List of United States over-the-air television networks: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 17:51, 9 July 2007

In the United States, for most of the history of broadcasting, there were only three major national broadcasting networks. From 1946-1956 these were ABC, CBS, NBC, and the DuMont Television Network. From 1956-1986, the national networks were ABC, CBS, and NBC.

Today, more than 20 nation-wide broadcasting networks exist, although some of these are admittedly quite small. Other than PBS, the largest broadcast networks remain the traditional Big Three Television Networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC). Many other large networks exist, however, notably Fox, MyNetworkTV, and The CW, formerly UPN and The WB. Fox in fact has just a fraction of a percentage point fewer households reached than the Big Three, and is therefore often considered a "major" network among 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).
  • 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).
  • Religious broadcasting networks.
  • Spanish-language broadcasting networks.

Each network sends its signal to many local TV stations across the country. These local stations then air the "network feed," and 103,000,000 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.

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.

Table of broadcast television networks

Major English-language networks

Television Network Founded % of U.S. households reached # of households viewable Type of network # of Full-Power Affiliates # of Low-Power/Class-A Affiliates & Transmitters
PBS 1969 ~99.00 ~105,579,120 Educational 349 ~342
ABC 19481 96.75 103,179,600 Commercial 229 ~266
NBC 19461 97.17 103,624,370 Commercial 226 ~338
CBS 19481 96.98 103,421,270 Commercial 215 ~299
FOX 1986 96.18 102,565,710 Commercial 203 ~202
The CW² September 18, 2006 96.18 102,565,710 Commercial 158 + 5 cable-only stations ~11
MyNetworkTV² September 5, 2006 96.18 102,565,710 Commercial 128 + 1 cable-only station ~40

Spanish-language commercial networks

Univisión 1986³ ~14.71 ~15,683,030 Spanish Commercial 35 ~72?
Galavisión 1979 ~1.71 ~2,683,030 Spanish Commercial 0 1
TeleFutura 2002 ~5.46 ~5,825,130 Spanish Commercial 13 ~36?
Telemundo 1986 ~7.56 ~8,065,560 Spanish Commercial 18 ~29?
Azteca América 2001 ~3.36 ~3,584,690 Spanish Commercial 8 ~36?
LAT TV 2006 ? 9,122,400 Spanish Commercial/Multicultural 0 27
TuVision 2007 Spanish Commercial 5
MTV Tr3s15 1998 Spanish Music Videos 2 9
Telenoticias 1993 Spanish News >8
Multimedios Television Uknown 4% Spanish Commercial 12
HTV 4% Spanish Music Videos
V-me 2007 Unknown Unknown Educational
HITN 1983 Unknown Unknown Educational Unknown Unknown

Specialty and digital terrestrial television networks

ION Television (formerly PAX; i) 1998 83 91,000,000 Commercial 94 ~43
ION Life 2005 83 91,000,000 Commercial 94 ~43
qubo 2006 83 91,000,000 Commercial 94 ~43
A1 2003 ~20.63 22,000,000 Commercial/minor league sports 72 + several cable-only stations 58
FUNimation 2005 ~20.63 22,000,000 Commercial/animation 4 1
MHz Worldview / MHz Networks 2001 ~11 11,000,000 Educational/International At least 3 (KCSM, WNVC/WNVT)
The Tube 2006 ~5.85 ~7,240,000 Music Videos 295
NBC Weather Plus 2004 ~76% ~145,450,000 Local Weather Information 975
The AccuWeather Channel 2004 ~59% Local Weather Information 36
The Weather Channel 1982 ~12% ~12,450,000 Local Weather Information 1 (WCBS-TV)
Classic Arts Showcase 1994 Commercial >9
RTN ~8% ~11,500,000 Commercial, reruns 12 (+1 Digital-only station) 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
Columbus Sports Network 2007 ~2% ~2,450,000 Sports Information >1
AsiaVision Unknown ~6% ~9,450,000 Multicultural 3
DW 1953 ~6% ~8,450,000 Multicultural 3 1
The Sportsman Channel Unknown ~5%? 5,220,400 Sports and recreation 0 5
Create 2006 ~10%? 10,423,500 Public broadcasting/Educational 5 0
Bloomberg Television 4%? 3,600,000? Financial news 0 2 (KSSY-LP and K09VR)
Fuse TV 2%? 2,000,000? music videos 0 1 (K09VR)
Black Family Channel 3%? 3,000,000? Commercial 0 2 (W23BC, WRCX-LP)
LATV May 7, 2007 12.53% 13,953,850 Bilingual(English/Spanish) Music Videos 13 0
AmericanLife TV Network February of 1985 Commercial, reruns Unknown 2 (WBQP-CA, KAZV-LP)

Shopping networks

Shop at Home7 1987 Commercial/Infomercial >100 ~22?
ShopNBC 1992? ? Unknown Commercial/Infomercial 4? 3
HSN 1985 ? unknown Commercial/Infomercial 11?
JewelryTV 1993 Commercial/Infomercial 3?8
America's Store 1989 Commercial/Infomercial 3
Gems TV Dec 2006 Commercial/Infomercial >1
Corner Store TV Unknown ? unknown Commercial/Infomercial At least one (WRAP-CA)

Religious television networks

TBN 1973 ~21.85 ~23,300,500 Religious 52 252
Smile of a Child9 December 24th, 2005 ~8.85 ~6,300,500 Religious Children's TV >5
JCTV9 2002? ~2% ~3,210,000 Religious Music Videos >5
The Church Channel9 2002? ~2% ~3,210,000 Religious >3
TBN Enlace USA9 2006? ~5% ~6,871,000 Spanish-Language Religious programming >5
LeSea "WHTV" 198510 ~16.81 ~17,923,460 Religious 40 >1
Daystar 1982 ~15.13 ~16,131,120 Religious 36 ~25?
Cornerstone Television11 197912 ~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[1]
TLN 1973 ~3.78 ~4,032,780 Religious 9 ~4?
GLC 1982 ~2.52 ~2,688,850 Religious 5 22
UBN 199313 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)
3ABN 1984 Religious 2 >16
TCT 1977 ~8% ~11,500,000 Religious 8 11
EWTN 1981 Religious 2 >5
GEB 1987 Religious 1
Word Network 1996? ~2% ~3,210,000 Religious >3
La Familia Network 2002? ~2% ~3,210,000 Religious >3
Fe-TV14 2002? ~2% ~3,210,000 Religious >3
Faith TV ~2% ~3,210,000 Religious >3
The Hope Channel October 10 2003 ~2% ~3,210,000 Religious >3
The Worship Network 1992 Unknown Unknown Religious 4? 250?
Genesis Television Network 2005 Unknown Unknown Religious Unknown 2
The Inspiration Network 1978 ~1 ~1,400,000 Religious 0 At least two K08MA and K67HQ

Notes

  1. 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).
  2. 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 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.
  3. Date at which the Spanish International Network (originally founded in 1961) was reorganized and became Univision.
  4. On May 1, 2006, UATV suspended its operations while searching for a new satellite distributor. Its stations have been left to search for programming elsewhere until its operations are resumed. The date for resumed operations has not been set.
  5. The Tube is aired on 29 digital subchannels only. NBC Weather Plus is aired on many cable/satellite television services, and over-the-air on digital subchannels, only.
  6. 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.
  7. Shop at Home only broadcasts programming overnights, and thus full affiliates of the network carry Jewelry Television during the day.
  8. Jewelry Television has around 3 direct affiliates. Most other stations carrying its programming are indirectly affiliated with the network through Shop at Home.
  9. 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.
  10. Date at which WHTV acquired two additional stations. World Harvest Television is a product of LeSea Broadcasting.
  11. 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 don't identify themselves as "Cornerstone Television" affiliates.
  12. Although Cornerstone Television was founded in 1970, the network did not begin even limited broadcasts until 1979.
  13. Though the company was founded prior to 1993, the Unity Broadcasting Network operated just one O&O station and had no affiliates. In 1993, the company added 3 additional low-power stations and became a "network."
  14. Fe-TV has temporarily suspended operations for 6 months as they upgrade their network and satellite uplink facilities. ([2])
  15. 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.
  16. The Inspiration Network (INSP) was formed in 1978 as "Praise The Lord" (PTL), and re-named in 1990
  • TVRadioWorld depicts a few other networks also being broadcast, however, these are not confirmed.

English-language American commercial over-the-air television networks

  • American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (originally formed from the NBC Blue radio network, 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 seven days a week.
  • CBS (originally Columbia Broadcasting System) The nation's second-largest commercial network, CBS has over 200 affiliate stations and airs original programming seven days a week.
  • NBC (originally National Broadcasting Company) (sprung from what was once the NBC Red radio network) The nation's largest and commercial network, NBC has over 200 affiliate stations and airs original programming seven days a week.
  • Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX/FBC) The nation's fourth-largest commercial network, Fox has nearly 200 affiliate stations and airs original programming seven days a week. Fox broadcasts to a younger audience than the "Big Three". Some FOX stations broadcast news (usually a 10pm/9pm news, others air AM news)
  • 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 fith-largest commercial network, The CW has approx. 100 affiliate stations in the top 100 television markets, and cable operations and digital subchannel operations in smaller television markets.
  • 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. Its programming consists of English-language telenovelas, which had been readied for the syndication market, when the need and opportunity for a new network was determined.
  • ION Television A mid-sized network which has aired original family-oriented programming as well as repeats from other networks, seven days a week. 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) A small network comprised 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) 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, 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" (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 in almost all media and by the network itself by just the singular name FOX
  • 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 constant reruns of programs formerly from 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)
    • 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) 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.
  • Telemundo (TMD, TELE, TEL, or less commonly TDO) The nation's second-largest commercial Spanish-language network, 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.
  • Azteca América (AZT or AZA) 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) The smallest commercial Spanish-language network, TeleFutura has nearly 30 affiliate stations including 13 full-power stations and airs original and imported programming seven days a week. Owned by Univision.

...Additionally, Televisa, which distributes programming to Univision in the United States, operates in Mexico but certain affiliates broadcast in areas of the U.S. that lie along the border of Mexico.

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-X (which has Eastern and Pacific Time feeds, and was originally conceived as a cable channel for areas not served by PBS stations), PBS-XD (created for carriage on home satellite services, such as DirecTV and Dish Network, with primetime programming largely delayed by one day so as not to compete too directly with local PBS member 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 likely to be succeeded by a new service PBS Kids Go!, in October 2006), and PBS DT2, PBS's HDTV feed of high-definition and letterboxed standard-definition programming.
  • NYCTV The broadcasting service of the City of New York, offering original Emmy-award winning programming and available nationally on PBS stations.
  • 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
  • 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

See also

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