The Works (TV network)
 | |
| Type | Digital broadcast television network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Availability |
Nationwide (available on OTA digital television and LPTV; covers 37% of the U.S.)[1] |
| Headquarters | Beverly Hills, California |
| Owner |
MGM Television (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) |
Launch date | April 1, 2014[2] |
Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
| Affiliates | List of affiliates |
Official website |
www |
The Works is an American digital broadcast television network that is owned by the MGM Television division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[1] The network, which is primarily carried on the digital subchannels of television stations, maintains a general entertainment format featuring a mix of feature films, classic television sitcoms and drama series from the 1950s through the 1980s, and news and interview programming.
Through its ownership by MGM, The Works is a sister network to This TV, a joint venture between MGM and Tribune Broadcasting which also focuses on films and classic television series from the 1950s to the 1990s and carries programming from The Works' corporate cousin MGM Television.
History
With little prior announcement of its formation in advance of its debut, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer launched The Works on April 1, 2014; the network debuted on nine television stations owned or operated by Titan Broadcast Management (though either NRJ TV or Ellis Communications), with an initial clearance rate of, at minimum, 31% of all television households in the United States.[2] In addition to carrying The Works on its stations, Titan Broadcast Management also handles advertising sales for the network.[1] To make room for the network, Titan ended its affiliations with the Retro Television Network on most of its stations, swapping out that network with The Works.[3] The network was formally launched in January 2015, with 26 affiliate stations, covering 37% of the nation's television households.[1][2]
Programming
The Works' program schedule relies primarily on the extensive library of films and television programming currently owned by MGM and subsidiary United Artists (notably excluding the pre-May 1986 MGM film and television library, the Associated Artists Productions (a.a.p.) library, Gilligan's Island and its animated spin-offs, and the U.S. rights to the RKO Pictures library, whose rights are currently held by Time Warner through its Turner Entertainment subsidiary). Unlike many other digital multicast networks, The Works also features some more recent and originally-produced programming.
The network maintains a general entertainment programming format with a large emphasis on theatrical feature films from the MGM library, sports and classic television series.[2] News programming is also provided by the network through a programming agreement with The Huffington Post, which provides a rebroadcast of its discussion program Huff Post Live in separate two-hour blocks of news in the midday and early evening on Monday through Fridays; affiliates are also inclined to produce local news content to air on the network.[1]
List of programs broadcast by The Works
Classic television series
- The Addams Family (April 1, 2014–present)
- American Gladiators (April 1, 2014–present)
- Comedy Time (April 1, 2014–present)
- Home Run Derby (April 1, 2014–present)
- The Rat Patrol (April 1, 2014–present)
- Quick Laffs (April 1, 2014–present)
Children's programming
- BoomerangE/I (April 1, 2014–present)
- Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot (April 1, 2014–present)
- Heroes Among UsE/I (April 1, 2014–present)
- Jack Hanna's Into the WildE/I (April 1, 2014–present)
- Killer InstinctE/I (April 1, 2014–present)
- Prince Planet (April 1, 2014–present)
News/interview programming
- Huff Post Live (April 1, 2014–present)
Affiliates
Current affiliates
As of August 2015:[4]
| City | Station | Virtual channel |
Physical channel |
Owner (Management Company) | Date of affiliation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison | K26GS-D | 26.2 | 26 | Reynolds Media, Inc. | ||
| Concord/San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose | KTNC-TV | 42.3 | 39 | NRJ TV1 (Titan Broadcast Management) | ||
| Fresno | KFAZ-CA | 8.1 | 18 | Cocola Broadcasting | ||
| Los Angeles | KDOC-TV | 56.4 | 32 | Ellis Communications (Titan Broadcast Management) | ||
| San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose | KCNS | 38.6 | 14 | NRJ TV (Titan Broadcast Management) | ||
| Visalia (Fresno) | KJKZ-LP | 27.1 | 27 | Cocola Broadcasting | ||
| Bridgeport (New York City) | WZME | 43.2 | 42 | NRJ TV (Titan Broadcast Management) | ||
| Atlanta | WANN-CD | 32.9 | 29 | Prism Broadcasting Network | May 27, 2015 | |
| Honolulu | KIKU | 20.2 | 19 | NRJ TV (Titan Broadcast Management) | ||
| Chicago | WOCH-CD | 41.1 | 49 | NRJ TV (Titan Broadcast Management) | ||
| Iowa City | KWKB-TV | 20.2 | 25 | KM Communications | ||
| Lawrence (Boston) | WMFP | 62.3 | 18 | NRJ TV (Titan Broadcast Management) | ||
| Reading/Allentown (Philadelphia) | WTVE | 51.2 | 25 | NRJ TV (Titan Broadcast Management) | ||
| Red Lion (York/Harrisburg/ Lancaster/Lebanon) | WGCB-TV | 49.3 | 26 | |||
| Baytown (Houston) | KUBE-TV | 57.2 | 41 | NRJ TV (Titan Broadcast Management) | ||
Notes:
- 1 NRJ TV is 33.3% owned by the principals of Titan Broadcasting Management, Bert Ellis and his partners.[5]
See also
- This TV – sister network co-owned by MGM and Tribune Broadcasting, specializing in feature films with a limited schedule of classic television programming.
- Antenna TV – a sister network of This TV that specializes in classic television programming, and incorporates some feature film content.
- Movies! – a competing digital broadcast network, operated as a joint venture between former co-parent Weigel Broadcasting and Fox Television Stations, that specializes in classic movies.
- GetTV – an American digital multicast television network owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment that specializes in classic movies.
- Me-TV – a competing digital broadcast network, owned by Weigel and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, specializing in classic television series from the 1960s to the 1980s.
- Retro Television Network – a competing digital broadcast network owned by Luken Communications specializing in classic television series from the 1950s to the 1970s.
- Bounce TV – a competing network owned by Bounce Media LLC that specializes in films and select classic programming aimed at the African-American community.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Kevin Downey (January 21, 2015). "Next diginet entry: MGM's The Works". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Michael Malone (May 2, 2014). "Exclusive: MGM Launches Digi-Net The Works". Retrieved January 3, 2015.
The channel reaches 31% of U.S. households, according to the insider.
- ↑ Michael Kokernak (June 12, 2014). "Titan Adds The Works While Dropping Retro TV". Across Platforms (Subchannel Report). Across Platforms. Inc. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ↑ "Stations for Network - the works". Rabbit Ears.info. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- ↑ Harry A. Jessell (January 18, 2013). "NRJ Adds 2 Stations To Portfolio For $32.5M". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Retrieved January 29, 2015.