Antenna TV: TV How It Was Meant To Be

Antenna-TV-logo

In an earlier post, I raved about MeTV, a national classic TV programming service. Weigel Broadcasting launched MeTV in Chicago in 2005, taking it national in 2010. It’s now carried on local television stations across America, mostly on digital subchannels.

Less than 3 weeks after MeTV’s national launch, a competing service was born: Antenna TV. It too has Chicago roots, owned by Tribune Broadcasting.

Unfortunately, there are currently no Antenna TV affiliates where I live (Johnstown-Altoona-State College DMA). I’m keeping my fingers crossed someone will pick it up eventually…are you listening WTAJ?

Even though I haven’t been able to sample Antenna TV personally, I have followed their programming schedules online. Here’s a list of the classic TV shows they carry as of January 2014:

Comedies
All In The Family, Bachelor Father, Barney Miller, Bewitched, Burns and Allen, Dennis the Menace, Diff’rent Strokes, Father Knows Best, The Flying Nun, Gidget, Good Times, Green Acres, Hazel, I Dream of Jeannie, The Jack Benny Program, Maude, McHale’s Navy, Mister Ed, The Monkees, The Partridge Family, The Patty Duke Show, Sanford and Son, The Three Stooges and WKRP in Cincinnati.

Adventure and Drama Series
Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Circus Boy, Flipper, Here Come The Brides, It Takes A Thief, Suspense Theatre

Antenna TV is available on broadcast subchannels nationwide, including WPIX New York, KTLA Los Angeles, WGN Chicago and WPHL Philadelphia. For a complete list of affiliates and programming schedules, please visit Antenna TV’s website.

Classic TV Birthdays: January 18

Celebrating a birthday today: Alison Arngrim is 52. Alison is best-known for her role as Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie. She also guested on Fantasy Island and The Love Boat.

Born on this day but no longer with us, Bob Bell (original Bozo the Clown on WGN Chicago), Oliver Hardy (the bigger half of Laurel & Hardy) and Danny Kaye (film actor who guested on a number of TV series).

Classic TV stars who passed away on January 18 include Carl Betz (The Donna Reed Show, Judd for the Defense), Curly Howard (The Three Stooges), Rusty Hamer (Make Room for Daddy) and Bob May (The Robot on Lost in Space).