The Overmyer Network, later the United Network, was a short lived television network. It was intended to be a fourth national commercial network in the United States, competing with the Big Three television networks. The network was founded by self-made millionaire Daniel H. Overmyer, who started WDHO-TV (now WNWO-TV, an NBC affiliate), in his birthplace, Toledo, Ohio, which had signed on the air on May 3, 1966.[1] Overmyer had construction permits for several other UHF stations that were intended to be owned-and-operated stations of the new network. Before going on the air, the majority interest in those stations was sold to AVC Corporation in March 1967.[2][3][4][5][6][7] A social conservative ("I'm against smut," he declared), Overmyer had decided to create a nationwide hookup, enticing existing stations with a 50-50 profit split with potential affiliates (something that the established network's affiliates had been trying to get from ABC, CBS and NBC for years). Under the leadership of former ABC television president Oliver Treyz, the ON was scheduled to debut in the fall of 1967 with anywhere from 75 to 125 affiliates with an 8 hour broadcasting day.[8][9]
Type | Television network |
---|---|
Country | United States |
History | |
Founded | July 12, 1966 |
Launched | May 1, 1967 |
Founder | Daniel H. Overmyer |
Closed | June 1, 1967 (1 month) |
From ON to UN edit
The network planned to offer eight hours of programming per day, seven days per week, to its affiliate stations. A daily news service, from United Press International, would provide each station with news. Cultural and sports programming, including Tales from the Great Book (an animated Bible series) and regional games of the Continental Football League, were also planned.[10][11] By July 1966, 35 stations had agreed to affiliate with the new network.[12]
Before the network even went on the air, Overmyer was forced to sell a majority share to investors, although he remained the largest shareholder. In early 1967, Overmyer tried to persuade the Mutual Broadcasting System (who had toyed with the idea of their own TV network in the late 1940s) to engage in a merger of the two networks, as a way to raise more money in the venture. The Mutual board turned thumbs-down on the merger proposal, but three Mutual stockholders formed a separate group with 11 wealthy western businessmen to buy out Overmyer.[13] Rechristened The United Network, which used an upper-case U inside a television screen as the network's logo, the new network signed on the air on May 1, 1967 with The Las Vegas Show on 106 stations.[14] Hosted by Bill Dana from the Hotel Hacienda in Las Vegas, the two-hour late-night show featured regulars Ann Elder, Pete Barbutti, Danny Meahan, Joanne Worley, Cully Richards and Jack Sheldon.[15]
The network itself, except for a few independent stations in the larger markets, was mostly made up of CBS stations who aired The Las Vegas Show at 11:30 local time, tape delayed from the 11:00 start seen on United-only east coast stations. The network called WPIX in New York City and KHJ-TV in Los Angeles their flagship stations, even though neither was owned by Overmyer/United.[16] Additionally, the WPIX broadcast was often delayed until the weekend due to their commitment to New York Yankees baseball.[17] The network also lacked clearance in some large cities, including San Francisco (which was waiting for KEMO to be approved by the FCC).
The end edit
The average viewership for The Las Vegas Show was 2.6 million.[18] Despite the hype, initially good reviews and high-caliber guest stars, the UN quickly started to bleed money; the transmission lines leased from AT&T, which was the main carrier for television network transmissions at the time, proved to be too expensive. Sources close to United also claimed that the network launch was too close to the end of the traditional broadcast season, when major sponsors were near the end of their advertising budgets. (During the last days of operation, network president Oliver Treyz made an on-air appeal to potential sponsors, pointing out that air time on The Las Vegas Show was a mere $6,000 a minute, barely a third of what NBC was charging for The Tonight Show.)[19] Both the show and the network disappeared after the June 1 (some sources say June 3 or June 5) broadcast.[20][21]
A notice was sent to the network's 107 affiliate stations the first week of June. The notice stated:[22]
"The executive committee of our board of directors, instructed me to inform you that with deep regret we are obliged to advise you that the United Network ceased its interconnected program operations as of May 31, 1967.
"Please be advised that the United Network staff has done everything possible in connection without [sic] efforts to plan and launch the Las Vegas program and other United Network endeavors.
"Station co-operation has been magnificent. We are indeed indebted to you for all your help. Regretfully, Oliver Treyz."
At the time of the company's bankruptcy declaration, the United Network had accrued a nearly $700,000 debt.[23]
Overmyer / United affiliates edit
The base of this table is an advertisement published in Broadcasting magazine on April 3, 1967.[24] In some cases, the affiliate that aired the show was another station. In others, a station was listed that was not on the air.
The affiliate list included Overmyer's KEMO-TV (channel 20); it was not on air until April 1, 1968.[25] The Las Vegas Show did not air in San Francisco.[26]
Station | Channel | Affil. | City | State | Ref. | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WHNT-TV | 19 | CBS | Huntsville | Alabama | ||
WKRG-TV | 5 | CBS | Mobile | Alabama | ||
WCOV-TV | 20 | CBS | Montgomery | Alabama | [27] | WKAB-TV (channel 32, ABC) was announced as the affiliate in the April 3, 1967, list.[24] |
KPHO-TV | 5 | Ind. | Phoenix | Arizona | ||
KZAZ-TV | 11 | Ind. | Tucson | Arizona | ||
KBAK-TV | 29 | CBS | Bakersfield | California | ||
KHJ-TV | 9 | Ind. | Los Angeles | California | ||
KLOC-TV | 19 | Ind. | Modesto | California | ||
KFMB-TV | 8 | CBS | San Diego | California | ||
KICU-TV | 43 | Ind. | Visalia | California | ||
KKTV | 11 | CBS | Colorado Springs | Colorado | ||
KWGN-TV | 2 | Ind. | Denver | Colorado | ||
KREX-TV[a] | 5 | CBS | Grand Junction | Colorado | ||
WTIC-TV | 3 | CBS | Hartford | Connecticut | ||
WTTG | 5 | CBS | Washington | District of Columbia | ||
WTVX | 34 | CBS | Fort Pierce | Florida | ||
WJXT | 4 | CBS | Jacksonville | Florida | ||
WTVJ | 4 | CBS | Miami | Florida | ||
WDBO-TV | 6 | CBS | Orlando | Florida | ||
WLCY-TV | 10 | ABC | Tampa–St. Petersburg | Florida | ||
WAGA-TV | 5 | CBS | Atlanta | Georgia | ||
WRBL | 3 | CBS | Columbus | Georgia | ||
WCIA | 3 | CBS | Champaign | Illinois | ||
WGN-TV | 9 | Ind. | Chicago | Illinois | ||
WMBD-TV | 31 | CBS | Peoria | Illinois | ||
WREX-TV | 13 | ABC | Rockford | Illinois | ||
WHBF-TV | 4 | CBS | Rock Island | Illinois | ||
WLWI | 13 | ABC | Indianapolis | Indiana | ||
WNDU-TV | 16 | NBC | South Bend | Indiana | ||
WTHI-TV | 10 | CBS | Terre Haute | Indiana | ||
KTVC | 6 | CBS | Ensign | Kansas | ||
KLOE-TV | 10 | CBS | Goodland | Kansas | ||
KAYS-TV | 7 | CBS | Hays | Kansas | ||
KTVH | 12 | CBS | Hutchinson–Wichita | Kansas | ||
KNOE-TV | 8 | CBS | Monroe | Louisiana | ||
WVUE-TV | 12 | ABC | New Orleans | Louisiana | [28] | WWOM-TV (channel 26, independent) was announced as the affiliate in the April 3, 1967, list.[24] It was not on air until October 14 of that year.[29] |
KSLA | 12 | CBS | Shreveport | Louisiana | ||
WABI-TV | 5 | CBS | Bangor | Maine | ||
WMTW | 8 | ABC | Poland Spring–Portland | Maine | ||
WAGM-TV | 8 | CBS | Presque Isle | Maine | ||
WMET-TV | 24 | Ind. | Baltimore | Maryland | ||
WHDH-TV | 5 | CBS | Boston | Massachusetts | ||
WJBK-TV | 2 | CBS | Detroit | Michigan | ||
WKZO-TV | 3 | CBS | Kalamazoo | Michigan | ||
WJIM-TV | 6 | CBS | Lansing | Michigan | Could not carry all of the show because of Daylight Saving Time–related issues.[30] The state legislature had just moved to exempt Michigan from DST.[31] | |
WKNX-TV | 25 | CBS | Saginaw | Michigan | ||
KDAL-TV | 3 | CBS | Duluth | Minnesota | ||
WCCO-TV | 4 | CBS | Minneapolis–St. Paul | Minnesota | ||
WABG-TV | 6 | ABC | Greenwood | Mississippi | ||
KODE-TV | 12 | CBS | Joplin | Missouri | ||
KCMO-TV | 5 | CBS | Kansas City | Missouri | ||
KSD-TV | 5 | NBC | St. Louis | Missouri | [32] | KPLR-TV (channel 11, independent) was announced as the affiliate in the April 3, 1967, list.[24] |
KMTV | 3 | NBC | Omaha | Nebraska | [33] | Not on the April 3, 1967, list. |
KLAS-TV | 8 | CBS | Las Vegas | Nevada | ||
KOLO-TV | 8 | CBS | Reno | Nevada | ||
KOB-TV | 4 | NBC | Albuquerque | New Mexico | ||
WBEN-TV | 4 | CBS | Buffalo | New York | ||
WPIX | 11 | Ind. | New York City | New York | ||
WHEC-TV | 10 | CBS | Rochester | New York | ||
WHEN-TV | 5 | CBS | Syracuse | New York | ||
WCCB | 18 | Ind. | Charlotte | North Carolina | [34] | WBTV (channel 3, CBS) was announced as the affiliate in the April 3, 1967, list.[24] |
WFMY-TV | 2 | CBS | Greensboro | North Carolina | ||
WNCT-TV | 9 | CBS | Greenville | North Carolina | ||
KXJB-TV | 4 | CBS | Fargo–Valley City | North Dakota | ||
KXMB-TV | 12 | CBS | Bismarck | North Dakota | ||
KXMC-TV | 13 | CBS | Minot | North Dakota | ||
KDIX-TV | 2 | CBS | Dickinson | North Dakota | ||
WAKR-TV | 23 | ABC | Akron | Ohio | ||
WCPO-TV | 9 | CBS | Cincinnati | Ohio | ||
WEWS-TV | 5 | ABC | Cleveland | Ohio | ||
WDHO-TV | 24 | None[b] | Toledo | Ohio | ||
KWTV | 9 | CBS | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | ||
KTVM | 5 | CBS | Medford | Oregon | ||
KOIN-TV | 6 | CBS | Portland | Oregon | ||
WSEE-TV | 35 | CBS | Erie | Pennsylvania | ||
WHP-TV | 21 | CBS | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | ||
WLYH-TV | 15 | CBS | Lebanon | Pennsylvania | ||
WPHL-TV | 17 | Ind. | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | ||
WIIC-TV | 11 | NBC | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | The April 3, 1967, list contains Overmyer's WECO-TV (channel 53) instead, but it was not on air by the time the show was to air.[35] | |
WCSC-TV | 5 | CBS | Charleston | South Carolina | ||
WOLO-TV | 25 | ABC | Columbia | South Carolina | ||
WSPA-TV | 7 | CBS | Spartanburg | South Carolina | ||
KXAB-TV | 9 | NBC | Aberdeen | South Dakota | ||
WDEF-TV | 12 | CBS | Chattanooga | Tennessee | ||
WBBJ-TV | 7 | CBS | Jackson | Tennessee | ||
WREC-TV | 3 | CBS | Memphis | Tennessee | ||
WLAC-TV | 5 | CBS | Nashville | Tennessee | [36] | WSIX-TV (channel 8, ABC) was announced as the affiliate in the April 3, 1967, list.[24] |
KFDM-TV | 6 | CBS | Beaumont | Texas | ||
KZTV[c] | 10 | CBS | Corpus Christi | Texas | ||
KRLD-TV | 4 | CBS | Dallas–Fort Worth | Texas | ||
KROD-TV | 4 | CBS | El Paso | Texas | ||
KPRC-TV | 2 | CBS | Houston | Texas | ||
KTRE | 9 | ABC | Lufkin | Texas | ||
KOSA-TV | 7 | CBS | Odessa | Texas | ||
KCTV | 8 | CBS | San Angelo | Texas | ||
KENS-TV | 5 | CBS | San Antonio | Texas | ||
KAUZ-TV | 6 | CBS | Wichita Falls | Texas | ||
KSL-TV | 5 | CBS | Salt Lake City | Utah | ||
WTAR-TV | 3 | CBS | Norfolk | Virginia | ||
WTVR-TV | 6 | CBS | Richmond | Virginia | ||
WDBJ | 7 | CBS | Roanoke | Virginia | ||
KVOS-TV | 12 | CBS | Bellingham | Washington | ||
KXLY-TV | 4 | CBS | Spokane | Washington | ||
KTNT-TV | 11 | Ind. | Tacoma–Seattle | Washington | ||
WBAY-TV | 2 | CBS | Green Bay | Wisconsin | ||
WISN-TV | 12 | CBS | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | ||
WSAU-TV | 7 | CBS | Wausau | Wisconsin | ||
WAPA-TV | 4 | San Juan | Puerto Rico | |||
WSVI | 8 | Christiansted, St. Croix | U.S. Virgin Islands |
Some listed affiliates[24] did not carry the show:
- KRNT-TV (channel 8, CBS), Des Moines, Iowa[37]
- WWTV (channel 9, CBS), Cadillac, Michigan, and satellite WWUP in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan[38]
- KTTS-TV (channel 10, CBS), Springfield, Missouri[39]
- KTXL (channel 40), Sacramento, California; signed on October 26, 1968[40]
- WBTW (channel 13, CBS), Florence, South Carolina[41]
- WISC-TV (channel 3, CBS), Madison, Wisconsin[42]
- WOAY-TV (channel 4, ABC), Oak Hill, West Virginia[43]
- WTVK (channel 26, ABC), Knoxville, Tennessee; could not use ABC network lines to receive the program once Joey Bishop was scheduled as its competition[44]
Notes edit
References edit
- ^ "Broadcasting May 9, 1966 Page 60 and 61" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com.
- ^ "Broadcasting April 3, 1967 Page 80" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com.
- ^ "Once again" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting Magazine November 13, 1967 Closed Circuit Section.
- ^ "Second looks" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting Magazine November 20, 1967 Closed Circuit Section.
- ^ "Overmyer stalled" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting Magazine November 27, 1967 Closed Circuit Section.
- ^ "Squeaky vote" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting Magazine December 11, 1967 Closed Circuit Section.
- ^ "Broadcasting January 22, 1968 Page 37 Overmyer sale papers are signed" (PDF). Overmyer sale papers are signed.
- ^ "Bold Venture in TV Networking" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. Broadcasting Magazine July 18, 1966 p. 25.
- ^ "Screenings Bob Foster The Times San Mateo, CA December 5, 1966 p. 27". The Times. 5 December 1966. p. 27.
- ^ "CFL Signs Network TV Contract For 1967 Orlando Evening Star Orlando, FL November 23, 1966 p. 10". Orlando Evening Star. 23 November 1966. p. 10.
- ^ "The Fourth Steps Forth". Sports Illustrated. August 15, 1966. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
- ^ "Plan Fourth TV Network The Des Moines Register Des Moines, IA July 13, 1966 p. 7". The des Moines Register. 13 July 1966. p. 7.
- ^ "New Blood in New Network" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting Magazine March 13, 1967 p. 23.
- ^ "Fledgling United Network Set to Resume Broadcasts Independent Long Beach, CA July 3, 1967 p. 12". Independent. 3 July 1967. p. 12.
- ^ "High Stakes in Las Vegas Show The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, CA May 1, 1967 p. 78". The Los Angeles Times. May 1967. p. 78.
- ^ "Overmyer signs key Coast outlet" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting Magazine October 3, 1966 p. 36.
- ^ "The Bridgeport Telegram Bridgeport, CT May 1, 1967 p. 15". The Bridgeport Telegram. May 1967. p. 15.
- ^ "Dana Clarifying Downfall of 'The Las Vegas Show' Nashua Telegraph Nashua, NH June 7, 1967 p. 15". Nashua Telegraph. 7 June 1967. p. 15.
- ^ "Late Night Las Vegas Show, Started May 1, Bites Dust". Associated Press (via The Morning Record). Meriden, CT. 1967-06-02. p. 3. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
- ^ "United Network forced to quit" (PDF). Broadcasting Magazine June 5, 1967 p. 34.
- ^ "Corpus Christi Caller-Times June 4, 1967 p.106 TV Investors Lose $2.2 Million". Newspapers.com. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
- ^ Gysel, Dean (June 4, 1967). "Services Held For Infant Network". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, TX. p. 106.
- ^ "Broadcasting Magazine June 26, 1967 p. 80 $690,000 deficit in UN bankruptcy filing" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Just call us Hey U". Broadcasting (Advertisement). April 3, 1967. pp. 106B, 106C. ProQuest 1014504276.
- ^ Newton, Dwight (September 29, 1968). "How Non-Networks Fight Back". San Francisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle. p. B5. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via GenealogyBank.
- ^ Du Brow, Rick (May 2, 1967). "TV Today: New Network Bows in Vegas". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. UPI. p. 25. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Television". Alabama Journal. Montgomery, Alabama. May 8, 1967. p. 15. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Details of Today's Television Shows". The Times-Picayune. May 31, 1967. p. 3:4 – via GenealogyBank.
- ^ Lorando, Mark (December 31, 1995). "Feeling 'groovy' about their ABCs". The Times-Picayune. p. TV Focus 6 – via GenealogyBank.
- ^ "Mid-Michigan Television News". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. May 6, 1967. p. C-2. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Torregrossa, Mark (March 12, 2016). "Hate the time change? Michigan killed it once, then brought it back". MLive.
- ^ "Want to Be a Star? Make Commericals [sic]". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. April 27, 1967. p. 10F. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Show at Vegas Bows Monday". The Sunday World-Herald. Omaha, Nebraska. April 30, 1967. p. Entertainment in the Midlands 15. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "New Las Vegas Show Starts Tuesday On 18". The Charlotte News. Charlotte, North Carolina. April 29, 1967. p. 13C. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Leonard, Vince (April 25, 1967). "Negotiations Underway: Las Vegas Show May Air Monday". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. p. 62. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Monday on TV: Las Vegas and Dana Join the Late Nighters". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. April 30, 1967. p. 16-S. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Best on Monday". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. April 30, 1967. p. 6-TV. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "TV Log". Petoskey News-Review. May 11, 1967. p. 6.
- ^ "TV Listings". Springfield Leader-Press. Springfield, Missouri. May 1, 1967. p. 29. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hickey, Lillian (October 27, 1968). "40 Starts Broadcasting". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. p. TV Magazine 7. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Radio & TV Guide". Florence Morning News. May 17, 1967. p. 9.
- ^ "Television Today". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. May 25, 1967. p. 5:3. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Television Logs with Tonight's Daily Tips". The Charleston Daily Mail. Charleston, West Virginia. May 12, 1967. p. 21. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Barrett, Bob (April 2, 1967). "'Tuned In': 'Las Vegas Show', New Net Dead Here". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. F-8. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.