead is lower so their profit line can be too.

Conversely a big national corporation can carry a losing station as a prestigue thing, or may hold a station at a loss simply to keep another competitor from getting it.

So it works both ways, but the bottom line really is it isn't even about profit it comes down the the MOST profit for the LEAST amount of expense.

 

[Garrett]

What I mean is, that because Channel 38 has the backing of CBS, and is a duopoly with CBS 4, they are not really independent, in the sense that they get a bigger budget than a station not co-owned with a netowrk O&O affiliate. News will tie-in between the two station, CBS 4 can shift some network shows the 38 when needed (like with telethons, sports events that go over, etc). In other words, much of the programming is comming from WBZ. So really, they are not your typically independent, because they're network affiliation, is kind of with WBZ. Back in the pre-UPN days, TV 38 was just TV 38 by themselves. I hope that clearifies what I am I trying to say.

I am not trying to suggest that indpendnts throw in the towel, but I just don't think there is much money in doing it intentionally anymore.

I don't think you've said enough Garrett because you still seem a bit confused. Your last statement vefifies that point. You said.... (TV38 is really not independent, because they are owned by Big Daddy CBS).

Garrett, The format of a Channel has nothing to do with who owns it. NBC owns affiliates in several markets, but does that mean WHDH Boston is less of a Powerhouse because it's owned by an Independent company?

Channel 38 is an Independent because of it's programming. Not because of who does or doesn't own it. Remember that for the future.

When it comes to the Big Four Networks, ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX. YES..... any station affiliated with those Networks is at an adavantage. That I can agree on. However an Independent with a strong programming lineup can still do well.

The way you talk Garrett, any Independant station should just throw in the towel and give up. But why should they? They are making moiney and they are succeeding on several levels.

Just because YOU don't like the programming that Independents air, it does not mean your family, friends and neighbors arn't watching them. It just means that YOU arn't watching them.

 

[RexManning]

wikipedia stuff is posted by julius may, a know it all from philly who thinks he knows it all in boston as well...but clearly doesn't.

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

indies in general

As somebody who has seen TV38 since it first signed on - the notion of a killer indie is, indeed, nostalgic.
That was back before the days of a 200+ channel universe. no Nick at Night, TV Land, USA, etc., no Red Sox games on NESN. I was predicting the merger of WB and UPN 3 years ago. I would go one better - absorb PAX/I
(whatever) into the fold as well. Keep the owned stations in markets where the combined network does not have a presence.

Networks are sticking with new shows for shorter periods of time. Some shows are yanked after only having aired a handful of times, if they did not find an audience right away. For a show to be even moderately successful in syndication, it has to run at least 5 full seasons, in order to have enough episodes...

One thing that 38 did several years ago was a novel idea: take shows that had brief network runs, and package them together. Example: Show A Monday at 8, Show B Tuesday at 8, etc. LIttle known shows - especially those with people who are now familiar - arfe exposed to a whole new audience, who are seeing them for the first time...

Indies will never be what they once were back in the day....

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

[EDIT]

I would call 38 an independent. OWNERSHIP has nothing to do with it. Although they were affiliated with a major network and owned by one, they ran over 90 percent of local programming everyday.

WHERE do YOU work in radio or tv these days??

[EDIT--personal attack.]

 

[radiodouble]

Re: indies in general

As somebody who has seen TV38 since it first signed on - the notion of a killer indie is, indeed, nostalgic.
That was back before the days of a 200+ channel universe. no Nick at Night, TV Land, USA, etc., no Red Sox games on NESN. I was predicting the merger of WB and UPN 3 years ago. I would go one better - absorb PAX/I
(whatever) into the fold as well. Keep the owned stations in markets where the combined network does not have a presence.

Networks are sticking with new shows for shorter periods of time. Some shows are yanked after only having aired a handful of times, if they did not find an audience right away. For a show to be even moderately successful in syndication, it has to run at least 5 full seasons, in order to have enough episodes...

One thing that 38 did several years ago was a novel idea: take shows that had brief network runs, and package them together. Example: Show A Monday at 8, Show B Tuesday at 8, etc. LIttle known shows - especially those with people who are now familiar - arfe exposed to a whole new audience, who are seeing them for the first time...

Indies will never be what they once were back in the day....

yea, those days are gone. 38 once had the bruins, celtics and sox. now, it's acc football games between non-local teams and revolution soccer.