From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the United
States, for most of the history of broadcasting, there were
only three or four major national broadcasting networks. From
1946-1956 these were ABC, CBS, NBC, and DuMont. From 1956-1986, the
national networks were ABC, CBS, and NBC.
Today, more than 20 nationwide broadcasting networks exist.
Other than the noncommercial PBS, the largest broadcast
networks are the traditional Big Three
Television Networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC). Many other large
networks exist, however, notably Fox, MyNetworkTV, ION and The CW (formerly UPN and The WB). Fox has just a
fraction of a percentage point fewer households reached than the
Big Three, and is therefore often considered a peer to ABC, NBC,
and CBS. Most media outlets now include Fox in what they refer to
as the "Big Four" television networks.
Broadcast networks in the United States can be divided into four
categories:
- Commercial broadcasting networks (which air English-language
programming to a general audience). Example: CBS
- Spanish-language broadcasting networks. Example: Univision
- Educational and other non-commercial broadcasting networks
(which air English- and some foreign-language programming, intended
to be educational or otherwise of a sort not found on commercial
television). Example: PBS
- Religious broadcasting networks. Example: Daystar
Each network sends its signal to many local TV stations across
the country. These local stations then air the "network feed," and
millions of households across the country tune in. In the case of
the largest networks, the signal is sent to over 200 TV stations.
In the case of the smallest networks, the signal may be sent to
just a dozen or fewer stations.
There are an estimated 114.9 million television households in
the United States as of the 2009-2010 TV season. [2]
Table of broadcast
networks
All of the networks listed below operate a number of terrestrial
television stations. In addition, several of these networks are
also aired on cable and satellite services.
|
| Television Network |
Founded |
% of U.S. households reached |
# of households viewable |
Type of Television network |
# of Full-Power Affiliates |
# of Low-Power/Class-A Affiliates &
Transmitters |
| PBS |
1969[1] |
~99.00 |
~113,751,000 |
Non-Profit |
349 |
~342 |
| ABC |
1948[2] |
96.75 |
111,165,750 |
Commercial |
229 |
~266 |
| NBC |
1946[2] |
97.17 |
111,648,330 |
Commercial |
226 |
~338 |
| CBS |
1948[2] |
96.98 |
111,430,020 |
Commercial |
215 |
~299 |
| Fox |
October 9, 1986[3] |
96.18 |
110,510,820 |
Commercial |
223 |
~202 |
| The CW[4] |
September 18, 2006 |
94% |
108,006,000 |
Commercial |
204 |
~11 |
| Ion
Television |
August 31, 1998[5][6] |
60% |
68,940,000 |
Commercial |
64 |
22 |
|
|
| Television Network |
Founded |
% of U.S. households reached |
# of households viewable |
Type of Television network |
# of Full-Power Affiliates |
# of Low-Power/Class-A Affiliates &
Transmitters |
| Univisión |
1986[7] |
49% |
56,301,000 |
Spanish Commercial |
44 |
~72? |
| TeleFutura |
2002 |
45% |
51,705,100 |
Spanish Commercial |
43 |
~36? |
| Telemundo |
1954 |
42% |
48,258,500 |
Spanish Commercial |
42 |
~29? |
| V-me |
2007 |
41% |
47,109,000 |
Educational |
45 |
1 |
| LATV |
May 7, 2007 |
35% |
40,215,000 |
Bilingual(English/Spanish) Music Videos |
28 |
2 |
| Estrella TV |
2009 |
29% |
33,330,000 |
Spanish commercial |
21 |
3 |
| Azteca
América |
2001 |
25% |
28,725,000 |
Spanish Commercial |
12 |
~36? |
| MTV
Tr3s[8] |
1998 |
|
|
Spanish Music Videos |
2 |
9 |
| Telenoticias |
1993 |
|
|
Spanish News |
|
>8 |
| Multimedios Television |
Unknown |
4% |
|
Spanish Commercial |
|
12 |
| HTV |
Unknown |
4% |
|
Spanish Music Videos |
|
|
| HITN |
1983 |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Educational |
Unknown |
Unknown |
| CV Network
(Formally CaribeVisión) |
2007 |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Commercial |
At least one (WJPX) |
At least two (WPXO-LP, and WFUN-LP) |
| Mexicanal |
August 23, 2005 |
4% |
4,596,000 |
Mexican Programming |
7 |
2 |
| Galavisión |
1979 |
~1.71 |
~2,683,030 |
Spanish Commercial |
0 |
1 |
|
|
| Television Network |
Founded |
% of U.S. households reached |
# of households viewable |
Type of Television network |
# of Full-Power Affiliates |
# of Low-Power/Class-A Affiliates &
Transmitters |
| Your Family Network |
2003 |
74% |
983,567,000 |
Broadband broadcasting/ Family, Exclusive
programming |
193 |
0 |
| RTV |
2005 |
58% |
66,642,000 |
Commercial, reruns |
79 |
25 |
| ION Life |
2005[5][6] |
58% |
66,000,000 |
Commercial |
~60 [9
] |
|
| qubo |
2006[5][6] |
58% |
66,000,000 |
Commercial (Children's) |
~60 [9
] |
|
| This TV |
November 1, 2008 |
52% |
59,748,000 |
commercial;
classic movies & TV shows |
83 |
8 |
| Dot 2 |
2009 |
~20.63% |
|
|
16 |
|
| Universal
Sports |
June 16, 2008 |
46.5% |
53,428,500 |
Commercial: Sports |
41 |
7 |
| PBS World |
August 15, 2007 |
41% |
47,109,000 |
Public broadcasting |
102 |
|
| A1 |
2003 |
19% |
22,000,000 |
Commercial/minor league sports |
13 |
107 |
| FUNimation |
2005 |
~20.63 |
22,000,000 |
Commercial/animation |
4 |
1 |
| MHz
Worldview / MHz
Networks |
2001 |
19% |
21,831,000 |
Educational/International |
22 [9
] |
0 |
| The AccuWeather
Channel |
2004 |
39.5% |
45,385,500 |
Local Weather Information |
45 [9
] |
2 |
| The
Weather Channel |
1982 |
~12% |
~12,450,000 |
Local Weather Information |
1 (WCBS-TV) |
5 |
| Live Well HD Network |
April 27, 2009 |
~24% |
27,576,000 |
Health, Lifestyle |
10 |
|
| Minnesota Channel |
2005 |
~12% |
~12,450,000 |
Educational television, public affairs, ethnic and local
programming |
15 |
|
| ThinkBright |
|
~8% |
|
Public broadcasting |
9 |
|
| WSTV |
January 2007 |
|
|
|
|
5 |
| Classic Arts Showcase |
1994 |
|
|
Non-commercial performance art video clips |
>9 |
|
| OBN |
2003 |
|
|
Commercial |
0 |
1+ |
| ImaginAsian |
2004 |
? |
|
Multicultural |
1 |
2 |
| Resort Sports Network |
1986 |
~2% |
~2,450,000 |
Sports and Resort Information |
>1 |
5 |
| AsiaVision |
Unknown |
~6% |
~9,450,000 |
Multicultural |
3 |
|
| TheCoolTV |
2009 |
8.6% |
9,881,400 |
Music videos |
1 |
5 |
| DW |
1953 |
~6% |
~8,450,000 |
Multicultural |
3 |
1 |
| Pursuit
Channel |
2008 |
|
|
Sports and recreation |
? |
6 |
| AMGTV |
Unknown |
3.8% |
|
Commercial, family |
2 |
6 |
| Bloomberg Television |
1994 |
4%? |
3,600,000? |
Financial
news |
0 |
2 (KSSY-LP and K09VR) |
| Fuse TV |
1994 |
2%? |
2,000,000? |
music
videos |
0 |
1 (K09VR) |
| AmericanLife TV
Network |
May 1, 1985 |
|
|
Commercial, reruns |
Unknown |
2 (WBQP-CA, KAZV-LP) |
| Untamed
Sports TV |
2008 |
4% |
4,596,000 |
Sports |
8 |
Unknown |
| Tuff TV |
2009 |
0.46% |
528,540 |
Male-oriented programming |
2 |
0 |
| MTV2 |
August 1, 1996[10] |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Music videos |
Unknown |
Unknown |
| SCOLA |
1982 |
|
Educational |
Unknown |
Unknown |
|
|
|
| Television Network |
Founded |
% of U.S. households reached |
# of households viewable |
Type of Television network |
# of Full-Power Affiliates |
# of Low-Power/Class-A Affiliates &
Transmitters |
| ShopNBC |
1991 |
? |
50 million[11] |
Commercial/Infomercial |
4? |
3 |
| HSN |
1985[5] |
? |
unknown |
Commercial/Infomercial |
11? |
|
| JewelryTV[12][13] |
1993 |
|
|
Commercial/Infomercial |
3?[12][13] |
1 (sub-channel of K10PY-D |
| Gems TV |
Dec 2006 |
|
|
Commercial/Infomercial |
>1 |
|
| Corner Store
TV |
Unknown |
? |
unknown |
Commercial/Infomercial |
|
At least one
(WRAP-CA) |
| QVC |
|
|
|
Commercial/Infomercial |
>1 |
|
|
|
| Television Network |
Founded |
% of U.S. households reached |
# of households viewable |
Type of Television network |
# of Full-Power Affiliates |
# of Low-Power/Class-A Affiliates &
Transmitters |
| The
Worship Network[5] |
1992 |
60% |
68,940,000 |
Religious |
58 |
|
| TBN |
1973 |
42% |
48,258,000 |
Religious |
37 |
~252 |
| Smile of a
Child[14] |
December 24, 2005 |
40% |
45,960,000 |
Religious Children's TV |
33 |
3 |
| JCTV[14][15] |
2003 |
40% |
45,960,000 |
Religious Music Videos |
33 |
3 |
| The
Church Channel[14] |
2002? |
40% |
45,960,000 |
Religious |
33 |
3 |
| TBN Enlace
USA[14] |
2006? |
40% |
45,960,000 |
Spanish-Language Religious programming |
32 |
|
| LeSea
"WHTV" |
1985[16] |
7% |
8,043,000 |
Religious |
6 |
>?? |
| Daystar |
1982 |
20% |
22,980,000 |
Religious |
18 |
~25? |
| Gospel Broadcasting
Network (GBN) |
2005 |
|
|
Religious |
|
2? |
| Cornerstone Television[17] |
1979[18
] |
~11% |
~15,400,300 |
Religious |
33 |
44 |
| CTN |
1979 |
~18.49 |
~19,715,810 |
Religious |
44 |
58 |
| FamilyNet |
Unknown |
~9.24 |
~9,857,910 |
Religious |
22 |
52[3] |
| TLN |
1973 |
~3.78 |
~4,032,780 |
Religious |
9 |
~4? |
| GLC |
1982 |
~2.52 |
~2,688,850 |
Religious |
9 |
22 |
| UBN |
1993[19
] |
|
|
Religious |
5 |
~7? |
| Almavision |
2002 |
~2.5% |
~1,420,000 |
Spanish Religious |
3 |
~18? |
| Tvida
Vision |
2005 |
4% |
|
Spanish Religious |
|
2 (KCWB-LP 13
/ KVVG-LP 54) |
| Tele
Vida Abundante |
|
4% |
|
Spanish Religious |
|
9 |
| SafeTV |
1995 |
4% |
|
Religious |
|
|
| Promiseland |
|
4% |
|
Religious |
|
|
| NRB Network |
December 31, 2005 |
4% |
|
Religious |
|
|
| 3ABN |
1984 |
|
|
Religious |
3 |
>16 |
| 3ABN Latino |
2003 |
|
|
Spanish Religious |
3 |
|
| 3ABN
Radio |
|
|
|
Religious |
|
at Least 2 K08OU-D, K43JE-D |
| SonBeam Channel |
2009 |
|
|
Religious |
3 |
|
| Radio
74 |
|
|
|
Religious |
|
at Least 2 K08OU-D, K43JE-D |
| TCT |
1977 |
~8% |
~11,500,000 |
Religious |
8 |
11 |
| EWTN |
1981 |
|
|
Religious |
2 |
>5 |
| GEB |
1987 |
|
|
Religious |
|
1 |
| The Word
Network |
2000 |
~2% |
~3,210,000 |
Religious |
>3 |
|
| La
Familia Network |
2002? |
~2% |
~3,210,000 |
Spanish Religious |
>3 |
|
| Fe-TV[20] |
2002? |
~2% |
~3,210,000 |
Religious |
>3 |
|
| My Family
TV |
Unknown |
~2% |
|
Religious |
1 |
3 |
| Hope
Channel |
October 10, 2003 |
~2% |
~3,210,000 |
Religious |
>3 |
|
| Genesis Television
Network |
2005 |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Religious |
Unknown |
2 |
| The Inspiration Network[21] |
1978 |
~1% |
~1,400,000 |
Religious |
0 |
At least two (K08MA and K67HQ) |
| Television Network |
Founded |
% of U.S. households reached |
# of households viewable |
Type of Television network |
# of Full-Power Affiliates |
# of Low-Power/Class-A Affiliates &
Transmitters |
English-language American commercial over-the-air television
networks
- American Broadcasting
Company (ABC) (originally formed from the NBC Blue Network of radio, which the FCC forced NBC to
sell in 1943) The nation's third-largest commercial network, ABC
has over 200 affiliate stations and airs original programming,
sports, and news seven days a week. Almost all ABC stations air
local newscasts.
- CBS (originally Columbia
Broadcasting System) The nation's second-largest commercial
network, CBS has over 200 affiliate stations and airs original
programming, sports, and news seven days a week. Almost all CBS
stations air local newscasts.
- NBC (originally National
Broadcasting Company and formerly the television sister of the NBC Red Network
from the broadcaster's radio days) The nation's largest commercial
network, NBC has over 200 affiliate stations and airs original
programming, sports, and news seven days a week. Almost all NBC
stations air local newscasts.
- Fox Broadcasting Company (Fox)
The nation's fourth-largest commercial network, Fox has nearly 200
affiliate stations and airs original programming, sports, and news
seven days a week, programming two hours each night in prime time
(three hours on Sundays), along with the optional Saturday morning
Weekend
Marketplace informercial block. Almost all Fox stations air
local newscasts. Several of the network's owned-and-operated
stations formed the hub of the DuMont Network,
which existed from the late 1940s to the mid 1950's.
- The CW (originally formed
from The WB and UPN networks, both of which folded in September
2006 after 11 years of existence). The nation's fifth-largest
commercial network, The CW has approximately 100 affiliate stations
in the top 100 television markets, and cable operations and digital
subchannel operations in smaller television markets. The network
airs original programming five nights a week from Monday-Friday,
programming two hours each night in prime time, with a morning
children's block (CW4Kids) on Saturdays. Some CW affiliates
air local newscasts, usually only a primetime and/or a morning
newscast, often cases produced by another station in the
market.
- MyNetworkTV is a
start-up network project of News Corporation, which already owns
Fox/FBC. Announced in part to
fill the void that the merger of the WB and UPN will leave,
particularly for Fox-owned stations which had been UPN affiliates
in a number of large markets. The network launched with
English-language telenovelas, but because of the failure of
that strategy, currently the network features a mix of reality
programming, concerts, entertainment news specials, second-run
theatrical films, archived reality and comedy programming from the
Fox network, and sports programming. The network programs six
evenings a week from Monday-Saturday, two hours each night, all in
prime time, with no children's programming. Some MyNetworkTV
affiliates air local newscasts, usually only a primetime and/or a
morning newscast, usually produced by another station in the
market.
- ION Television is a mid-sized network which
has aired original family-oriented programming as well as repeats
from other networks. The network has a 24 hour schedule airing
seven days a week, with actual programming airing six hours each
evening (all other time is taken up by paid and religious programming, or
programmed by the local station). Affliates number around 100,
although most of the stations are owned by ION. Formerly known as
PAX TV from 1998-2005, and i: Independent Television from
2005-2007.
- America One (a
successor to Channel America) is a small network of
over 160 affiliate stations, A1 airs general entertainment
programming with a heavy emphasis on primetime sports programming
and events including the Canadian Football League.
- Omni Broadcasting Network
(OBN) is a very small network composed of low-power TV stations in
around 20 markets.
Additionally, several of the cable-oriented theme channels (e.g.
music or shopping channels) have obtained broadcast clearances,
usually on low-power stations, in many markets. Among these are MTV2, Home
Shopping Network, and ShopNBC.
Several of the religious broadcasting networks have
out-of-pattern clearance arrangement with their broadcast
affiliates, notably FamilyNet, Trinity Broadcasting
Network, Three
Angels Broadcasting Network, Hope Channel and World Harvest Television. And, of course,
the Public Broadcasting Service
also allows its member stations to run their programs out of
pattern.
Nicknames of major American networks (most established by the
industry publication Daily Variety as "slanguage") are as
follows:
- ABC: "Alphabet network"
or "Circle network" (its name is also the first three letters of
the alphabet)
- CBS: "Tiffany network" or "Eye network"
(for the network's high-toned reputation and eye logo, respectively)
- Fox Broadcasting Company is
referred to by media and by the network itself by the
all-capitalized FOX, and the legal name is only used in
industry media and legal documents
- NBC: "Peacock network" (after its
multi-colored logo)
- The CW: "Green network" (the
network's launch color scheme was (and is) dominated by the color
green)
- MyNetworkTV:
"Fox mini-network" (like Fox, the network was formed by News
Corporation).
- PBS: "Head
Network" for their educational programming, mascot, and logo
- UPN defunct:
"Used Parts Network" for its purchase of new episodes of series
formerly seen on other networks, "Shapes network" or "Disc network"
(after the network's 1995-2002 and 2002-2006 logos)
- The WB
defunct: "Frog network" (after the network's frog
mascot)
- DuMont Television Network
defunct: "The Forgotten network" (due to its
modern-day obscurity, considering it was a major network during the
1940s to 1950's)
-
- Additionally, both The WB and UPN were also referred to as
weblets by Variety because of their smaller and niche
audiences.
Spanish-language American commercial over-the-air television
networks
- Univisión (UNI or UVN) is the nation's
largest commercial Spanish-language network, Univision has over 120
affiliate stations including over 35 full-power stations many
Univision owned-and-operated and airs original programming, as well
as imported programming from Mexico and Venezuela seven days a
week. Formed in 1986 following the sale of predecessor Spanish
International Network (SIN) to Hallmark from Mexico's Televisa due to federal laws against foreign
ownership of American television networks. Most Univision stations
air local newscasts.
- Telemundo (TMD,
TELE, TEL, or less commonly TDO) is the nation's second-largest
commercial Spanish-language network operated by NBC Universal,
Telemundo has over 100 affiliate stations including 18 full-power
stations and airs original programming seven days a week. In
addition, Telemundo operates in Mexico and Puerto Rico. Most Telemundo stations air
local newscasts.
- Azteca
América (AZT or AZA) is the nation's third-largest commercial
Spanish-language network, Azteca America has nearly 90 affiliate
stations including 8 full-power stations and airs original and
imported programming seven days a week. Azteca America is an
off-shoot of Mexico's TV
Azteca, though much of the American network's programming airs
at different times.
- TeleFutura (TFT)
is the smallest commercial Spanish-language network, owned by
Univision, TeleFutura has nearly 30 affiliate stations including 13
full-power stations and airs original and imported programming
seven days a week.
Additionally, Televisa, which distributes programming to
Univision in the United States, operates in Mexico, but their
networks (Canal de las
Estrellas, Canal 5, and
Galavisión) have certain
stations which can be seen in areas of the U.S. along and near the
Mexican border, and likewise with the American networks in border
cities towards Mexico.
Some Mexican border stations (such as Tijuana's XETV-TV) are affiliates of American
networks and target their American border city more than their
Mexican metropolitan area, broadcasting in English or Spanish,
depending on network.
Any one of the four Spanish-language broadcast networks airs on
a national feed carried on cable and satellite systems. Univision
is broadcast on more cable systems than the other commercial
Spanish-language networks and therefore may be carried in more
homes than the 15,000,000 listed. Also, there are Spanish-language
independent stations, though these are mainly limited to large
markets. Some affiliates of Azteca America carry non-network
programming including some English-language programs.
The Spanish-language networks have a fewer amount of affiliates
than "The Big Three" English-language networks NBC, ABC and CBS,
PBS though they still occupy a large share of the country but with
the growing Latino population, more affiliates are being added
across the United States.
Unlike the English-language broadcast networks, Univision,
Telemundo, Azteca America and Telefutura do not rely on their
affiliate stations to program the majority of the broadcast day as
the networks themselves program the day's programming. This does
not mean these affiliates don't air local programming but the local
programs are mainly limited to news with some entertainment
programming though these programs do not take up a lot of the daily
schedule.
American
non-commercial television networks
Public/cultural/educational
noncommercial
- Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS) (the largest public broadcasting network,
somewhat decentralized, in the U.S.) PBS also has 24-hour/7-day
program feeds that some broadcast (both analog and digital)
stations subscribe, for some or all of their dayparts: PBS
Satellite Service (which has Eastern and Pacific Time feeds,
and was originally conceived as a cable channel for areas not
served by PBS stations), PBS
YOU or "Your Own University" (devoted largely to adult
education, crafts, and public-affairs programming, which ceased
operations at the end of January 2006), PBS Kids Channel
(devoted to PBS's very popular children's programming; discontinued
in favor of a commercial-partnership service called PBS Kids Sprout
on October 1, 2005 and briefly meant to be succeeded by a new
service PBS Kids Go!, in October 2006), PBS DT2,
PBS's HDTV feed of high-definition
and letterboxed standard-definition
programming, and PBS
World, a cooperative effort at a news, public affairs, and
documentary service between PBS, American Public Television,
and other public-broadcasting entities and headquartered at PBS
member station WGBH.
- NYCTV
The broadcasting service of the City of New York,
offering original Emmy-award winning programming and available
nationally on PBS stations. Not a network, but a provider of
programming to several New York services beyond the home station,
WNYE-TV).
- The Annenberg Channel, formerly Annenberg/CPB
Channel A National educational access channel for public
broadcasters and schools it is available on some cable and
satellite packages and is one of the only television channels in
the U.S with an online stream programming that is offered to
broadcast stations and cable systems for carriage; many of the
broadcast affiliates play its programming in overnights. It shared
some programming with PBS
YOU and various university and college stations around the
country.
- Deutsche
Welle (DW TV) A German noncommercial television service which
provides some English-language news programming to public
broadcasting stations, and whose programming feed can be seen on a
small number of independent public-broadcasting stations for part
of their broadcast day.
- Create
(sometimes given as Create!), a 24-7 digital-signal network run by
syndicator American Public Television
in partnership with WGBH, WNET, WLIW, NETA, and
PBS, offering crafts and travel programming in part to fill the
void left by the shuttering of PBS YOU. The network began
transmission in January, 2006, primarily with a number of digital
broadcast stations around the U.S.
Religious
Defunct American
television networks
- American Independent
Network - Commercial network, predecessor to UATV
- America's
Store - (1988-2007)
- AZN
Television - Ceased broadcasting 2008.
- Badger Television Network -
Short-lived television network consisting of three stations for a
few months in 1958.
- The Box - Music video network
in the 1980s to around 2001, was bought out by Viacom/CBS and
became part of MTV2.
- Channel
America - First commercial network intentionally made up of
low-power stations, a model for Pax and AIN/UATV, and the
predecessor of America
One.
- DuMont Television Network -
Commercial network, 1946 – 1956[3]
- Hispanic Television Network
- 2000-2003
- Hughes Television Network
(HTN) - Started by billionaire Howard Hughes - Active in the '60s and
'70s.
- LAT TV - Spanish-language
network, 2006 – 2008.
- Más Música - Spanish-language music videos,
predecessor of MTV3.
- Mizlou Television Network -
An occasional over the air broadcast network from 1961 to
1991.
- National Educational
Television (NET) - Educational network, 1952 – 1970,
predecessor to PBS.
- NBC
Weather Plus - 2004-2008.
- Network One (N1)
- A small independent network, similar to PAX/i and America One.
Ceased operations at 12:00am, November 13, 1997.
- Overmyer
Network (ON) - Commercial network, 1967; also the United
Network, not to be confused with UPN.
- Paramount Television
Network - Commercial network, 1949 to 1953.
- PBS Kids - late
1990s-2005. Some of its functions are being taken up by successor
PBS Kids
Sprout, a commercial cable venture; a new successor service, PBS
Kids Go!, was promised for October 2006, but has been postponed
indefinitely (while PBS continues to feature daily "PBS Kids"
blocks of programming).
- PBS YOU - late
1990s-2006. "Your Own University," this service offered a mix of
crafts, college-credit and Standard Deviants instructional
programs, and news, commentary, and documentary programming. Many
of its affiliates joined Create,
a similar if more craft- and travel-focused service administered by
American Public Television,
as YOU went dark in early 2006.
- PTL Satellite Network - Evangelical Christian network known for
broadcasting the PTL Club hosted by Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Collapsed in the wake of
a sex and embezzlement scandal that resulted in Jim
Bakker being sentenced to prison. On the air from 1977 to
1987.
- Prime Time Entertainment
Network (1993-1997)
- Shop at Home Network -
(1987-2008)
- Spanish
International Network (SIN) - Non-English language commercial
network, 1961 – 1986, predecessor to Univisión
- The Tube Music Network -
Digital-only music video network. Folded October 2007 due to
financial difficulties.
- TuVisión -
2007-2009
- TVS Television Network - From
1960s to the 1990s
- UPN (formerly initialism for
"United Paramount Network") - From January 16, 1995 to September
15, 2006, merged with WB to make The CW.
- Urban America Television
(UATV) (a successor to the American Independent
Network, AIN) A small network with 60 affiliate stations, UATV
airs original programming mixed with older films, rather similarly
to America One.
- Variety Television Network -
Ceased broadcasting in 2009.
- The WB Television Network -
From January 11, 1995 to September 17, 2006, merged with UPN to
make The CW.
- World
Championship Sports Network - 2005 to 2008.
- Retro Jams - 2007
to 2008 (carried by some Equity Media Holdings LPTV
stations, most replaced it with Retro Television Network -
format did reappear in 2009 after EBC ended dealings with
RTN).
See also
References
- ^ Although PBS was
initially established in 1969, it assumed full-time broadcasts on
October 5, 1970 to replace its predecessor, National Educational
Television (NET).
- ^ a
b
c
Although ABC, NBC, and CBS were
founded prior to 1946, those companies did not begin continuous
over the air TV broadcasting until 1946 (NBC) and 1948 (ABC and
CBS).
- ^ a
b
DuMont's relationship with the Fox network via Metromedia is disputed,
with Fox being either a modern re-incarnation, or at least a linear
descendant of the DuMont Television Network (via former DuMont
subsidiary Metromedia)
- ^ On January 24,
2006, CBS and Time Warner announced the merger of The WB and UPN, forming one larger network, The CW in
late 2006. See The CW for more information. The CW and
MyNetworkTV are also carried on cable-only channels and digital
subchannels of many currently operating television stations of
several different affiliations, ranging from current WB and Fox
affiliates, to even NBC and CBS affiliates. The WB and UPN shut down on September 18, 2006 to merge into
The CW. MyNetwork TV was created by the Fox Broadcasting Company to
give programming to several Fox-owned UPN affiliates, upon the
shutdown of UPN.
- ^ a
b
c
d
e
Network founded by Lowell "Bud" Paxson
- ^ a
b
c
Partially owned by NBC Universal and Citadel Investment Group
- ^
Date at which the Spanish
International Network (founded in 1961) was reorganized and became Univision.
- ^ Mas
Musica TV was purchased by Viacom in January of 2006. It merged with MTV en
Español to form MTV Tr3s on Sept. 25, 2006.
- ^ a
b
c
d
These channels are available over the air on digital channels or
digital subchannels only.
- ^ MTV2 is owned by Viacom, who, before the 2006
split, also owned CBS and UPN. It is largely broadcast at night
over low-power television stations,
or Independent Stations. It was
formerly known as The Box from the 1980s to
1996.
- ^
http://www.easyir.com/easyir/prssrel.do?easyirid=916f056a96667495&version=live&prid=438401
- ^ a
b
Jewelry
Television has around 3 direct affiliates. Most other stations
carrying its programming are indirectly affiliated with the network
through Shop at Home.
- ^ a
b
Shop at Home only broadcasts programming
overnights, and thus full affiliates of the network carry Jewelry
Television during the day.
- ^ a
b
c
d
These networks are carried only on the digital subchannels of local
TBN affiliates, and are owned by TBN.
- ^ JCTV is carried on some analogue and digital
television stations, digital subchannels of local Trinity Broadcast Network affiliates, and
cable/satellite providers, while Smile of a Child and TBN Enlace USA
are carried only on local TBN affiliates. All four networks are
owned by TBN.
- ^ Date at which WHTV acquired two additional stations.
World Harvest Television is a product of LeSea Broadcasting.
- ^ Cornerstone Television isn't
considered a network in the traditional definition of a TV network,
rather it is a distributor of in-house produced programming.
Although the main station, WPCB-TV Pittsburgh is on many owned and operated translators, its Full Power and LPTV "affiliates" typically air
one or two Cornerstone Television produced
programs per week scheduled at different times than the main
Corerstone station and do not identify themselves as "Cornerstone
Television" affiliates.
- ^
Although Cornerstone Television was
founded in 1970, the network did not begin even limited broadcasts
until 1979.
- ^
Though the company was founded prior to 1993, the Unity Broadcasting Network
operated just one O&O station and had no affiliates. In
1992, the company added 3 additional low-power stations and became
a "network."
- ^ Fe-TV has temporarily suspended operations for 6
months as they upgrade their network and satellite uplink
facilities. ([1])
- ^ The
Inspiration Network (INSP) was formed in 1978 as "Praise The Lord" (PTL), and re-named in
1990
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