 This is the SF Productions podcast network We're number four we're number four from the pop culture bunker. I'm Mindy and I'm Mark You can take it our audio podcast how I got my way through your comics on itunes or on our website SF podcast network comm So first off our Emmy prediction results. Let's just say it didn't go well No, I didn't we missed on variety talk series. Oh, you were right on outstanding TV movie. Oh That's it Animated program we were both wrong over the garden wall, which I've never even heard of yeah Voice over we were both wrong on Hank Azaria one. I think he's won multiple times Guest actor you are also right for Brett in a comedy series who for me and none for you so far Yeah, and then we had guest actress in comedy series. We were both wrong with Joan Cusack Outstanding comedy actor in a comedy series. We were both right for Tony Hale. Okay. I'm still one up on you. Yes, you up Outstanding supporting actress in comedy. We were both wrong Allison Janney and mom Right, okay, we were both right again for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series for Jeffrey Tambor We were both wrong outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for Amy polar was ripped off. Absolutely It was Julia Louis Dreyfus that one Using the standard rule Of once you've won once they just keep giving it to you outstanding guest actor in drama Reg E Kathy, which we neither of us picked guest actress in drama margo martin dale neither of us picked Outstanding supporting actor peter dinklage neither of us picked supporting actress In a drama series uzo aduba the new lu grant or the new lu grant asner. Yeah, the new way to asner neither respect Outstanding lead actor in a drama series john ham. You picked that one Outstanding lead actress in a drama series Viola davis neither of us picked Comedy series veep neither of us picked drama series game of thrones neither of us picked results Mindy wins five to two But there were a lot of misses. Yeah, but I still beat you. Yes. Yes, you did now under our main topic With the 500 channels and countless internet options to choose from it's hard to remember When we only had three network choices. We had abc. He had cbs. He had nbc Uh, you know, there is always pbs too, but that didn't count right. Yeah, it took until 1985 Before an attempt at a fourth network survived, which is of course fox But there were many attempts before that And there were a lot of what they called ad hoc networks Where studios and producers got local stations to agree to show the same movie at the same time But that really doesn't count as a network. So that was sort of like, um An early start at something like a tbs or something like that, right? And then there were a number of discussions that never materialized due to money or legal issues Really not a network and we really don't have time to discuss them We're going to concentrate on networks that actually made it to the air On a on a continuing basis at least at first starting with the duemont network I've heard of the duemont network 1946 to 56, but it was dead before I was born Yeah, so they duped it out with the big three networks until 1948 and at that point the FCC was worried the things were getting out of control with television And so they froze new station licenses Which was supposed to be for six months and lasted four years So until 52 And when it was all over with each market conveniently only had three stations On the more popular vhf band now You kids may not understand vhf versus uhf vhf was channels through two through 13 And that was the big top knob the big top knob And you could just actually click to go from station to station on that one, right? Okay, and then there was uhf Which was channels 14 through 83 which On my tv at the time at least I remember there was like a bigger knob and you kind of really had to adjust for uhf stations And that left duemont to use the barely implemented uhf band It wasn't until the 60s that most tv sets even had A uhf band and that would explain that why I used it because in the 60s That was when I was watching tv when I was a little yes So they stumbled along for four more years before giving up the ghost on it some of their shows Where far where it was far away hill, which was the first television soap opera. Okay Cavalcade of stars, which was the first jackie gleason show which could have really made them some money if they Had but the trouble was because they didn't have money. They couldn't keep jackie gleason So anytime they had talent It went out the door for more money And life is worth living which is an early religious program And captain video Now one of their stations was here in columbus w tv n now w s y s x 6 Which is an abc affiliate was originally a duemont affiliate. Okay Then we have paramount network or i'm sorry paramount television network 1948 through 56, which is not the paramount. I was thinking of okay now. No, there's there's more than one There's affiliates in la and chicago, and then they worked out a deal with duemont to use some of their affiliates Like they'd share affiliates, which used to be a big thing. Yeah, I sort of remember that with some other ones There was a station over in eastern ohio, and I think it was stubenville That shared abc and cbs in the 70s And so what they'd do is they would actually whatever was the higher rated show. That's what they'd show So it'd be like happy days and then mash So the whole paramount television network fell apart, which was another reason duemont went under And they ended up being more of a syndicator of shows to local stations and of course paramount became huge in television syndication and producing tv shows We have the nta film network in 56 going through 61 Had a large number of affiliates, but again more of a syndicator than a network 20th century fox was a half owner of it their new york affiliate and this is why they're probably the most Notable is where some of their stations ended up Their new york affiliate was sold educational broadcasting and later became the flagship station for net which became pbs wnet in new york became flagship for pbs And their la affiliate would eventually be the flagship for the first one that survived fox And we have the over mire network or on 65 to 67 created by conservative daniel over mire who wanted to get rid of smut on tv Because there was so much smut on tv in the early 60s dead hydra magini You can see her stomach you can't see her navel though By the time they actually got on the air They were already renamed the united network with only one program the las vegas show starring bill danah So which was like a variety talk show So how could you get a network on with one show you couldn't hit the show and the network only lasted 106 106 uh episodes Paramount television service 1976 to 79 i'm not repeating myself. This was paramount's second attempt. Yes So their success in producing tv shows gave them confidence Oh, maybe we can make this work and their centerpiece would be a new star trek series called phase two Which wasn't just a concept sets were built episodes were written a cast was hired And I actually have a book and I didn't pull it out about phase two And what ended up happening later was a lot of the episodes that were written for that for phase two Were retooled as early next-gen episodes. Okay But then what happened was star wars premiered Yes, and the tv show was like no, we're not wasting this on television anymore startrex is going to be a movie So literally in the middle of production, they went, okay throw all that away Because now we need movie sets and movie costumes and movies, you know this and so then was that was because they brought in the Original cast then for the movies. Well, they most original cast was going to be in phase two. Okay. That's what I was Except for nemoi that refused to do it so That's by the way Why star trek the motion picture was at the time one of the most expensive movies ever made because it included The cost for phase two a series a tv series that was never actually produced So without star trek the network fell apart and became operation prime time a series of tv movies And of course the third time for paramount was a charm upn With star trek voyager as its centerpiece said they just went back to the well on star trek And that takes us to fox fox 1986 and ongoing They spent 2.5 billion dollars to buy six stations in major markets to guarantee They had a foothold because it was felt up to that point a fourth network cannot work Is just not economically feasible And you you can't get enough clearance from enough markets of like we're going to buy six markets So they began with only a late night show the late show With jone rivers And that was the whole controversy about she was carsons permanent guest hose And she probably would have taken over for cars if she hadn't done this and and basically Uh, they never spoke. They never spoke again was all this controversy And then they moved into prime time in 1987 And they added one show at a time to a sunday schedule over a period of months And I do remember this and I remember because I watched the tracy omen show Which was one of the first shows that was one of that and married with children were the first two shows. Yes And you know it was always it was always interesting to see oh, what are they going to add? What are they going to add? You know So they grew over time to the point where they had a full schedule But it really wasn't until 1990 When the simpsons came on the air and that was what made them a network And the simpsons are technically a spin-off of the tracy omen show exactly I'm just saying right So it took a number of attempts to actually get to the point of a fourth network And now we have too many networks to count. Well And the broadcast network is still only at five. Yeah, I mean so You know you got the cw and of course upn kind of segwayed into Yeah, the c w and the no upn and the wb became the c w. Yes So while you're trying to figure out all the tv you want to watch You can check out our audio podcast how I got my wife tree comics on itunes or on our website sfpodcastnetwork.com And the pop culture bunker and i'm mark. Thanks for watching