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WTBS TO TBS QUESTION?

O

oldvnewschool

I know TBS became a basic cable station in 1998.

And I know TBS went national on December 17th, 1976

But I found an Old World Book Encyclopedia from 1982

stating that Ted Turner was going to create a national network

feeding of of it's Atlanta WTBS station.

Was it that when WTBS was simply known as just TBS

Or was it something else all together?
 
Originally WTBS was WTCG, until Ted Turner "bought" the WTBS call-letters from MIT's WTBS-FM in Cambridge, MA (Class D, 40 watts). At that time, call-letters we're NOT to be sold to the "highest bidder". But, Ted Turner provided the necessary funds for WTBS-FM to fulfill their Construction Permit to go to 200 watts (Class D to A), provided that WTBS-FM would apply for a new call sign WMBR (Walker Memorial Basement Radio) and the FCC would approve the change. Upon that grant, WTCG would immediately apply for WTBS-TV. (Wouldn't it be interesting if some "spoiler" out there would have tried to up-end Mr. Turner and beat him to change the call-letters of another station to WTBS. I'm sure though, all of this was done in a "legal second" back in 1979.)

WTBS-TV in Atlanta was first using the moniker "SuperStation 17" (WTBS is broadcast over the air in Atlanta on UHF Channel 17). Most cable systems around the country put WTBS on Cable Channel 17. Slowly, however, cable lineups were expanded and eventually the "17" designation slowly went to disuse in favor of "SuperStation WTBS" as cable systems moved WTBS to different "tiers" on the lineup. The only time you will see or hear any references to Channel 17 (if you're lucky) is on the on-air signal in the Greater Atlanta Metro. In 1985, with a little help from the members of "Three Dog Night", they changed all references of WTBS (on the satellite feed only) to "SuperStation TBS" with use of their Top-40 hit "Celebrate" in TBS' promos. Today "simply funny" is today's TBS. No SuperStation anymore, it is now it is just a basic cable service. The SuperStation that WAS WTBS, is no more. I believe if you put Atlanta's WTBS side by side with the National TBS feed, you would see two totally "animals"


73,

Peter (K1XRB)


> I know TBS became a basic cable station in 1998.
>
> And I know TBS went national on December 17th, 1976
>
> But I found an Old World Book Encyclopedia from 1982
>
> stating that Ted Turner was going to create a national
> network
>
> feeding of of it's Atlanta WTBS station.
>
> Was it that when WTBS was simply known as just TBS
>
> Or was it something else all together?
> <P ID="signature">______________
Peter Q. George (K1XRB)
Whitman, Massachusetts</P>
 
> I believe if you put Atlanta's WTBS side
> by side with the National TBS feed, you would see two
> totally "animals"
>
Last time I heard, the local and national feeds are almost the same -- the local version has local commercials and replaces some national shows with either Headline News or E/I programming.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by rugrats1 on 10/06/05 11:19 PM.</FONT></P>
 
In 1985, with a little help from the members of
> "Three Dog Night", they changed all references of WTBS (on
> the satellite feed only) to "SuperStation TBS" with use of
> their Top-40 hit "Celebrate" in TBS' promos. Today "simply
> funny" is today's TBS. No SuperStation anymore, it is now
> it is just a basic cable service. The SuperStation that WAS
> WTBS, is no more. I believe if you put Atlanta's WTBS side
> by side with the National TBS feed, you would see two
> totally "animals"
>
>
Actually, the change occured around 1987 or 1988 not 1985.
I should know, I happened to read an old issue of National Geographic and it was dated around '86 and they still used the WTBS name in it's ad for National Geographic Explorer.<P ID="signature">______________
Tape Traders Central/Retro Blog</P>
 
Differences Betweeen TBS Superstation/TBS 17

According to TV.YAHOO.COM TBS 17 has a couple differences from TBS Superstation:

Weekdays:

Headline News airs at 6AM on TBS 17 instead of Mama's Family.
Home Improvement airs at 230PM on TBS 17 instead of the second episode of Steve Harvey.
Friends airs at 530PM on TBS 17 instead of the second episode of Home Improvement.
 
Re: Differences Betweeen TBS Superstation/TBS 17

Early on weekend mornings, they air public affairs and E/I programming to meet FCC requirements.
 
Re: Differences Betweeen TBS Superstation/TBS 17

> Early on weekend mornings, they air public affairs and E/I
> programming to meet FCC requirements.
>
Doesn't WTBS-17 also air some Braves games that they aren't allowed to put on the SuperStation? I believe they're the same ones Turner South airs regionally.
 
Re: Differences Betweeen TBS Superstation/TBS 17

> > Early on weekend mornings, they air public affairs and E/I
>
> > programming to meet FCC requirements.
> >
> Doesn't WTBS-17 also air some Braves games that they aren't
> allowed to put on the SuperStation? I believe they're the
> same ones Turner South airs regionally.
>

I think it was only for the playoffs when the simulcast ESPN in the Atlanta area only.

WGN is doing the same thing for their area for the White Sox.
 
Re: Differences Betweeen TBS Superstation/TBS 17

Plus, some of the commercials are different on the local feed from the national feed. If WTBS runs a local client, then usually the national feed would either run a promo or a P/I.

Also, when severe weather hits in the Atlanta area, the EAS system activates and there would be a crawl along the top of the screen.<P ID="signature">______________
</P><P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Jeffmidtown on 10/07/05 06:59 PM.</FONT></P>
 
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