Victor Ives sent me the following announcement…

KFLA Channel 8 is L.A.’s newest and first all digital TV station. Now, its Channel 8.2 is home of an eclectic mix of movies presented 24×7 without commercials interrupting the movies. KFLA TV is one of those “new” multicast channels created in the FCC mandated transition from analog to digital.

KFLA transmits its digital signal from Mt Wilson, which is the same location the major L.A. television stations currently use. Right now, viewers are primarily those with antennas or rabbit ears. Channel 8.2 carries nostalgia based movie programming dating back to the earliest days of Hollywood, up to and including titles from a library of made-for-television movies produced for ABC, CBS and NBC, as well as occasional movie specials released in the last few years. Viewers might catch a Cary Grant movie and a Hugh Grant movie in the same evening.

Some of the black and white films are played on 16mm projectors, harkening back to TV of the 50’s. The flickering images of the truly vintage films might seem like a waste of the new technology, but true movie buffs don’t seem to mind. Besides, it’s free and aired without commercial interruption.

Programming for KFLA 8.2 comes from a Satellite Channel uplinked from White Springs Florida on the banks of the Suawanee River … thus the name White Springs Television. The channel does air commercials, but they are sandwiched between movies and scattered among cartoons, Soundies (musical shorts from the 40’s), old newsreels, two reel comedies and vintage TV clips.

White Springs Television says it’s the first Network created to provide programming to this new breed of Multicast Channels. The White Springs Television Network now serves 140 stations and cable systems in the USA and Canada. It’s seen on satellite all over the USA, Canada, Mexico and part of Central America. Since the first of the year, it is also seen in 20 Asian nations. Regardless of its emerging global status, the fledgling network goes out of its way not to be ‘slick’ and to projects a sort of ‘Main Street America’ image.

KFLA owner, Roy Mayhugh, says, “According to our viewer response, the eclectic mix of WSTV’s movies is very appealing and the airing of the movies without commercial interruption is a definite plus. It gives Channel 8.2 a sort of a premium channel appeal.”

What are the chances KFLA will show up on Cable Systems? “Talks are going on right now that we expect will lead to that”, says Victor Ives, who heads the network. “We are now on Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon, Insight, Polaris and other cable channels in the USA and Canada. It’s just a matter of time. Viewers love what we are doing and they help sell local cable managers,” Ives concluded.

For more on what Victor Ives can provide through the White Springs Television network see:
WHITE

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 17th, 2008 at 6:05 am and is filed under Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.