Prime Time Entertainment Network Explained

Prime Time Entertainment Network
Type:Defunct broadcast television network
Country:United States
Affiliates:List of affiliates
Picture Format:480i (NTSC)
Owner:Warner Bros. Domestic Television
Chris-Craft Industries
Parent:Prime Time Consortium
Closed Date:
Replaced By:The WB
UPN

The Prime Time Entertainment Network (PTEN) was an American television network that was operated by the Prime Time Consortium, a joint venture between the Warner Bros. Domestic Television subsidiary of Time Warner and Chris-Craft Industries. First launched on January 20, 1993, and operating until 1997, the network mainly aired drama programs aimed at adults between the ages of 18 and 54. At its peak, PTEN's programming was carried on 177 television stations, covering 93% of the country.[1]

History

Origins

At the time of PTEN's founding, co-owner Chris-Craft Industries owned independent television stations in several large and mid-sized U.S. cities (among them its two largest stations, WWOR-TV in New York City and KCOP-TV in Los Angeles) through its BHC Communications and United Television divisions, which formed the nuclei of the network.[2]

PTEN was launched in 1993 as a potential fifth television network (the second since the demise of Star Television Network, launched in 1990, but shutdown the year after, in 1991), and was created in reaction to the launch of the Fox network (which debuted in October 1986, seven years before PTEN launched) as well as the successes of first-run syndicated programming during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It offered packaged nights of programming to participating television stations, beginning with a two-hour block on Wednesday evenings, with a second block (originally airing on Saturday, before moving to Monday for the 1994-95 season) being added in September 1993.[3] Originally, the station groups involved in the Prime Time Consortium helped finance PTEN's programs; however, that deal was restructured at the beginning of the network's second year.

The service sought affiliations with various television stations not affiliated with the Big Three television networks. However, close to half of PTEN's initial affiliates were stations that were already affiliated with Fox; as a result, these stations usually scheduled PTEN programming around Fox's then five-night prime time schedule (although Fox would expand its schedule to seven nights with the addition of programming on Tuesdays and Wednesdays on January 19, 1993, the day before PTEN launched). PTEN launched on January 20, 1993, with two series: the science fiction series Time Trax and the action drama .[2]

Demise

PTEN faced two obstacles created by its parent companies which would affect the network. On November 2, 1993, the Warner Bros. Entertainment division of Time Warner announced that it would form its own fifth network, The WB, as a joint venture with the Tribune Company,[4] Six days earlier, on October 27, Chris-Craft Industries announced the launch of the United Paramount Network (UPN), in a programming partnership with Paramount Television division of Viacom (which would become part-owner of the network in 1996). As a result, the core Chris-Craft independent stations (as well as those owned by Paramount) would serve as charter stations of the new network; Chris-Craft also chose to pull out of the partnership to focus on operating UPN.

The network also faced issues from some PTEN-affiliated stations that took issue with the network's barter split, which gave nine minutes of advertising time per hour to the syndicator, leaving only five minutes for the stations to sell and program locally. PTEN also ran into difficulty when the studio was forced to let stations out of their back-end commitments for several series. PTEN adopted a variable schedule for the 1995-1996 season, for affiliates to schedule around The WB and UPN's programming on the night of their choosing. With Chris-Craft pulling out of the venture, PTEN essentially became a syndication service for its remaining shows, before ceasing operations altogether in 1997. One of the two series that aired during the service's final year of operation, the science fiction drama Babylon 5, would later be revived by TNT, where it aired for a fifth and final season beginning in 1998.

Programming

Former programming

Series

Films and mini-series

Affiliates

City of license / MarketStation[6] Channel
Albany, NYWXXA-TV23
Alexandria, LAK47DW47
Amarillo, TXKCIT14
Anchorage, AKKYES5
Atlanta, GAWATL36
Augusta, GAWFXG54
Augusta, GAWJBF6
Bainbridge, GAWTLH49
Bakersfield, CAKUZZ-TV45
Baltimore, MDWNUV54
Baton Rouge, LAWGMB44
Billings, MTKSVI6
Birmingham, ALWABM68
Bloomington, ILWYZZ-TV43
Bloomington–Indianapolis, INWTTV4
Boise, IDKTRV-TV12
Boston, MAWSBK-TV38
Bryan, TXKYLE28
Buffalo, NYWUTV29
Cadillac, MIWGKI33
Cape Coral, FLWFTX36
Cape Girardeau, MOKBSI23
Cedar Rapids, IAKOCR28
Charleston, WVWVAH-TV11
Charlotte, NCWJZY46
Charlottesville, VAWVIR-TV29
Chico, CAKCVU30
Cincinnati, OHWSTR-TV64
Cleveland–Canton–Akron, OHWUAB43
Colorado Springs, COKXRM-TV21
Columbia, SCWACH57
Columbus, GAWLTZ38
Columbus, OHWBNS-TV10
Corpus Christi, TXK47DF47
Danville, KYWDKY-TV56
Davenport, IAKLJB-TV18
DaytonWKEF22
DenverKDVR31
DerryWNDS50
Des MoinesKDSM-TV17
DetroitWXON20
DothanWDHN18
El CentroKECY-TV9
El PasoKCIK-TV14
ElmiraWETM-TV18
EurekaKBVU-TV29
EvansvilleWFIE14
FairbanksK07UU7
FargoKVRR15
FlintWSMH66
Fort CollinsKFCT22
Fort PierceWTVX34
Fort SmithKPBI-LP46
Fort Worth–Dallas, TXKTXA21
Gary, IN–Chicago, ILWPWR-TV50
Grand RapidsWXMI17
Great FallsKFBB-TV5
Green Bay–Appleton, WIWGBA26
Green Bay–Appleton, WIWACY32
Greensboro–High Point–Winston-Salem, NCWGGT48
GreenvilleWYDO14
Hartford–New HavenWTIC-TV61
HelenaK21DU21
Henderson–Las VegasKVVU-TV5
HiloKHBC-TV2
HonoluluKHNL13
HoustonKTXH20
HuntsvilleWZDX54
Jackson, MSWAPT16
Jackson, TNWMTU16
JacksonvilleWNFT47
JamestownKJRR7
JohnstownWWCP-TV8
Kansas CityKSMO-TV62
Kingsport, TNWKPT-TV19
Kingsport, TNW30AP30
Kirksville, MO–Ottumwa, IAKTVO3
KnoxvilleWKCH-TV/WTNZ43
KokomoWTTK29
Lafayette, LAKLAF-LD46
LansingWSYM-TV47
Little RockKLRT-TV16
LouisvilleWDRB41
Los AngelesKCOP-TV13
LubbockKJTV-TV34
LynchburgWJPR21
MadisonWMSN-TV47
MemphisWLMT30
MiamiWDZL39
Midland, TexasKPEJ24
MilwaukeeWVTV18
MinneapolisKMSP-TV9
MobileWPMI-TV15
MonroeKARD-TV14
MontgomeryWCOV-TV20
Morehead CityWFXI8
NashvilleWZTV17
New OrleansWNOL-TV38
OcalaWOGX51
Oklahoma CityKOCB34
OmahaKPTM42
OrlandoWOFL35
Panama CityWPGX28
PembinaKNRR12
PhiladelphiaWPHL-TV17
PhoenixKUTP45
PittsburghWPTT-TV22
PlattsburghW27BI/WWBI-LP27
Portland, MEWPXT51
Portland, ORKPTV12
Portsmouth–Norfolk, VAWGNT27
Providence, RI–New Bedford, MAWNAC-TV64
Raleigh–Durham–Fayetteville, NCWLFL22
RenoKAME-TV21
RichmondWRLH-TV35
RoanokeWFXR-TV27
Rochester, NYWUHF-TV31
SacramentoKRBK-TV/KPWB-TV31
SalinaKAAS-TV18
SalinasKCBA35
Salt Lake CityKJZZ-TV14
San AngeloK55AA55
San Antonio, TXKRRT35
San Francisco–Oakland–San Jose, CAKBHK-TV44
Santa Fe, NMKASA-TV2
Santa Maria, CAKCOY-TV12
Savannah, GAWJCL22
Secaucus, NJ–New York, NYWWOR-TV9
Shreveport, LAKMSS-TV33
Spokane, WAKHQ-TV6
Springfield, ILWRSP-TV55
Springfield, MOKDEB-TV27
St. Louis, MOKPLR-TV11
St. Petersburg–Tampa, FLWTOG44
Sweetwater, TXKTXS-TV12
Syracuse, NYWSYT68
Tacoma–Seattle, WAKSTW11
Thief River Falls, MNKBRR10
Tijuana–San Diego, CAXETV6
ToledoWUPW36
TucsonKTTU-TV18
UrbanaWCCU27
Visalia, CAKMPH-TV26
Waco, TXKWKT-TV44
Wailuku, HIKOGG15
Washington, DCWDCA20
Waterbury, CTWTXX20
Wichita, KSKSAS-TV24
Wichita Falls, TXKJTL18
Winston-Salem, NCWNRW45
Vanderbilt, MIWGKU45
Yakima, WAK53CY53
York, PAWPMT43

References

Notes and References

  1. News: Space, 2258, in the Year 1994. 4. Susan King. Los Angeles Times. January 23, 1994. June 25, 2009.
  2. News: Warner weblet to 2-night sked. Jim Benson. Variety. Cahners Business Information. May 28, 1993.
  3. News: PTEN goes to two evenings, sort of. Mike Freeman. 16. Broadcasting & Cable. Cahners Business Information. May 31, 1993.
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20140610085342/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-22543783.html Time Warner TV Network to Cover 40% of Nation
  5. News: B . M . Rock 'n' roll finds home on Internet . March 16, 2020 . Broadcasting & Cable . March 6, 1995 . 34.
  6. Web site: Lee Whiteside. April 6, 1995. B5: Babylon 5 TV Station List/Times updated!. November 27, 2006. rec.arts.sf.tv. Google Groups.

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