Two new digital networks launch today

TV News 

                        

           Two new digital networks are launching today.  Grit is a channel  for men  airing movies and TV shows targeted to that audience.   The movies are from the Warner Brothers , Universal, and Paramount pictures libraries. While Escape is targeted toward women with movies and TV shows.  With Movies from the same libraries as Grit TV.  It will also have true crime programs ,mystery programs , and Crime dramas.  Both channels launch at 12PMET .  Grit will start with the John Wayne film High Noon  part of a launch week of John Wayne movies.  While  Escape's first broadcast will be with Body Heat.   
      Grit and Escape join a long list of over the air digital television networks  many of which air movies.

Grit Launch day schedule
12PMET   High Noon
1:45PMET   Shane
4:15PMET    Jeremiah Johnson
6:45PMET    Young Duke : Making of A Movie Star
8PMET    Big Jake
10PMET   Donovan's Reef

Escape Launch day schedule
12PMET Body Heat
2:30PMET    Final  Analysis
5PMET   Dead Calm
7PMET   Malice
9:30PM  Frantic

To find where these stations are in your area      Grit   Escape   As with most digital networks it may not be on cable on launch day so check your local cable listings after you find out if you area will have the station.

David Gregory is out at Meet The Press

NBC   TVNEWS 
               
     The pressure has exploded  after months and months of speculation , rumors , and stories of bad ratings , David Gregory is out at "Meet The Press", NBC's Sunday Morning staple.

David Gregory tweeted  this today

I leave NBC as I came - humbled and grateful. I love journalism and serving as moderator of MTP was the highest honor there is . (1 of 2)
— David Gregory (@davidgregory) August 14, 2014

(2 of 2) I have great respect for my colleagues at NBC News and wish them all well. To the viewers, I say thank you.
— David Gregory (@davidgregory) August 14, 2014

   NBC's Chuck Todd  currently  NBC's chief Washington  Correspondant and political director and anchor of MSNBC's  Daily  Rundown will officially take over as host September 7th.


 Tvnewser  has president of NBC News' Deborah Turness' statement

 H/T Tvnewser 

From: Deborah Turness (NBCUniversal)
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2014 4:41 PM
To: @NBC Uni NBC News All
Subject: Meet the Press
Dear All,
I want to share some news about Meet the Press. After an exceptional 20 years with NBC News, David Gregory is leaving the network.
I want to express my sincerest thanks to David, who, after the death of Tim Russert, led Meet the Press for almost 6 years. Under his leadership the show has had a string of exclusives, and David has shown a remarkable gift for holding leaders to account and getting answers on issues that matter to our audience. He is an outstanding journalist whose sharp intellect and quick sense of humor have made him a pleasure to work with. I know you all join me in expressing our deepest gratitude and in wishing him the very best.
I am very pleased to announce that Chuck Todd will take the helm on September 7. There is no one with a bigger passion for politics than Chuck. His unique ability to deliver that passion with razor sharp analysis and infectious enthusiasm makes him the perfect next generation moderator of this beloved broadcast. Chuck will ensure that Meet the Press is the beating heart of politics, the place where newsmakers come to make news, where the agenda is set. We have some exciting plans to evolve and update the broadcast under Chuck’s leadership that we will be sharing with you shortly.
Chuck will continue as NBC News political director, and will hand over his roles as chief White House correspondent and anchor of MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown.
Andrea Mitchell will serve as moderator of Meet the Press this weekend, and will continue to be a central figure of the broadcast, along with some new names that we will announce in the coming days.
For nearly seventy years, Americans have turned to Meet the Press on Sunday mornings for unrivaled insights on the news stories, political battles and public affairs debates dominating the national discussion. The next-generation Meet the Press, led by Chuck Todd, is certain to be the must-watch political destination on Sundays and beyond.
Deborah

David Gregory apparently won't be getting a farewell show (not sure on that yet)   as Andrea Mitchell will be hosting this Sunday (8-17).  David Gregory became host of Meet The Press  in December 2008 , after the death of Tim Russert.  The Show was number 1 in ratings but dropped in recent years to  "Face the Nation" , "This Week" and "Fox News Sunday" in some markets coming in 4th.

{Updated  8:47PMET}   Chuck Todd releases his statement the digital way
   

Honored and humbled to be in the company of great MTP moderators, including David, Tom and of course Tim. All three taught me so much.
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) August 15, 2014

The Lookback: Children's TV : The Disney Afternoon

The Flashback  Children's TV 
                                              
 
         So  we have told you about Disney's One Saturday Morning and Disney's One too , before Disney owned a broadcast network they   had to find other ways to air their content.  Now-a-days it's  Disney Channel , Disney XD, Disney Junior , and sometimes ABC.  Before then there was  Disney Channel , but it was premium. (Like HBO , though as one channel ,not a bunch ). So they had NBC,CBS,ABC and independent stations air their programs.    Now to FOX , we told in you in our FOX Kids piece that , Fox owned stations (some not owned) aired  some disney shows including "Duck Tales" and "Chip N' Dale Rescue Rangers" that Disney syndicated to stations.  So after FOX and Disney got mad at each other  and FOX decided  to launch FOX Kids , many of the fox affiliates that aired the syndicated shows  still aired them or they were moved to other stations.  (usually independent stations )
 
     
  coming in 4 weeks?! I'm there.  youtube/ Disney

  Now on September 10th , 1990 (2 days after Fox Kids started)  The Disney Afternoon started. It was a syndicated block of about 2 hours airing programs made by Disney usually in the afternoon slots the stations would air kids TV shows anyway.
 
What did these two hours entail ?  (Yeah what did they entail?)  Well cartoons from Disney , a mixture of some from Disney airing on other networks , and new ones for the block.
   "Disney's Adventures  of the Gummi Bears" was the first series on the block . (This is the program that ran on NBC and ABC first) ,so why not start your new programming block with it?   "Ducktales" was the first Disney cartoon to air in syndication it originally ran on FOX and independent stations in the country  it was added to the block as repeats.  "Chip n' Dale's Rescue Rangers" also started in syndication was added as part of the syndicated block   as repeats.   And Disney added  "Talespin".
    Each year a new show was added in the last half hour and the "oldest show" was at the first half-hour and the next season each show moved up one half-hour and the first half-hour show from the previous season was removed.  In the 2nd year the new program was "Darkwing Duck" , it also aired on ABC (two for one) .  This cartoon was a cartoon super-hero show with Ducks.
                     
 ........ oh what expecting a comment? , no comment here just enjoy  Disney/Youtube
The 3rd year (some call it 1992)  "Duck Tales" was removed (it was the first hour show the last season , so it be eliminated )  and a new series came in called "Goof Troop". "Goof Troop" was a cartoon about Goofy and his 11 -year -old son ,  Max. (Goofy had a son?)  It also aired on ABC and The Disney Channel . (not ooh Disney Channel had a fancy phase of the )  In the 4th year ( uhhhh 1993) , "Chip n' Dale" were removed and a new series "Bonkers" came in.  It was a spin-off , of "Raw Toonage". (It aired on CBS so that's why didn't mention it here, also Bonkers didn't air on ABC which is shocking )   In the 5th year  ,"Talespin" was removed and the new series was "Aladdin". It was based of the popular movie that came out two years before (called Aladdin, as well ) ,  It takes  place after the movie. "Aladdin" also aired on CBS (hey! That's not ABC)
       
          Everything in the early 90's sounded like this...don't judge them    youtube/disney

     Also in the 5th year , another program was added  (the 3rd 1/2 hour was now 3 programs depending on the day) "Gargoyles" was also introduced the first two seasons ran on  Disney Afternoon and the final on ABC. (There we are)   It was more dramatic and less comedy  like the other programs.  It's about Gargoyles who are mystical creatures , trying to adjust to Newyork and the 20th century.
   In the 6th year , "Timon and Pumba" was the new series added, it was based off the two charcters from the highly popular "Lion King" movie , that came out just 2 years before.  It also aired on CBS (This is 1995,so you know what 1996 means).  This program also out lived the block by two years... kind of.  (more on that in a second)
   In the 7th year, "Quack Pack" and  "Mighty Ducks" were added. (Good year for Duck theme).  It's 1996 , this is also where the block dies ( awww)  on August 29, 1997. What was coming in 1997? (oooh pick me pick me). Yep The new block "Disney's One Saturday Morning" on ABC. The block died but it didn't. (well I am lost)  On September 1 it was renamed ____________ (in other words it had no name) and it was shortened to 90 minutes. It aired mostly repeats of shows from the Disney's One Sat block at this point. In 1999 it was officially ended. Another reason for it's end was also the stations , if they were now WB affiliates they would be airing Kids WB  in the afternoon ,so no need for the syndicated block , and others were UPN and same reason (with UPN kids).
    Disney didn't give up on afternoons they launched "Disney's One too" which you have already read about , (we hope , for our moral)  If not it's here .    The repeats of the programs and large amount of cartoons Disney was making , they launched Toon Disney , as a spin off of the now Basic cable Disney Channel (The "the" was removed)  and all the programs aired there for awhile.  Toon Disney closed in 2009.

So that's it ..thanks for reading .(How else would you end it?)

CBS to make switch in Indy

TV NEWS                                                      
                                                   
                 CBS and the Tribune Company announced that Tribune's current CW station WTTV will become Indianapolis newest CBS affiliate on January 1st of 2015. Current CW affiliation will move to 4.2 ,which is currently This TV. Current CBS station WISH will lose it's affiliation with the network. This gives Tribune access to the rights of the Colts ,thanks to CBS being the network airing AFC games. Tribune's president Larry Wert , Tribune owns two stations in INDY (WXIN, FOX59 and WTTV , Indiana's 4) , said today :

“This comprehensive agreement further expands our strong partnership with CBS and allows us to provide an array of outstanding programming, including leading live sports, news and entertainment,” said Tribune Broadcasting President Larry Wert. “Through WTTV’s new affiliation, we look forward to significantly enhancing our sports offerings, local news coverage and commitment to the community.”

 The Tribune company also renewed affiliation agreements with CBS on other affiliates that they own ,  Lin , which owns WISH-TV  has not said anything about plans for WISH-TV or how this will affect agreements with 10 other CBS affiliates.




sources:  FOX59 (WXIN)    Variety   Tribune 

CNN Gets new graphics

CNN  TV News Graphics 
   

   Today CNN changed it's graphics , to motif of red,black , and White.  The name of the show has moved from a box on the right to a grey rectangle on the new ticker.  The grey rectangle also alternates the hashtag of the program and on some cases the twitter handle.  The ticker remains but has been changed to a white and black color scheme with a cnn.com box  on the left.  The Stocks and time have moved under the logo and alternate  like they did in the old package.
    I am not sure what I think about them yet, but they are simple and flatter , kind of like MSNBC's  and less flashy , like the previous package or Fox News Channel's graphics.  CNN international does not have this package , not sure if they are getting a new look or not. Though these are seen during simulcasts of CNN on CNN I ,which happens alot these days.    

The Lookback : The New Leave it to Beaver

The Flashback  
       Ever wonder what happened to Beaver and Wally after "Leave It to Beaver"? (They became a singing duo in the70's?)  , it's that kind of question that makes TV shows.  That's what "The New Leave It to Beaver" answered.  The title sounds like if it was done now , those people that don't have new ideas decided to make a "reboot" of  "Leave It to Beaver". (Reboot means , "hey there's an old show that was good ,so let's make it worse  and it won't last more than 7 episodes)  Instead it was 20 years after the original series ended (1963)  to see how Wally and the Beaver were doing now (1983).
        Original in 1983, there was a movie called "Still the Beaver"  a 2-hour movie showing us how the  Cleavers were doing now. We were brought back to seeing Mrs. Cleaver ((Barbara Billingsley reprises her role) she was now a widow ( Hugh Beaumont, who played Ward died in 1982) Theodore/ The Beaver  Cleaver  (Jerry Mathers reprises his role ) and  Wally Cleaver ( Tony Dow) were adults now.  Beaver  was divorced (what mean writers) he and his 2 sons  Kip and Oliver lived with his Mother.  Meanwhile next door Wally is married (happily I guess)  to Mary  Ellen  and they have a 1 daughter , later on a son. (Lived next door saves money on sets or something )   Eddie Haskell  (Ken  Osmond )  had 2 sons (played by his real sons). "Lumpy" had 1 daughter.
    The Movie must have done well in 1983, because a TV series of the same name , "Still the Beaver" was launched and started in 1984 on The Disney Channel (back when it was a premium channel )  and ran 27  episodes on the network.  In 1985 it was announced to be moving over to Ted Tuner's TBS (before it was very funny)  and continued 3 more seasons there under the new name "The New Leave it to Beaver". (Creative aren't they)
   
    Tomorrow at 11:30 Eastern 10:30 am Central   // Youtube

           The series theme song was the original theme song but was eightiesized (why that's not a word is a travesty) .
       
     
     The  80's makes cool sax cool  // Youtube

           The sequel series followed the parent show (you think that was a pun don't you?)  in being focused from the kids on the series point of the view not the adult view. With the classic kids getting into trouble and the lesson learning in the program. It shows how Beaver and Wally are as fathers which was a great intrest for those who grew up with "Leave it To Beaver".   It's also interesting to see Eddie Haskell as a father.
   That's the (short) Lookback ... tune in next time when we find out how  Wally and Beaver's kids are as parents in the year 2003.  ( Wait that didn't happen)

Looking Back: Children's TV blocks: TNBC and UPN Kids

The Flashback Children's TV  UPN  NBC 
                                          
         Some blocks were not long lived enough to warrant it's own post  others because the block was around for a long time but didn't do much.  These are the cases for the blocks we are taking a look back at Today.  First, TNBC (Teen NBC in English). But to talk about this block we have to talk about "Saved By The Bell" (Yeah sounds confusing doesn't it? Hang with us)    2 Things : 1) This is the show that changed Saturday Morning TV for NBC , 2) We have to talk about Disney Channel.
    "Saved by the bell" Began  in 1989 on NBC , but let's go back further (time machine).  "Good Morning ,Miss" is where this show comes from... it began on Disney Channel created by NBC for Disney Channel (Now that's something) . It stared actress Hayely Mills ("The Parent Trap" )   , she played the teacher for Zach Morris, Lisa Turtle ,and Screech.  They were in 8th Grade. After 13 Episodes it was canceled. (The  End ?)


   Good Morning , Miss Bliss  /Youtube


   So NBC not wanting to give up ( persevering  is good|  E/I)  so they picked up the show and decided to create a spin-off , of sorts. It was changed to be in LA instead of Indy (awwww) , and they would be in High School , and no Miss Bliss.  They kept Zach, Screech, and Lisa and added some new characters (A.C Slater) .  The new show aried on NBC and it became very popular and high rated.
      In 1992 ,NBC was very happy that "Saved by the Bell" was doing so well they decided  that they were going to convert their entire Saturday Morning line up.
     First , they threw out the cartoons and other kids programs  (not literally , maybe literally) kind of ironic twist that after FOX started kids programming , NBC bows out.  Second, they gave something to adults (oooh my ) and maybe news loving kids , A Saturday edition of the "Today Show". (Yay?) Third, they started a new block for teenagers (old kids).  The centerpiece was "Saved By The Bell" , it was so important to them it aired twice a  Saturday.  2  new programs  included : "Name Your Adventure" a teen reality series where Mario Lopez, Jordan Brady , and Tatyana Ali help  teens' dreams come true.  The other series was "California Dreams"  (same executive producer as "Saved by The Bell", this block was made for him you'll see what I mean)  The Show was  a sitcom that focused on teenagers (take that Disney Channel)  and it showed their issues about growing up.
     Funny thing about a block that was built because of success of "Saved By The Bell" , the program that helped birth it ended in 1993.  So what did they do ? They created a spin-off (like you do , remember "Joey" ? )  "Saved By the Bell :The New Class" This show ran longer than it's parent show ( 8 years , 143 episodes) and became the anchor this block.   The series focused on Bayside HighSchool and Mr. Belding after our original cast has moved on.   A show about high school students  can go three ways : 1 . Normal progression , 2: The same kids going to High School  longer than 4 years (they didn't study very well) 3: End the show after a focus set of characters "leave the school".  "The  New Class" did the first thing , but not just that they would change people in the season and not tell you what happened. ("Hey , where's Steve?" , ,"Steve is away , we talk about Steve" ) Then they had to bring back Screech (Dustin Diamond) from the original "Saved By the Bell".  Anyway, it aried 7 years on TNBC. (Now on DVD , Bing it )
   
    Who are these people?   NBC/Youtube

   Other programs over the 10 years this block lived were : "Brains and Brawn" a teen game show  hosted by Mark-Paul Gosselaar ( Zach Morris ) , "Running the Halls" , "Hang Time" , "City Guys" , "One World (like City guys and the Saved by the bell shows were by Peter Engel ). Teen comedy-drama " Just Deal" (yeah dude) co-created by Thomas Lynch (creator of "The Secret World of Alex Mac)  , he also created Sk8  (Skate?) for this block , and "All about us".  The block pretty much ran that way with one or two new series a season.  In that 10 year period , things changed  , the E/I rule came into effect forcing stations to have education shows for under 16's ,this block  fulfilled that need  already. Disney had bought ABC , Viacom and CBS had merged (then divorced in 2005). But NBC deiced to get out of  producing their own Children's -Teen TV  ( The E/I rule affected advertising rules therefore money)  so they sold their time to Discovery.  Teen NBC bowed out in September of 2002 and Discovery Kids on NBC came in the next week.  (Read about that , if you haven't already, here)

Now we continue after the Jump , please join us

Looking Back : FOX Kids

TV Look back  Children's TV 
                                                       
      Welcome one again to our look at  defunct children's television blocks on  network TV. This is due to the eventual end of traditional  children's TV on Broadcast TV.  This time we look at FOX KIDS.
     So to talk about FOX Kids we have to talk a little about FOX,  the network launched in 1986 using mostly old independent (non-affiliated with networks )  channels .  Independent channels had  something to them they would have to fill their days with movies, sitcoms , dramas and children's programs.  Weekday Children's programming instead of soaps or some talk show , or game show.   FOX was a brash , edgy network compared to the others. Their stations who mostly to be independent (this changed in 1994-95) had afternoon children's television blocks of syndicated programming.
        In 1987 Disney , which at the time syndicated it's programming  for kids, premiered "Duck Tales"  and these Fox,  the remaining independent stations , and maybe some big 3 network affiliates picked up the program to air in their children's television slot.  In 1988  in LA Disney bought a local TV  channel , now known as KCAL-TV, and they of course wanted their own made program to air on their channel.  The problem was : FOX .   Fox owned (still does)  KTTV in LA  and they were airing  the program. So they pull the program from ALL their owned stations .
     That was long history  ,but what does that have to do with FOX KIDS?
  FOX launched it's own programming block , FOX KIDS , (what else would you call it? ) , on September the 8th 1990.   It aired 30 minutes each afternoon  and 3 hours on Saturday Mornings. So you could say that this was FOX's only daytime networked programming.  This block could be mixed in with the local stations pre-existing children's programming.
                             
 
    FOX KIDS Network (sounds like a 24 hour channel) /Youtube
     Programs included : "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes"  ( See , Mom if we eat the vegetables they will come back and kill us ) , "Bobby's World" (created by Howie Mandel ,yes THAT Howie Mandel , how many do you know?) , "Peter Pan and the Pirates" , "Tom and Jerry Kids" (no Tom and Jerry did not actually get married to some cat and mouse down the street and have kids, it was them as kids, though I like your thinking) .
     
   
     See it was a real show ..  Marvel/ Fox Kids/ Youtube
It also aired  Bugs Bunny , because 3 networks are never enough. Batman the animated series , Then  we can't mention FOX KIDS with out mentioning "Tiny Toon Adventures" , yep this program started in Syndication in 1990  then moved to FOX in 1992 , then we got "Animaniacs"in 1993. A great 90's show that was liked by kids and adults alike. It ran on FOX kids from 1993-1995 then moved to Kids WB (oh we got to write about them soon don't we?)  And if anything FOX Kids is remembered for  it would be "Power  Rangers" the program's first series started as "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers"  , it's become a large franchise of TV series and sold lots of toys (which children's TV kind of does).  In 1993 , FOX  KIDS was now on 3 hours each weekday from 2-5PMET (Times Varied due to fox station)  and 4 hours on Saturday 8AMET/7AMCT.  That's alot of time to fill.


 Yes,  where on Earth is she?   / Youtube
       Fox Kids was merged with Saban Entertainment  in 1996 , providing it with more program rights and programs themselves.  In 1996 they now had more compensation , especially on the weekdays , The new new The WB and UPN networks had introduced their own children's TV blocks.  What else came out in 1996?  Oh yeah, our old  friend the Children's television act, we will get back to that soon.  KIDS WB was one block that was going to compete well against , FOX , it had some of the programs that were made by Warner Brothers but aired on FOX, "Animanics" for example.  But Fox Kids continued and did well,  it launched more "Power Rangers" series (those were still hip with the kids, 80's kids ?) .  They also made the book series "Goosebumps" into a TV series that became just as popular as the books.
    Now back to the E/I rule , FOX decided to add some educational programs , there was one ,"The Magic School Bus" (what's more educational than that?) After the program ended on PBS in 1997 , FOX picked up the repeats. (Most stations aired it in the mornings) . It gave FOX stations some help in  reducing their E/I quota of 3 hours a week of E/I programming.
   It kept airing non E/I programming , the mix of entertaining  live-action and cartoons. But the world was changing or something.  In 1999 the weekday version of the block was cut to 2 hours.   Their programs were the same as continuing and a little more action cartoons.   Remember that competition we spoke of? , UPN Kids was doing great (ok ok that was a joke) , KIDS WB was doing really well ,in 1999 they aquired one of the the most popular programs to air on broadcast TV since  "Power  Rangers"  ,"Pokemon". That's not  where all the competition was coming from either... there were Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network  where kids  could watch cartoons and other programs until the cows came home . FOX affiliates also wanted a change : many of them were wanting to do something different in the afternoons and wanted some part of Saturday morning to air news or something. E/I rules limited commercials in Children's TV,  that means limited revenue coming in  to FOX Kids and to the local stations. A fox station could air more advertisements therefore make more money from airing some talk/court/trashy-talk/late-afternoon newscasts than Children's shows.  The Weekday block died in 2001.  
      Fox did get Digimon , which is still running to this day ,  and that has it's own fans.
 


Angela Anaconda , from  Canada , aired on FOX Kids and Fox Family /yotube.