Retro Television Network

[Mr11WXIA]

Iowan, one of the shows we had in Atlanta was Unreliable Sources.  Kind of ridiculous for the Atlanta market to drop it since the show originates at 1AM in Chattanooga (two hours north of us).  But WSB 2.2 is the sister to WSB 2.1 and was one of the few remaining ABC affiliates in a major TV market not airing Jimmy Kimmel Live until two years ago. We get to see the Alfred Hitchcock Hour instead of Unreliable Sources.  I called RTN and they told me WSB had made the change and I would have to take it up with them.  Might as well talk to the wall, they are stubborn, otherwise Jimmy Kimmel Live would have been on from day one on their main channel.

[Tim L]

I have what is called  Ku-Band Free-To-Air Satellite..Take a dish..(larger than dish or directv) and specially made receivers and LNBF's, with a motor, and scan the sky for unencrypted (Not scrambled) programming..And there are no monthly fees for programming.  I bought my system with part of my income tax in large part for RTN, which has no affiliate in Northeast Ohio.  I get RTN East Coast  and West Coast feeds directly off the bird at 83 degrees west.

I also get a few (very few) network stations and lots of religious and foreign programming..Also live feeds from various News organizations, and some sports feeds..Let me stress that this has nothing to do with "pirating" DBS service..And for most people this would not replace regular Cable or Satellite at all.  I still have Time Warner Digital TV as my main provider..

One of my favorite RTN shows is the 1975 NBC Mystery show "Ellery Queen"..Only wish it werent on once a week. Saturday Night at 1AM..

[Al Timiter]

Well, I hate to be disagreeable but my general opinion about RTN is that other than a few precious shows ("Beaver"-early mornings, "Alfred Hitchcock" late nights and "Jack Benny" on Sunday nights) their programming is pretty abysmal. I mean, Banacek? Airwolf?... Freakin' Airwolf? The A Team? Good Lord, their M-F Prime time line-up is laughable. Someone mentioned "McHales Navy." When do they run that, at 7am Sundays? "Rockford Files" late afternoons is o-k but overall RTN is a BIG disappointment to me.

[Tim L]

RTV (new name) recently gained low power affiliates in Cleveland, Akron and Canton, Ohio, so I dont have to rely on Free-To-Air for it..While to some RTV could use improvement in some areas..it beats TV Land by a mile..McHale's Navy is shown here (Canton) 1-2 PM weekdays..

[anotherguy]

I never got to watch RTN/RTV regularly, but I liked the lineup a lot better when they had their deal with CBS for programming and during that time they were definitely better than TV Land. But then I've read where they lost the rights to the CBS programming during their bankruptcy, which is their own fault. Since then most of the programming is coming from Universal, and I agree it has gone downhill.

Although it's far from perfect, to me WGN America has become the best alternative to TV Land when they have retro programming. I just wish they'd do more.

[landtuna]

Well, I hate to be disagreeable but my general opinion about RTN is that other than a few precious shows ("Beaver"-early mornings, "Alfred Hitchcock" late nights and "Jack Benny" on Sunday nights) their programming is pretty abysmal. I mean, Banacek? Airwolf?... Freakin' Airwolf? The A Team? Good Lord, their M-F Prime time line-up is laughable. Someone mentioned "McHales Navy." When do they run that, at 7am Sundays? "Rockford Files" late afternoons is o-k but overall RTN is a BIG disappointment to me.

I agree.  I enjoy watching "McHale's Navy" and usually leave it on for "Beaver" and "Adam-12" but that's about it.  I didn't watch the rest of their lineup when it was originally aired and don't watch them now.  Seems like of like a lower-frenzy Spike-TV.

[azumanga]

I've read where they lost the rights to the CBS programming during their bankruptcy, which is their own fault.

Actually, RTV's former owners, Equity Broadcasting, are to blame for that. Then the network was sold off. Then the network bit back at Equity.

[Madmansam]

In Sacto, it seems that KQCA 58.2 (RF 46.2) will likely carry the feed.

Actually, KQCA carries THIS TV, a network showing mostly old Movies and TV Shows, courtesy of MGM (whos film library includes UA, AIP, ORION, FILMWAYS, CANNON, and Post 1986 MGM).

[willcail]

I do enjoy watching the Midnight Monster Hop from time to time on RTV. Depends on the movie. Plus it airs at 10PM on WCMH 4.2. To Catch a Thief isn't bad as well.

[Al Timiter]

RTV is messin' up again...re-running the same shows that ran just the week before. They were doing this on sunday. There's really no excuse for that. Pitiful.