New Retro TV Channels Coming in 2014

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PopcornNMore

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Mar 20, 2005
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I had this idea years ago...

Four decade-themed classic TV networks could be coming in 2014, if all goes well. The four decades that will be of focus are the 1960s, '70s, '80s and '90s. Longtime TV executive Garth Ancier and now head of Zeus Media Partners, is pitching this and he's brought industry veterans Diane Robina, Alan Goodman and Michael Ross along to help. Robina and Goodman were formerly of TV Land back in the late '90s. These four networks will be actual cable networks and not over-the-air digital stations like Antenna TV and MeTV Network. They will be free to cable, satellite and telco TV operators and supported by advertising. Zeus Media Partners plans to launch these four networks around this time next year (second quarter 2014). Ancier is looking to create something like how Sirius XM's satellite radio channels that are grouped by decade, but for television and TV series. The company is in preliminary talks with all major studios like CBS Paramount, Sony Pictures Television, 20th Century Fox, MGM, NBC, Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros. and Carsey Werner for programming options. Zeus is not looking to obtain exclusive cable rights to any of these programs, so you can expect most of these shows to be run on multiple networks on cable. Among the shows Ancier said he is looking to obtain are Three's Company (currently licensed by TV Land but on hiatus) and Lost in Space (airs on digital station MeTV), since they are not airing much right now.

There is still a very long way to go but this is a good start. We will of course bring you any future news updates on this, so stay with us. It would be good to see some shows that haven't been aired in a while as well, such as One Day at a Time, Alice, Welcome Back Kotter, Webster and Small Wonder, in addition to the major stuff like Three's Company and Good Times. No programming has been officially announced of course since it is just preliminary talks, but anything could be possible! Stay tuned! Sound off on Facebook and tell us what shows you would like to see from the '60s-90s!


Read more: http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2013/06/new-by-decade-classic-tv-networks.html#ixzz2VITjJeXX
 
If they could get it on 97w, Ku, ITC, they'd have an instant nation wide audience immediately. :up

(but for reliability reasons, it'll likely go out on C band)
 
If they could get it on 97w, Ku, ITC, they'd have an instant nation wide audience immediately. :up

(but for reliability reasons, it'll likely go out on C band)
I agree..much more reliable..C-Band that is..
 
I remember years ago saying on here that we need decade themed channels like the Nick @ Nite 1950's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's. There could even be one for pre-1950s. I think there is a need for this in the market and has been a need for this for a while now.
 
Sorry to read that TV shows of the 1950's aren't being considered by Retro TV.
Guess the powers that be at Retro TV are too young to realize all the great shows of that era. They are ignoring a favorite era of alot of baby boomers.
There are many 50's shows that aren't being shown currently like...The Abbott and Costello Show, Adventures Of Superman, SkyKing, The Honeymooners, Love That Bob, Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet and Father Knows Best, just to name a few.
 
Perhaps if the other decade themed channels are successful enough then they could add more, at least a pre-1960s channel.
 
The amount of 50's Tv shows is probably more limited than other decades...Probably a lot of old shows and episodes were lost too. The quality of many of those really old shows really shows, and probably isn't up to the quality a network would want use. I like the old shows but I can't imagine watching them on a big HD set today.
 
Until I discovered "Highway Patrol" a few years ago about the only 50s series I was familiar with were "The Honeymooners" and "I Love Lucy". Since I grew up in the 70s era of repeats on 3 TV channels that was about all I remembered and still enjoy on today's retro TV offerings from the 60s-70s. I only found "Thriller" with Boris Karloff a few months ago and had never heard of it.

I look forward to discovering more future favorites.
 
Unfortunately presentation is more valued than content. I'd still rather watch a b&w/mono/scratched/blurry rerun of Little Rascals than endure an episode of 1080/3D/Dolby 5.1 Survivor

I hope Zeus Media Partners has deep pockets
 
The amount of 50's Tv shows is probably more limited than other decades...Probably a lot of old shows and episodes were lost too. The quality of many of those really old shows really shows, and probably isn't up to the quality a network would want use. I like the old shows but I can't imagine watching them on a big HD set today.

There are many of 1950's era TV shows that are in presentable condition, even for big HD sets.
Some shows were even restored from their 35mm masters for transfer to DVD and look better than ever with crisp detail.
The Abbott and Costello Show, The Honeymooners, I Love Lucy and Sea Hunt (not on DVD yet) are prime examples of this.
 
Most shows of the 50's are safe and sound but networks nbc being one of the worst say there lost or in bad shape so on. Not true some were wiped if on video tape but come 16 35 mm I own a lot of lost tv shows. What happen for networks with out phone lone or feed they send films also sent the film to the us army. Dumont shows are most gone thinks to abc tv dumping them in the river.
 
I purchased the "Bionic Woman" series season 1 and 2 back in 2011 thinking it was unlikely to ever see it air again. Inside one of the box sets there was a note stating that there may be noticeable defects in some of the recordings. To keep the series complete it was decided to include them anyway. I watched them all and never spotted anything.

Thanks for COZI TV which is finally airing the series season 3 episodes which I have been adding to my collection.
 
They will be free to cable, satellite and telco TV operators and supported by advertising.

The idea of the channels themselves sounds cool; however if "supported by advertising" ends up meaning the TV shows are chopped down and edited for a dozen extra commercial breaks, then maybe not so much. The thing I enjoy about the various retro OTA stations is that the old shows don't seem as "edited" for additional commercial breaks as much as they are on the bigger cable networks.
 
I have to agree. I can watch some old re-runs forever. Our Gang and Little Rascals are 2 of my favorites. I think it has a lot to do with new format of the plots and stories on TV.

Older shows stuck to a similar formula which was sort of a constraint or limiting factor, but it made viewing less of a stressful thing in my opinion. Some shows today are packed with more "stuff" than the movies back then. Crazy camera angles, fades, effects, multiple story lines simultaneously, purposeful poor lighting/blur shots, heart gripping stories, constant action. Its all nice, but for like an hour before my head feels like it's inside the TV set. There really is a such thing as being "too thought provoking".

Just my 1.5 cents. ;)

So, obviously, I welcome any renewed effort to run old shows. Especially the lesser known ones. Night Gallery is one that comes to mind for me. I never heard of it before Retro TV. I was always a Rod Serling fan so it was cool to discover the show. I also get to the point where I forget the older ones by the time I've seen all of them. So, I just keep watching. At least when Im not busy with the car/dish/yard/million other things.
 
ends up meaning the TV shows are chopped down and edited for a dozen extra commercial breaks
Agree, there is too much time devoted to commercials today. But I suppose that means they can sell commercial time for less.
Some shows today are packed with more "stuff" than the movies back then
Yeah, that too!! I remember when Hill Street Blues had the camera moving around like in 'third person' aspect. It was if the 'third person' holding the camera was a stumbling drunk in many cases. Other shows to 'pick up' the practice seemed to have the third person cameraman on the verge of passing out. Seemed the only time the camera was stable was during a commercial. A lot of shows, I just couldn't watch, even if the story was interesting. An over abused 'technique' for sure.:rant:
Sorry for the rant, just had to 'get it out'.
 
Even retro TV networks meant for pay subscribers chop up shows for commercial time (see TVLand). I believe that if I pay for retro TV, I should not have to watch chopped up shows.
 
I agree some of the old shows Honeymooners etc are decent quality. Those would look ok. Some of the quality of the old shows I've seen is not that good. It's like watching a poorly recorded vhs tape years later. There's a lot of shows we all remember well from the 60's and 70's we've yet to see on any of the retro channels. There's been lot's of posts about those.
 
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