Channel America

Last updated
Channel America
Type LPTV broadcast television network
CountryUnited States
Ownership
Parent Channel America Broadcasting
History
Founded1987;37 years ago (1987) [1]
Launched1988;36 years ago (1988) [2]
FounderDavid Post
Closed1996;28 years ago (1996)

Channel America (CA), officially Channel America Network, Inc., [3] was the first United States terrestrial broadcast television network to be intentionally assembled out of LPTV, or low-power television licensees. The network was founded by David Post in 1987 [1] and launched in 1988. [2] It offered a 24-hour feed of mostly inexpensive programming, delivered to its affiliate stations, many owned and originally established by the network, via satellite.

Contents

History

Channel America was founded in 1987 by David Post, who had hopes of creating a network with 1,000 low-power television stations. [1] The network never reached its goal in terms of affiliates, but still launched in 1988. [2] In 1990, Channel America moved to get more affiliated cable operators' local origination channel by rolling out a three-hour package of programming with interactive elements, Hometown USA, with American Television & Communications committing a best-of-local-origination series with the working title Off Broadway. [1]

In late 1995, the network peaked with a reach of 44,000,000 households through 100 affiliates. On September 18, 1995, EVRO Entertainment of Kissimmee, Florida acquired a 51% interest in the Channel America Network, with the option to buy the remaining 49%. [4]

On July 1, 1996, the channel announced that they would air a preview of My Pet Television Network, a joint venture of Nightwing Entertainment Group, Inc. and The Humane Society of the United States, on September 9. [5]

The network went off the air in 1996. In March 1997, its parent company and LDE Media Techniqs, Morton Downey Jr.'s company, agreed to merge. Downey planned to launch a news magazine called Boyz Night Out on the revived network. [6]

Programs

In addition to its cable access programming mentioned above, among the other shows on Channel America was Hot Seat , a talk show hosted by Wally George which was produced by KDOC-TV in Anaheim, California. (Ironically, KDOC never joined the Channel America network). The network also aired several classic shows from Columbia Pictures Television, including Hazel , Gidget , The Flying Nun , Family, Ghost Story , Bridget Loves Bernie , and The Fantastic Journey .

Channel America Broadcasting

Channel America Broadcasting
Company typeformerly public on NASDAQ
IndustryTelevision Broadcast
PredecessorEVRO
Defunct1997
Fatedefunct
Headquarters
Lakeland
Key people
Thomas L. Jensen, Chair & CEO
ServicesTV networks
Subsidiaries Technology Holdings, Inc.
Channel America Network
The Sports & Shopping Network

Channel America Broadcasting, Inc., formerly Moreno-Cripple Creek Corporation, Moreno Uranium Corporation, EnviroSearch Corp., to EVRO Financial Corp. and EVRO Corporation, was the owner of Channel America Network, Inc. and The Sports & Shopping Network Inc. [7]

History

Moreno-Cripple Creek Corporation was organized February 5, 1946 and renamed Moreno Uranium Corporation on March 12, 1954 then to EnviroSearch Corp. on March 10, 1970. On May 24, 1974, 1 millions of the corporation's shares were sold to Cresson Consolidated, Inc. Cresson then liquidated itself passing the shares onto its stockholders with EnviroSearch becoming a full reporting company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 16, 1974. On September 17, 1986, the corporation changed its name to EVRO Financial Corp. then to EVRO Corporation on March 1, 1994. From 1946 to 1987, the corporation was in the oil and gas industry holding various general and limited partnership and stock investments in other oil and gas companies while also investing in land for resale. In 1987, EVRO sold most of its oil and gas properties, partnerships and real estate. [8]

EVRO acquired on February 15, 1990 all the stock of Treasure Rockhound Ranches, Inc. Under a reorganization plan, ENRO acquired Lintronics Technologies, Inc. in all-stock deal that gave 94% of the outstanding shares to Lintronic shareholders. EVRO agreed to purchase 60% of the shares of The Good Health Channel, Inc. for stock on February 22, 1994. Also that year, EVRO formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Tres Rivers, Inc. to purchase the assets of Three Rios, Ltd., consisting of a 46-acre recreational vehicle campground agreed to on July 15, 1994. [8]

Technology Holdings, Inc. (THI) was formed on January 20, 1995 whereupon EVRO transferred all its assets and liabilities to THI: Lintronics, Treasure Rockhound, Tres Rivers and EVRO Trading Corporation, and its holdings in Good Health into THI in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding stock of THI. THI was created to make way for the purchase of The Sports & Shopping Network Inc. [8]

With the ending of the health related business segment in March 1995, THI, EVRO and the President of EVRO Trading triggered a dispute between them. To settle the dispute, EVRO Trading President was given 55% ownership of EVRO Trading, while EVRO would continue to own 45% with no other obligation and a THI note for the EVRO Trading President's amount due secured by the 45% remaining EVRO interest in EVRO Trading. THI defaulted on the note April 3, 1995, giving the remaining ownership of EVRO Trading to its president. [8]

EVRO and The Stellar Companies Inc. agreed in January 1995 for EVRO to acquire The Sports & Shopping Network Inc. ("TSSN") from Stellar with Stellar shareholders receiving a controlling share of EVRO stock. [9] EVRO agreed in April 1995 to purchase with stock the America's Collectibles Network Inc. and merge the network with the TSSN. [10] The deal to purchase ACN fell through due to SEC reporting concerns. [11]

On September 18, 1995, EVRO of Kissimmee, Florida acquired a 51% interest in the Channel America Network, with the option to buy the remaining 49%. [4] In June 1996, EVRO indicated plans to move Channel America and its other television operations to Glendale Studios, Glendale. [12]

In October 1996, EVRO shareholders voted to changes its name to Channel America Broadcasting, Inc. and increase the number of common and preferred shares authorized. Following the shareholder's annual meeting, the board of directors voted to change CA to a home shopping format temporarily. [7]

The network went off the air in 1996 and the parent company was delisted from the NASDAQ later that year due to "insufficient capital and surplus," with the share value dropping from a high of $2.50 to 7 cents. In March 1997, Channel America Broadcasting and LDE Media Techniqs, Morton Downey Jr.'s company, agreed to merge. Downey planned to launch a news magazine on the Channel called Boyz Night Out. [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Schatz, Eric. (July 2, 1990). "Channel America woos ops, advertisers". Multichannel New s. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 M. Bosko, On Ramp: Opportunities on Satellite, Videomaker, July 1995, accessed March 6, 2007
  3. ↑ "Channel America Broadcasting to merge with LDE Media Techniqs". The Free Library. 25 March 1997. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  4. 1 2 Form 8-K, United States Securities and Exchange Commission, September 18, 1995, accessed March 6, 2007
  5. ↑ "Nightwing Entertainment Group to launch preview of MY PET TELEVISION NETWORK via Channel America". BUSINESS WIRE. July 1, 1996. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  6. 1 2 McClellan, Steve (March 31, 1997). "Downey plans to resurface: LPTV deal would have him developing "signature" programming". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  7. 1 2 "EVRO shareholders approve name change and increase in authorized shares". The Free Library: Business Wire. EVRO. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Evro Corp · 10KSB/A · For 12/31/94". SEC Info. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  9. ↑ "The Stellar Companies Inc. The Sports & Shopping Network Inc". BUSINESS WIRE. The Free Library. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  10. ↑ "EVRO Corp. announces execution of an agreement to acquire America's Collectibles Network Inc. and to merge ACN into The Sports & Shopping Network Inc". BUSINESS WIRE. April 27, 1995. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  11. ↑ "Form 10QSB: ACQUISITION OF AMERICA'S COLLECTIBLES NETWORK, INC". Edgar. SEC. September 30, 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  12. ↑ Wilcox, Gregory J. (June 14, 1996). "EVRO LEASES GLENDALE STUDIOS : CHANNEL AMERICA TELEVISION NETWORK MOVE COULD BRING 200 NEW JOBS". Daily News. Los Angeles, CA. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2012.

See also

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