Chicago-based classic TV programming service MeTV will be changing affiliates in two of the nation’s top four media markets, moving from secondary to primary channel positions.

This change to primary channels means that the new affiliates will be considered “must carry” stations, so cable and satellite companies will be obligated to carry them. Secondary digital channels are not “must carry”, so their viewers often have to rely on an over-the-air antenna to receive those channels.

MeTV’s current New York City affiliate is WWME-TV 43.1, a station licensed to Bridgeport, CT. They actually pre-empt a lot of overnight and early morning MeTV programming.

The new Big Apple affiliate will be KVNV, which airs on digital channel 3. Interesting story here is that KVNV’s license was “moved” from Ely, NV to Middletown Township, NJ. The MeTV affiliation change is scheduled for this spring.

In Philadelphia, MeTV will move from WFMZ 69.3 to KJWP 2. The same company that owns KVNV owns KJWP, which also “moved” from Jackson, WY to Wilmington, DE. The Philly MeTV switch will take place March 1

I know that a lot of this technical stuff is confusing, but this sounds like good news. The bottom line is classic TV fans in New York and Philadelphia will have improved access to MeTV on cable and satellite.

We will update our Classic TV Affiliate Guide when the changes have taken place.

Remember back in the ’80s when MTV actually played music videos? Their slogan was “I Want My MTV.” Nowadays, I Want My MeTV!

In case you’ve never heard of it, MeTV is a national classic television service offered to local TV stations across the United States. Most stations program it on one of their digital subchannels, meaning that chances are good you can pick it up for free 🙂

Where I live, in West Central Pennsylvania, MeTV is carried by the local NBC affiliate WJAC on virtual Channel 6.2. I pick it up over-the-air using a Mohu Leaf flat antenna, made right here in the USA!

 
MeTV carries a 24/7 schedule (excluding mandatory 3-hour E/I educational blocks on weekend mornings) of classic TV shows from the 1950s to the 1990s, mostly 60s and 70s era programs.

Best part is they run the full credits at the beginning and end of all shows, plus the picture quality is very crisp. No modern garbage or infomercials, just 100% classic TV. Certain affiliates may pre-empt some programming, but fortunately WJAC runs MeTV’s full national schedule.

As of January 2014, here is a listing of the classic TV shows currently airing on MeTV:

• 12 O’Clock High
• Adam-12
• The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
• Batman
• Beverly Hillbillies
• The Big Valley
• The Bob Newhart Show
• Bonanza
• The Brady Bunch
• Cannon
• Car 54, Where Are You?
• Columbo
• Combat!
• Daniel Boone
• The Dick Van Dyke Show
• The Donna Reed Show
• Dragnet
• Emergency
• Family Affair
• F Troop
• The Fugitive
• Get Smart
• Gilligan’s Island
• Gunsmoke
• Hawaii Five-O
• Hogan’s Heroes
• The Honeymooners
• H.R. Pufnstuf
• Ironside
• I Love Lucy
• Kojak
• Land of the Lost
• Leave It To Beaver
• Lost In Space
• The Love Boat
• Make Room for Daddy
• The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
• The Mary Tyler Moore Show
• M*A*S*H
• Mr. Lucky
• Night Gallery
• My Three Sons
• Naked City
• Perry Mason
• Peter Gunn
• Petticoat Junction
• The Phil Silvers Show
• Rawhide
• The Rebel
• Remington Steele
• Rhoda
• The Rifleman
• The Rockford Files
• Route 66
• The Saint
• Star Trek
• The Streets of San Francisco
• Svengoolie (classic monster movies!)
• Taxi
• Thriller
• The Twilight Zone
• The Untouchables
• Wagon Train
• Wanted: Dead or Alive
• Wonder Woman

There are several other similar retro networks out there, including Antenna TV, Cozi and RetroTV, but MeTV is the biggest and IMHO the best.

You can check out MeTV’s website and choose the affiliate closest to you. If it’s not available in your area yet, call your local stations and say: “I Want My MeTV!”