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    On TV

    Classic TV on TV: This TV

    Posted Saturday, May 18th, 2013 at 9:00AM | On TV | No Comments

    The FFC mandated transition to digital television allowed stations to begin broadcasting digital subchannels in addition to their primary channel. Depending on the market, subchannels are available over-the-air (i.e. 30.1, 30.2, 30.3) as well as on cable. Over the past few days I've examined a number of what I call "classic television digital specialty networks" which are distributed primarily via digital subchannels. Today I'm looking at This TV, which is a more general entertainment digital specialty network. In most cases, affiliates have the option of taking some or all of the national feed, meaning their schedules may not match the national schedule.

    This TV

    Launched: November 2008
    Website | Affiliates (Wikipedia) | Schedule | List of Programs (Wikipedia) | Facebook | Twitter

    This TV is not primarily classic television digital specialty network like Retro TV, Me-TV, Antenna TV or Cozi TV. It airs mostly movies along with children's programming and a number of classic TV shows as well as a few newer ones. It is co-owned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Weigel Broadcasting Co., which are also responsible for Me-TV. It currently has about 140 affiliates across the country.

    This TV

    On weekdays, children's programming usually airs from 7-9AM, movies from 10AM to 4:30AM and classic TV from 4:30AM to 7AM. Weekends mix things up a little more. The classic TV shows seen on This TV are Mister Ed, Highway Patrol, The Outer Limits (1960s version), The Patty Duke Show, Green Acres and Sea Hunt. It also airs Stargate: SG-1.

    This TV does have a bug in the lower right hand corner. Closing credits do not feature a voiceover nor are they squeezed to fit in a promotional spot. I timed a number of episodes of several different shows and some were cut and others appear to be aired uncut:

    Sampling of This TV Show Durations, May 2013

    Green Acres - 21:59
    Highway Patrol - 26:06
    Sea Hunt - 26:01
    The Patty Duke Show - 21:21
    Mister Ed - 21:20

    Highway Patrol and Sea Hunt appear uncut while Mister Ed, The Patty Duke Show and Green Acres are missing around three or four minutes. I was not able to record and time an episode of The Outer Limits to see if it airs uncut.

    This TV

    If you're a This TV viewer, hit the comments with your thoughts.

    On TV

    Classic TV on TV: My Family TV

    Posted Friday, May 17th, 2013 at 9:00AM | On TV | No Comments

    The FFC mandated transition to digital television allowed stations to begin broadcasting digital subchannels in addition to their primary channel. Depending on the market, subchannels are available over-the-air (i.e. 30.1, 30.2, 30.3) as well as on cable. Over the next few days I'll be examining a number of what I call "classic television digital specialty networks" which are distributed primarily via digital subchannels. In most cases, affiliates have the option of taking some or all of the national feed, meaning their schedules may not match the national schedule.

    My Family TV

    Launched: December 2008
    Website | Affiliates | Schedule | List of Programs | Facebook

    Of the networks I've covered so far this week, My Family TV is by far the least well-known It has more than 80 affiliates and is available in some 40 million households (according to its investor relations page) but most of those stations are low-powered and I haven't actually come across anyone who has watched the network. Formerly known as Faith TV, the network was purchased by ValCom, Inc. in September 2008 and relaunched on December 15th, 2008 as My Family TV. In March 2011, ValCom joined forces with Luken Communications (which owns Retro TV) and began to expand its line-up of classic TV shows.

    My Family TV airs a mixture of children's programs, general entertainment shows and classic TV shows. Some of the classic TV shows it airs are also seen on Retro TV, including The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The Beverly Hillbillies, Route 66, Movin' On and I Spy. But it also airs a number of shows that Retro TV doesn't: I Married Joan, Judge Roy Bean, Mr. and Mrs. North, Shotgun Slade.

    I have no idea if My Family TV has a bug or if it airs shows uncut. So if you're a My Family TV viewer, hit the comments with your thoughts.

    On TV

    Classic TV on TV: Cozi TV

    Posted Thursday, May 16th, 2013 at 9:00AM | On TV | No Comments

    The FFC mandated transition to digital television allowed stations to begin broadcasting digital subchannels in addition to their primary channel. Depending on the market, subchannels are available over-the-air (i.e. 30.1, 30.2, 30.3) as well as on cable. Over the next few days I'll be examining a number of what I call "classic television digital specialty networks" which are distributed primarily via digital subchannels. In most cases, affiliates have the option of taking some or all of the national feed, meaning their schedules may not match the national schedule.

    Cozi TV

    Launched: December 2012
    Website | Affiliates (Wikipedia) | Schedule | List of Programs | Facebook | Twitter

    Formerly known as NBC Nonstop, a digital network for NBC's owned and operated stations, Cozi TV had a soft launch in December 2012 prior to its official launch on January 1st, 2013. You can read my January 7th review of the network here. Wikipedia currently lists 29 stations affiliated with the network. You can check to see if it is available in your area at the Cozi TV website.

    The network airs a mixture of classic television shows, old movies and lifestyle program. Among the shows it airs are Charlie's Angels, The Six Million Dollar Man, Marcus Welby, Alias Smith and Jones, Banacek, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The Virginian and Lassie.

    The first thing you'll probably notice while watching Cozi TV is the aspect ratio. Here's how I described it in my earlier review:

    There are black bars on all four sides rather than the more familiar top and bottom bars ("letterbox") or right and left bars ("pillarbox"). Bars on all four sides is called "postage stamp" or "windowbox" and is the result of 4:3 SD content being up-converted for 16:9 HD widescreen use and then downconverted when viewed on a 4:3 SD set. You can read more about formats and aspect ratios in this paper prepared for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

    Interestingly, while most of the shows seen on Cozi TV are 4:3 SD, Charlie's Angels is 16:9 HD (upconverted). Here are some screen shots:

    Charlie's Angels

    Charlie's Angels

    Charlie's Angels

    It appears all episodes on Cozi TV are edited to fit more commercials. I timed a number of episodes for my review and found most were cut and I recorded and timed a few more episodes the other day. All were missing 4-6 minutes: Charlie's Angels (43:52), The Lone Ranger (21:53) and Alias Smith and Jones (43:36). The closing credits are not squeezed for promotional spots nor are there voiceovers.

    The network features a rather large bug in the lower right hand corner. At the start of every show there is also a large TV rating icon that clutters up the screen. And at least once an hour stations must identify themselves. It all adds up to a lot of clutter:

    Cozi TV's Clutter

    If you're a Cozi TV viewer, hit the comments with your thoughts.

    On TV

    Classic TV on TV: Antenna TV

    Posted Wednesday, May 15th, 2013 at 9:00AM | On TV | 1 Comment

    The FFC mandated transition to digital television allowed stations to begin broadcasting digital subchannels in addition to their primary channel. Depending on the market, subchannels are available over-the-air (i.e. 30.1, 30.2, 30.3) as well as on cable. Over the next few days I'll be examining a number of what I call "classic television digital specialty networks" which are distributed primarily via digital subchannels. In most cases, affiliates have the option of taking some or all of the national feed, meaning their schedules may not match the national schedule.

    Antenna TV

    Launched: January 2011
    Website | Affiliates | Schedule | List of Programs | Facebook | Twitter

    As of April 2013, Antenna TV was seen on 74 stations covering 63% of the country. The network is owned by Tribune Broadcasting. Its national feed includes a mixture of television shows and movies (broadcast under the "Antenna TV Theater" banner) as well as some educational/instructional programs on Saturday mornings. The bulk of the television shows on Antenna TV are sitcoms, most of which date from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s: : McHale's Navy, Bachelor Father, Good Times, The Monkees, Father Knows Best, Maude and All in the Family. There are also a few newer shows like The Nanny and Married with Children.

    Antenna TV Promotional Spot

    Antenna TV Promotional Spot

    In addition to the sitcoms, Antenna TV also airs Suspense Theatre (originally broadcast under the title Kraft Suspense Theatre and later syndicaed as Crisis), Alfred Hitchcock Presents, It Takes a Thief and The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. Movies are mostly relegated to the overnight and early morning hours, with the exception of Saturday night when movies are aired during prime time.

    Antenna TV is one of the digital subchannels I receive. I don't watch it often but I have seen a few shows here and there. I was watching Bachelor Father occasionally at one point last year. The other day I recorded several shows so I could time them to see if they were edited. Results were mixed:

    Sampling of Antenna TV Show Durations, May 2013

    Hazel - 22:18
    Crisis (Suspense Theatre) #1 - 50:19
    Crisis (Suspense Theatre) #2 - 50:20
    McHale's Navy - 25:26
    Bachelor Father - 25:29
    Father Knows Best - 22:36 Dennis the Menace - 22:31

    The durations of Crisis (Suspense Theatre), McHale's Navy and Bachelor Father suggest they are uncut. Hazel, Father Knows Best and Dennis the Menace, on the other hand, appear to have been cut by about three minutes each.

    Antenna TV Promotional Spot

    The network doesn't feature a bug in the corner although my local affiliate does occasionally throw up its station identification as required by the FCC. The closing credits to all of the above programs are shown without being squeezed for a promotional spot and without a voiceover. Commercial breaks feature little in the way of promotion for Antenna TV. There were a few "next" promos and one or two generic spots.

    If you're an Antenna TV viewer, hit the comments with your thoughts.

    On TV

    Classic TV on TV: Me-TV

    Posted Tuesday, May 14th, 2013 at 9:00AM | On TV | 1 Comment

    The FFC mandated transition to digital television allowed stations to begin broadcasting digital subchannels in addition to their primary channel. Depending on the market, subchannels are available over-the-air (i.e. 30.1, 30.2, 30.3) as well as on cable. Over the next few days I'll be examining a number of what I call "classic television digital specialty networks" which are distributed primarily via digital subchannels. In most cases, affiliates have the option of taking some or all of the national feed, meaning their schedules may not match the national schedule.

    Me-TV Network

    Launched: December 2010
    Website | Affiliates | Schedule | List of Programs | Facebook

    The origins of Me-TV, also known as MeTV, date back to 2003 when it debuted as a programming block on a single television station in Chicago, owned by Weigel Broadcasting. Later, the station began airing Me-TV programming full-time. A second Chicago station soon became Me Too. A Milwaukee station was launched in 2008 and in December 2010 Me-TV began rolling out nationally. The network is owned by Weigel Broadcasting and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

    The network currently has some 147 stations covering almost 90% of the country. It airs programming primarily from CBS Television Distribution and 20th Television, including M*A*S*H, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Adam-12, Hawaii Five-O, Star Trek, Batman, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and That Girl.

    Me-TV also airs two pseudo obscurities: The Rebel and Mr. Lucky. Every Sunday, Me-TV airs a "Sunday Showcase" themed block.

    I have never received Me-TV so I don't know if it features an on-screen bug or if it airs edited or sped-up episodes. If you're a Me-TV viewer, hit the comments with your thoughts.

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