The Cowboy Channel

Last updated

The Cowboy Channel
CountryUnited States
Headquarters Nashville, Tennessee
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerTeton Ridge
History
Launched1979
Former namesNational Christian Network (1979–1986)
Liberty Broadcasting Network (1986–1988)
FamilyNet (1988–2017)
Links
Website Official website
Availability
Streaming media
Sling TV Internet Protocol television

The Cowboy Channel (formerly FamilyNet) is an American cable television network in over 42 million cable and satellite homes, [1] which carries Western programming and rodeo sports. The network was founded in 1979 as the National Christian Network, later took the name FamilyNet in 1988 under the ownership of Jerry Falwell, [2] and then in 2017 was rebranded as The Cowboy Channel.

Contents

In November 2024, it was announced that Western sports and entertainment company Teton Ridge had acquired The Cowboy Channel, along with The Cowgirl Channel and their live streaming and on-demand service, Cowboy Channel+. [3] Until then, the networks were operated by Rural Media Group, which owns RFD-TV.

History

As FamilyNet

FamilyNet's logo from 2009 until 2017. FamilyNet Logo.png
FamilyNet's logo from 2009 until 2017.

The channel was acquired by InTouch Ministries in October 2007 from the Southern Baptist Convention. [4] In December 2009, FamilyNet was acquired by Robert A. Schuller's ComStar Media Fund. [5] In 2010, FamilyNet was spun out into its own company, with Robert A. Schuller as the chairman. [6]

The organization also operated FamilyNet Radio 161, a full-time Christian talk channel on Sirius Satellite Radio, but was discontinued on November 30, 2010; FamilyTalk replaced it.

From 2011 to 2012, the channel showed sitcoms like The Bob Newhart Show , Newhart , and Mr. Belvedere .

On October 24, 2012, Rural TV purchased FamilyNet, and the transaction took effect on January 1, 2013. At first the network was used to carry an all-trading day format of farm and market news, which eventually moved to a reduced timeslot on RFD-TV due to low interest and ratings. Rural Media, which had considered merging RFD-TV and FamilyNet together to gain over-the-air carriage, eventually decided to keep FamilyNet as a separate service, but with a refocus in programming towards classic television programming which was not picked up by competitors MeTV, Antenna TV and Cozi TV. Rural Media also decided not to renew over-the-air contracts with stations in a slow process in order to make it a cable-only network. A number of former FamilyNet affiliates (mainly religious stations) continue to carry programming recorded from the network's feed before the Rural TV sale, seemingly under a perpetual license.

In September 2014, FamilyNet was refocused with classic television series and films from the Sony Pictures Television libraries, with Sony also assisting with advertising sales. Religious programming, which used to make up the vast majority of the schedule under SBC and Schuller's ownership, was limited to Sunday mornings, though Rural Media also maintained FamilyNet's paid programming overnights despite their executives' traditional disdain for depending on those programs for revenue. (RFD-TV since also began to carry overnight paid programming.)

As The Cowboy Channel

On June 19, 2017, Rural Media Group CEO Patrick Gottsch announced that on July 1, FamilyNet would be rebranded as The Cowboy Channel, featuring a focus on Western sports and rodeo events, which had proven to be a popular attraction on RFD-TV. [7] Gottsch thanked Sony Pictures Television for bringing the network to a solid footing, but noted that overwhelming competition in the classic television space from networks such as MeTV, Antenna TV, Cozi TV, Heroes & Icons and several other networks and streaming options had made the space more competitive and crowded, while a Western sports network was seen as a unique opportunity to stand out in cable and satellite lineups. [8] [9] [10] Among the network's first offerings were encore events from RFD's The American Rodeo, the Calgary Stampede, and the Professional Bull Riders archives. Sony's archived programming thus moved to their own GetTV at the start of 2018.

The Cowboy Channel signed a multi-year agreement with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to televise and stream their major events, including the National Finals Rodeo, starting in 2020. [11]

With the network conversion, Rural Media used the opportunity to end their carriage agreements with over-the-air broadcasters, rendering the Cowboy Channel as a pay-TV only offering.

A Canadian version of the channel was launched on February 1, 2020, on Shaw Direct television systems through a partnership with Rural Media.

The Cowgirl Channel was launched on March 1, 2023. It specializes in programming about women in professional rodeo, western fashion, and rural lifestyles in general through the perspectives of women. Rodeos not televised on The Cowboy Channel are televised on The Cowgirl Channel. [12]

In 2023, The Cowboy Channel signed a multi-year agreement with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association to televise and stream their major events, including the Canadian Finals Rodeo through December 31, 2027. The Cowboy Channel Canada also televises these events. [13]

Patrick Gottsch, the founder and president of Rural Media Group, died on May 18, 2024, at the age of 70. [14] He was succeeded in leadership of Rural Media Group by his two eldest daughters, Raquel Gottsch Koehler and Gatsby Gottsch Solheim. [15]

Programming

Much of the Cowboy Channel's non-sports programming is drawn from RFD-TV's program library, with an emphasis on ranching and rodeo programs (thus the Cowboy Channel does not carry RFD-TV's music, agribusiness or news programming). Like RFD-TV, the Cowboy Channel carries brokered televangelism programming on Sunday mornings.

Current programming

Reruns

Former programming

FamilyNet (1988–2017)

TitleGenreOriginal network
All in the Family Sitcom CBS (1971–1979)
Archie Bunker's Place Sitcom CBS (1979–1983)
Barney Miller Sitcom ABC (1975–1982)
The Brady Bunch Sitcom ABC (1972–1974)
The Facts of Life Sitcom NBC (1979–1988)
Good Times Sitcom CBS (1974–1979)
Malcolm & Eddie Sitcom UPN (1996–2000)
Maude Sitcom CBS (1972–1978)
One Day at a Time Sitcom CBS (1975–1984)
Sanford and Son Sitcom NBC (1972–1977)
Silver Spoons Sitcom NBC (1982–1986)
Syndication (1986–1987)

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References

  1. ↑ Ammoland (March 6, 2019), Cowboy Channel Continues Commitment To Western Sports & Rodeo With Live Coverage , retrieved January 30, 2020
  2. ↑ "Religious Networks Change for Profits". Broadcasting & Cable . 114 (19): 51. May 9, 1988. ISSN   1068-6827.
  3. ↑ "Teton Ridge Completes Cowboy Channel Takeover in Stunning Move Ahead of NFR". Sports Illustraded. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  4. ↑ Noah, Mickey (October 29, 2007). "NAMB completes FamilyNet sale to In Touch". Baptist Press .
  5. ↑ "FamilyNet TV and Radio Network Sold to Robert A. Schuller's ComStar". Black Christian News. December 29, 2009. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Celebrated Televangelist Robert Schuller Named Chairman of FamilyNet TV". PR Newswire. March 23, 2011. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  7. ↑ Snyder, Rachel (May 19, 2024). "Rural Media Group founder Patrick Gottsch dead at 70". WFAA. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  8. ↑ "So Long FamilyNet, Hello The Cowboy Channel!" (Press release). Rural Media Group. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Introducing The Cowboy Channel – Launching July 1, 2017". RFD-TV. June 22, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Rural Media Is Changing FamilyNet to Cowboy Channel". MultiChannel News. June 22, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  11. ↑ 406mtsports.com (September 17, 2019). "PRCA signs TV deal with The Cowboy Channel, RFD-TV". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved January 7, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ "The Cowgirl Channel launches". The Cowboy Channel. March 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Canadian pro rodeos added to The Cowboy Channel". The Cowboy Channel. April 21, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Rural Media Group president Patrick Gottsch passes away". The Cowboy Channel. May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Rural Media Group (RFD-TV) sells its Cowboy and Cowgirl Channels to Teton Ridge". AgriMarketing. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
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