Decades (TV network)

Decades is an American digital broadcast television network owned as a joint venture between the CBS Television Stations subsidiary of ViacomCBS and Weigel Broadcasting.[2][3] The network, which is mainly carried on the digital subchannels of television stations, primarily airs classic television sitcoms from the 1950s through the early 1990s.

Decades
TypeDigital broadcast television network
(Classic TV)
Country
AvailabilityNationwide (available on OTA digital television, Cable TV)
(U.S. coverage: 55%)[1]
FoundedOctober 21, 2014 (2014-10-21)
SloganRelive. Remember. Relate.
Owner
Key people
Launch date
January 16, 2015 (2015-01-16)
(soft launch)
May 25, 2015 (2015-05-25)
(official launch)[2]
Picture format
1080i (HDTV; widescreen)
AffiliatesList of affiliates
Official website
decades.com

Through its ownership by Weigel, Decades is a sister network to MeTV, which focuses on classic television series from the 1950s to the 1990s and carries some programming from Decades corporate cousin CBS Television Distribution. As the network has access to theatrical films and television series remastered for high-definition television and widescreen presentation, the network is carried in 480i widescreen.

Since fall 2019, Decades is carried on Fox-owned stations in 12 markets as part of a multi-year agreement with Fox Television Stations, after switching from CBS-owned stations.[4]

History

On October 21, 2014, CBS Corporation and Weigel Broadcasting announced the launch of Decades, with plans to debut the network in 2015. Through its part-ownership by CBS Corporation, Decades announced that owned-and-operated stations of the CBS television network would serve as its initial charter network affiliates.[5][6]

The network was the first national multicasting venture by CBS Television Stations. The group did not carry subchannels on any of its television stations prior to 2013. And at the time of the Decades announcement, only three of its stations even maintained subchannels (CBS O&Os WCBS-TV in New York City and KYW-TV in Philadelphia carried rolling news channels under the "CBS Plus" brand on their respective secondary subchannels, while independent station KTXA in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas carried MeTV on its second subchannel). In addition, CBS Television Distribution had already maintained a content distribution agreement with Weigel Broadcasting's classic television network MeTV, which sourced much of its programming from that library.

On January 13, 2015, Weigel Broadcasting confirmed that its Milwaukee CBS affiliate WDJT-TV would carry the network on its fourth digital subchannel.[7] It would replace the digital news service TouchVision.

Decades officially launched at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time Zone on May 25, 2015, with the series premiere of Through the Decades as its inaugural telecast. At the time, the network was available in over 45% of all American households with a television set.[8]

Programming

Early days

Decades relies primarily on programming from the extensive content library owned by CBS Television Distribution,[5] which includes the pre-2006 Paramount Television library – which CBS had acquired as a result of absorbing Paramount's syndication unit in 2006 through its split from Viacom into a separate company (CBS and Viacom re-merged to form ViacomCBS in 2019) – along with series from Desilu Productions, Bing Crosby Productions, Don Fedderson Productions, QM Productions, Spelling Television and Republic Pictures Television. Decades also carries series and movies from NBCUniversal, Warner Bros., Disney (20th Century Studios), Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Lionsgate, Sonar Entertainment, the Peter Rodgers Organization, Shout! Factory, The Carsey-Werner Company and the public domain.

In an early effort to stand out from other "retro-TV" multicast services (such as MeTV and Antenna TV), the Monday through Friday schedule initially featured a block of programming based on a daily theme, with interstitial programs to highlight the theme. Each six-hour block of programming was repeated four times a day and typically included a feature film, episodes of theme related TV programs, and biographical programs featuring celebrities, actors and actresses, musicians, athletes, and public figures of interest. The theme blocks were bookended with Through the Decades, an hour-long program hosted and narrated by Bill Kurtis (who formerly served as a presenter for Chicago CBS O&O WBBM-TV and CBS News) that explores the events and news from a particular day or period in history, using archival footage that CBS owns via services such as CBS News and CBS Television Distribution's syndicated newsmagazine program Entertainment Tonight.[3][5][9]

The network's Saturday and Sunday schedules feature marathon of classic television series. Beginning on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. (ET), forty-two consecutive hours are devoted to a particular series, which is usually sourced from either the CBS Television Distribution library of shows or a show Weigel Broadcasting has a contract to carry (such as one of the shows it broadcasts on MeTV).[10]

Airings of The Dick Cavett Show were added to the schedule February 1, 2016 within the daily themed block, as appropriate. Episodes from Cavett's late-night ABC talk show from 1969 to 1974 as well as his later interview series on PBS, USA, and CNBC were all made available for airing.[11]

On November 1, 2016, a major change was made to the programming lineup, with the daily programming block reduced to two airings daily (one from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, the other in overnight) as the 2:00 p.m. to midnight (ET) time period was converted to a "daily binge" with a different show airing each day. During the month of November, a different "cop show" was aired each weekday;[12]

A further shift in direction from the original channel concept came on December 5, 2016, when the network added two daily airings of the NBC series Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the first breaking the daily binge in half at 6:00 p.m. (ET) and the same show repeating at the conclusion of the binge time block.[13]

Present

From 2017 onward, the theme and binge programming on weekdays was stopped altogether and the network became mostly sitcom focused, featuring the "Television Across the Decades" block, where comedies from the 1950s through the 1980s air everyday from mid-morning into early evening, and late evenings through the overnight hours featuring the "Smart Comedy" block - highlighted by classic sitcoms such as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Cheers, Taxi, The Honeymooners, and The Abbott and Costello Show.

Though the bulk of the lineup is now primarily sitcoms, there are deviations - most notably in prime time - which features the classic variety program The Ed Sullivan Show, Through the Decades (both also airing weekday mornings), and The Dick Cavett Show. Also, the weekend binge marathons continue, with a single series (regardless of genre) airing for 42 hours straight on Saturdays and Sundays.

Affiliates

As of May 2015, Decades has current or pending affiliation agreements with 35 television stations covering at least 44% of the United States.[8] Weigel Broadcasting handles the responsibility of affiliate distribution to stations outside the core CBS O&O group.[3]

Decades is offered to stations on a barter basis, in which the network and the local affiliate will share the responsibility of selling advertising inventory and split the allocated hourly commercial time. CBS affiliates and their owners hold the right of first refusal to carry the network in their local market, before it is offered to other network-affiliated stations.[3] The network is also available on local cable television providers (most likely through their digital cable tiers, as is the case with most multicast networks) and other multichannel television in the United States at the discretion of the affiliate's parent station.[14]

CBS Television Stations initially planned to launch Decades on all 16 CBS owned-and-operated stations (including two that operate as satellite stations of Minneapolis O&O WCCO-TV). Not all of the CBS Television Stations outlets were announced to carry Decades initially, as CW owned-and-operated stations in markets where CBS Corporation does not own a CBS Television Stations (such as WTOG and KSTW) were originally excluded from its initial list of affiliates. The standalone CW O&Os were later added as charter stations by late April 2015. In the Chicago market, where CBS Television Stations and Weigel Broadcasting each own television stations, the network was carried on CBS O&O WBBM-TV, instead of one of Weigel's three stations in that market – WCIU-TV, WWME-CD and WMEU-CD. (A similar situation existed in that market with Movies!, in which WPWR-TV – owned by Weigel's partner in that network, Fox Television Stations – carries the network in lieu of any of Weigel's outlets.) Conversely, Weigel-owned WBME-CD carries the network in the Milwaukee market.[7] WMYS-LD in South Bend, Indiana is the other Weigel-owned station to carry the network.

On January 9, 2015, Decades reached its first affiliation agreement with a station outside the core CBS Television Stations, through a deal with Media General for its Green Bay, Wisconsin ABC affiliate WBAY-TV (which was previously affiliated with CBS from 1953 to 1992). WBAY planned to carry the marathon blocks on its third subchannel as a replacement for the Live Well Network.[2] However, on January 13, as a result of Walt Disney Television's decision to temporarily continue Live Well Network's national operations, WBAY announced that its 2.3 subchannel would not switch to Decades until after LWN's new March 2015 shutdown date.[15] It eventually picked up Ion Television as part of a group deal with WBAY owner Media General to carry the network in markets without an Ion station.

On September 3, 2018, Decades was replaced on CBS-owned stations with Start TV, a new Weigel-owned diginet focusing on crime dramas with female leads.[16] Weigel maintained its commitment to Decades, with the company's owned-and-operated stations taking over in Los Angeles and Chicago. When it began airing on Fox-owned television stations, Decades moved to KTTV in Los Angeles. In Chicago, Decades continues to be seen on Weigel-owned WMEU-CD and WCIU-TV.

List of current affiliates

City of license/Market Station[17] Affiliate Virtual
channel
(RF)
Owner Launch Date Notes

Alaska

AnchorageKDMDIon33.9 (32)Ketchikan TelevisionDecember 2020

Arizona

PhoenixKUTPMyNetworkTV45.4 (10)Fox Television StationsOctober 2019Previously on KASW from 2015 to 2018

Arkansas

Fort SmithKFLU-LDThe Country Network20.3 (20)DTV AmericaMarch 2017

California

Fresno-VisaliaKFAZ-CACharge!8.2 (18.2)Cocola Broadcasting
Los AngelesKAZA-TVMeTV54.2 (27.8)Weigel BroadcastingSeptember 3, 2018Previously on KCBS-TV 2/3/15 to 9/2/18
KTTVFox11.4Fox Television Stations
SacramentoStocktonModestoComing Soon (Per Decades website)Previously on KOVR 2/3/15 to 9/2/18
San FranciscoOaklandSan JoseKAXT-CD1.2 (22)Weigel BroadcastingApril 2019Previously on KPIX-TV 2/9/15 to 9/2/18
San JoseOakland-San FranciscoKICU-TVFox36.4Fox Television Stationslate 2019Previously on KPIX-TV 2/9/15 to 9/2/18.

Channel 36.4 was previously Heroes & Icons (H&I).

Colorado

DenverKZDN-LDMovies!26.2/28.3 (14/30)Syncom Media Group, Inc.March 2020Previously on KCNC-TV 1/23/15 to 9/2/18
Glenwood Springs, ColoradoKREG-TVH&I3.5 (23)Weigel Broadcasting

Connecticut

Hartford and New HavenWHCT-LDMeTV35.5Weigel BroadcastingSeptember 30, 2020

District of Columbia

Washington, D.C.WRZB-LDCourt TV Mystery31.5 (32)DC Broadcasting

Florida

Gainesville, FloridaWOGXFox51.4 (31)Fox Television StationsComing Soon (Per Decades website)
JacksonvilleWJAX-TVCBS47.3 (19)Cox Media GroupJune 1, 2015
MiamiFort Lauderdale, FloridaComing Soon (Per Decades website)Previously on WFOR-TV 3/7/15 to 9/2/18
Orlando, FloridaWKMG-TVCBS6.5 (26)Graham Media GroupDecember 12, 2016Previously on 6.3 from 2016 to 2019
St. PetersburgTampaWTVTFox13.5 (12)Fox Television StationsComing SoonPreviously on WTOG 3/7/15 to 9/2/18

Georgia

AtlantaWAGA-TVFox5.5 (27)Fox Television StationsComing SoonPreviously on WUPA 5/8/15 to 9/2/18
Toccoa, GeorgiaAthens, GeorgiaWGTAMeTV32.3 (24)Marquee Broadcasting

Idaho

Boise, IdahoKRID-LDH&I22.4 (22)Idaho TV 22July 1, 2017
Idaho Falls, IdahoKPVI-DTNBC6.2 (23)Cox Media GroupJanuary 13, 2016

Illinois

ChicagoWCIU-TVThe CW26.6Weigel BroadcastingSeptember 3, 2018Previously on WBBM-TV 1/29/15 to 9/2/18
WMEU-CDIndependent48.4 (32)2017Simulcast of WCIU-TV 26.6

Indiana

Indianapolis (Wolcott, Indiana)WSDI-LDOnTV4U30.2DTV AmericaPreviously on WBXI-CD in 2018
South Bend, IllinoisWMYS-LDMyNetworkTV69.3 (28)Weigel BroadcastingPreviously TouchVision

Kansas

Wichita, KansasKSCW-DTThe CW33.2 (12)Sunflower Broadcasting, Inc.
Topeka, KansasKCMN-LD42.1 (28)DTV America Corporation

Kentucky

Louisville, KentuckyWBNA21.5Replaced Retro TV

Louisiana

Lafayette, LouisianaK18JF-D/K21OM-DAzteca America20.7 (21)HC2 HoldingsLaunch Date TBD
New OrleansWWLCBS4.3 (36)Tegna

Maine

Bangor, MaineWABI-TVCBS5.3 (13)Gray TelevisionOctober 1, 2015

Maryland

BaltimoreComing Soon (Per Decades website)Previously on WJZ-TV 13.2 until 9/2/18

Massachusetts

BostonComing Soon (Per Decades website)Previously on WBZ-TV 2/26/15 to 9/2/18

Michigan

DetroitWJBKFox2.5 (7)Fox Television StationsOctober 2019Previously on WWJ-TV 2/10/15 to 9/2/18
Roscommon,MichiganWURO-LDHeroes & Icons18.4 (18)M33 Media LLC

Minnesota

MinneapolisSaint Paul, MinnesotaKMSP-TVFox9.6 (9)Fox Television StationsOct 16 2019Previously on WCCO-TV 2/10/15 to 9/2/18

Missouri

St. LouisKNLCMeTV24.5 (14)Weigel Broadcasting

Nevada

Las VegasKHSVH&I21.2 (2)Howard Stirk Holdings

New York

Albany, New York/Pittsfield, MassachusettsWNYAMyNetworkTV51.3 (13)Hubbard BroadcastingDecember 31, 2015
New York CityWNYWFox5.5 (27)Fox Television StationsOctober 2019Previously on WCBS-TV 1/16/15 to 9/2/18
Rochester, New YorkWBGT-CDMyNetworkTV46.5Vision CommunicationsJune 1, 2018
OleanWVTT-CD/WVTT-CDThis TV25.2DTV AmericaJune 1, 2018Affiliation agreement signed under Vision Communications ownership
Saranac Lake, New YorkWYCIH&I/MNTV40.2 (34)Cross Hill Communications2018


Ohio

CincinnatiWBQC-LDIndependent25.11 (28)Block Broadcasting
ClevelandWBNX-TVIndependent55.6 (30)Winston Broadcasting NetworkDecember 1, 2018
ColumbusWCBZ-CDInd.22.5 (18)Columbus Broadcasting Corp.January 1, 2020Previously on WBNS-TV 10.3 (21)

Oklahoma

Tulsa, OklahomaKUOC-LDBuzzr48.3 (48)DTV America Corporation

Pennsylvania

PhiladelphiaWDPN-TVMeTV2.6 (2)Maranatha Broadcasting CompanySeptember 3, 2018Previously on KYW-TV 1/16/15 to 9/2/18
PittsburghWOSC-CDHSN61.6 (26)The Videohouse, Inc.Previously on KDKA-TV 3/16/15 to 9/2/18

South Carolina

ColumbiaWLTXCBS19.3 (15)TEGNA Inc.April 01, 2020Previously Antenna TV
Greenville-SpartanburgW31AZ-DGEB Network31.6 (15)CAROLINA CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING

Tennessee

JacksonWYJJAntenna TV27.6 (27)HC2 Holdings
Lebanon/NashvilleWJFBMeTV44.4 (25)Weigel Broadcasting
MemphisWQEK-LDCozi TV36.2 (30)HC2 HoldingsPreviously on WHBQ-TV

Texas

AustinKTBCFox7.5 (7)Fox Television Stations
Fort WorthDallasKDFWFox4.2 (35)Fox Television StationsComing Soon (Per Decades website)Previously on KTVT 2/3/15 to 9/2/18
Fredericksburg/San AntonioKCWXMyNetworkTV2.4 (5)Corridor Television, L.L.P.February 3, 2020[18]
HoustonKRIVFox26.2 (26)Fox Television StationsNovember 29, 2020Previously on KTXH from 2015 to 2020[19]
Odessa/MidlandKWWTMeTV30.3 (22)JB Broadcasting2018

Utah

Cedar City/St. GeorgeKCSGH&I8.2 (14)Weigel BroadcastingNovember 27, 2017Previously Back Country TV

Washington

Bellingham KVOS H&I 12.4 (35.4) Weigel Broadcasting added January 17, 2018
TacomaSeattleKFFVMeTV44.4 (44)Weigel BroadcastingSeptember 3, 2018Previously on KSTW 5/9/15 to 9/2/18

Wisconsin

CrandonWMOWThe CW4.3 (12)Quincy MediaSeptember 2, 2015Previously This TV
Eagle RiverWYOWABC34.3 (28)
MadisonWKOW27.3 (26)
MilwaukeeWMLW-TVIndependent49.4 (17)Weigel BroadcastingJanuary 16, 2015Previously TouchVision
WausauWAOWABC9.3 (9)Quincy MediaSeptember 2, 2015[20]Previously This TV

Former affiliates

Market Station Channel Current owner Years of affiliation Notes
Phoenix
(Arizona)
KASW61.2E. W. Scripps Company
(Was owned at the time by Nexstar Media Group)
2015-2018
Los Angeles
(California)
KCBS-TV2.2CBS Television Stations2015-2018
SacramentoStocktonModesto
(California)
KOVR13.22015-2018
San FranciscoOaklandSan Jose
(California)
KPIX-TV5.22015-2018
Denver
(Colorado)
KCNC-TV4.22015-2018
MiamiFort Lauderdale, Florida
(Florida)
WFOR-TV4.22015-2018
St. PetersburgTampa
(Florida)
WTOG44.22015-2018
Atlanta
(Georgia)
WUPA69.22015-2018
Chicago
(Illinois)
WBBM-TV2.22015-2018
Indianapolis
(Indiana)
WBXI-CD47.12018
Sioux City
(Iowa)
KMEG14.2Waitt Broadcasting, Inc.
(Operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
2015-2016
Baltimore
(Maryland)
WJZ-TV13.2CBS Television Stations2015-2018
Boston
(Massachusetts)
WBZ-TV4.22015-2018
New Bedford
(Massachusetts)
WLWC28.3Ion Media Networks
(Was owned at the time by OTA Broadcasting)
2015-2017
Detroit
(Michigan)
WWJ-TV62.2CBS Television Stations2015-2018
MinneapolisSaint Paul
(Minnesota)
WCCO-TV4.22015-2018
New York City
(New York)
WCBS-TV2.22015-2018
Charlotte
(North Carolina)
WCNC-TV36.3Tegna Inc.2015-2018No replacement affiliate
New Bern
(North Carolina)
WCTI-TV12.2Sinclair Broadcast Group2015-2018
Fargo-Valley City
(North Dakota)
KRDK-TV4.4Major Market Broadcasting2015-2016
Cincinnati
(Ohio)
WOTH-CD20.2Station now defunct
(was owned at the time by Block Broadcasting)
2015-2018
Columbus
(Ohio)
WBNS-TV10.3Tegna Inc.2015-2018
Portland
(Oregon)
KOIN6.3Nexstar Media Group2016-2019
Philadelphia
(Pennsylvania)
KYW-TV3.2CBS Television Stations2015-2018
Pittsburgh
(Pennsylvania)
KDKA-TV2.22015-2018
Memphis
(Tennessee)
WHBQ-TV13.3Cox Media Group2016-2018
Nashville
(Tennessee)
WJDE-CD31.3Word Broadcasting Network2015-2019
Fort WorthDallas
(Texas)
KTVT11.2CBS Television Stations2015-2018
Houston
(Texas)
KTXH20.3Fox Television Stations2015-2020Was the only affiliate owned by Fox Television Stations prior to 2019. Moved to KRIV to accommodate theGrio launch on January 15, 2021.
Bristol
(Virginia)
WCYB-TV5.3Sinclair Broadcast Group
(was owned at the time by Bonten Media Group)
2015-2017
Roanoke
(Virginia)
WDBJ7.3Gray Television2015-2018
Spokane
(Washington)
KREM2.3Tegna Inc.2015-2018No replacement affiliate
TacomaSeattle
(Washington)
KSTW11.2CBS Television Stations2015-2018
Eau Claire
(Wisconsin)
WQOW18.3Quincy Media2015-2020
La Crosse
(Wisconsin)
WXOW19.32015-2020

References

  1. Buckman, Adam (July 26, 2016). "Diginets Keep Growing, Despite Auction Cloud". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  2. Ted Miller (January 9, 2015). "Web Archive: DECADES launches January 16 on WBAY-TV 2.3". WBAY-TV. Media General. Archived from the original on January 10, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  3. Cynthia Littleton (October 21, 2014). "CBS to Launch Retro Digital Channel Focused on Pop Culture, History". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  4. Petski, Denise (July 10, 2019). "Fox Television Stations To Carry Weigel Broadcasting's Decades TV Network Beginning in Q3". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  5. Michael Malone (October 21, 2014). "CBS Stations, Weigel Partner on Oldies Digi-Net Decades". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  6. Mike Farrell (October 21, 2014). "CBS, Weigel Ready 'Decades' Digi-Net". MultiChannel News. NewBay Media. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  7. Chris Foran (January 13, 2015). "TV flashback: Weigel to add new nostalgia channel in Milwaukee". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Journal Communications. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  8. Robert Feder (May 25, 2015). "Decades opens 'daily time capsule' today". RobertFeder.com. Chicago Tribune (Tribune Publishing).
  9. Robert Feder (January 15, 2015). "Bill Kurtis to guide viewers 'Through the Decades' in daily series". RobertFeder.com. Chicago Tribune (Tribune Publishing). Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  10. "New 'Decades' Channel Launches On Memorial Day". CBSChicago.com. CBS Interactive. May 22, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  11. "'The Dick Cavett Show' Returns on CBS' Decades Digital Channel". Variety.com. January 18, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  12. "Decades Network Has Cop Show Binge in November". SitcomsOnline.com. October 31, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  13. "'Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In' arrives on Decades this Monday, December 5". Decades.com. December 1, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  14. "CBS To Launch Classic Digital Channel". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. October 21, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  15. "WBAY Facebook page". Facebook. January 13, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2015 via WBAY-TV.
  16. "Weigel To Launch 'Start TV' Female Diginet". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheckMedia LLC. July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  17. "Decades TV Network". Decades.
  18. DECADES - Where to Watch https://www.decades.com/wheretowatch
  19. KRIV HOUSTON, TX RabbitEars.info (Print page for Technical Data). Retrieved 3 December 2020
  20. Mark K. Miller (August 20, 2015). "WAOW Wausau Adding Decades Diginet". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck.
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