The Tube Music Network

The Tube Music Network, Inc., or The Tube, was an American digital multicast television network. The network was a fully owned subsidiary of The Tube Media Corp., an independent company that was founded by David Levy in 2003. The Tube focused classic and modern music videos in a format similar to the original format of cable networks MTV and VH1, prior to those networks' shift towards long-form entertainment programming.[1] The network also aired occasional commercials and public service announcements, as well as three hours of educational and informational programming (as mandated by the Federal Communications Commission) on Saturday mornings.

The Tube Music Network
Type
Country
AvailabilityDefunct
Founded2004 (2004)
by Les Garland
OwnerThe Tube Media Corp.
Launch date
June 2005 (2005-06)
DissolvedOctober 1, 2007 (2007-10-01)

The network's president and founder was Les Garland, a veteran of MTV and VH1. The ad split was 6 minutes per for the network and 1 minute to the station. The network was not sold any of the national ad time.[2] The Tube planned to attract a wider audience than MTV and other music channels by playing music regardless of genre or decade. 700 videos would be available to play with 14 videos per hours. Additional programming was made available for the station's main channel. The network's website would be a store as visitors could buy what they see on the network.[3]

History and closure

The Tube Music Network was founded by Les Garland.[1] Raycom Media was an initial round investor in the company. Shane Coppola, formerly of Westwood One, became involved and brought in Pat LaPlatney to head the network in 2005. LaPlatney was frustrated by a difficult capital structure that made it hard to raise additional capital. He end up working six or eight months for no salary. LaPlatney quit by August 2007 to work for Raycom Media, which was an initial round investor.[4]

The Tube was initially available primarily in markets with stations operated by Raycom Media. In April 2005, Raycom was testing the network on station WFLX-TV, a Fox affiliate, for three weeks. Raycom then announced on April 25, 2005, it was the launch station group for The Tube affiliating 29 stations.[3] Raycom launched the network in June 2005 on 30 stations with Cleveland being the largest market.[5]

According to a March 2006 article in The New York Times, Tribune Broadcasting announced that it would start carrying The Tube on its stations that summer.[6] However, it had already begun to be carried on digital subchannels of Tribune-owned stations in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia. The network was also carried on WLVI in Boston, which was sold by Tribune to Sunbeam Television in late December 2006.

Equity Broadcasting Corporation distributed the network's programming free-to-air on Galaxy 10R Ku-band satellite for carriage by some of the individual low-power televisions that it owned in diverse U.S. cities.

Sinclair Broadcast Group would sign an affiliation agreement to carry The Tube as well. That relationship ended on January 1, 2007, in a dispute of contractual issues.[2]

The FCC ruled that in addition to the main analog channels, each digital subchannel would also be required to run the government-mandated three hours of educational and informational programming per week, as well as any Emergency Alert System tests and bulletins. The Tube would air the animal-focused music program Wildlife Jams to meet the E/I requirements. The rules would later be changed, requiring the main channel to air more E/I programming in relation to how many subchannels that the station operated and how much "free programming" they offered.

On October 1, 2007 at 6:00 AM, The Tube ceased operations due to "financial limitations"; the last video played was Alabama 3's "Woke Up This Morning", taking advantage of its famed use as the opening theme to the TV series The Sopranos by abruptly cutting to black just as the video ended, just as how the show used the theme.[7] In early 2008, the company had three separate shareholder class-action lawsuits filed in Florida making financial improprieties claims.[2]

Affiliates

Rank Market Affiliate Digital cable channel Owner at the time of shutdown Replaced by
1New YorkWPIX 11 (The CW) DT2Comcast 250
Cablevision 184
FiOS 861
Tribune BroadcastingWas Estrella TV, now Antenna TV
2Los AngelesKTLA 5 (The CW) DT2Comcast 192
Charter 305
Time Warner Cable 137
FiOS 865
Cox 805
Tribune BroadcastingWas This TV, now Antenna TV
This TV now on 5.3
3ChicagoWGN-TV 9 (The CW) DT2Comcast 197Tribune BroadcastingAntenna TV
4PhiladelphiaWPHL-TV 17 (MyNetworkTV) DT2Comcast 250
FiOS 867
Cablevision 184
Tribune BroadcastingWas This TV, now Antenna TV
This TV now on 17.3
6Dallas/Fort WorthKDAF 33 (The CW) DT2Time Warner Cable 419
FiOS 869
Charter 360
Tribune BroadcastingAntenna TV
7BostonWLVI 56 (The CW) DT2Comcast 296
FiOS 862
Sunbeam Television
(bought from Tribune after launch of The Tube)
The Country Network
8Washington, D.C.WDCW 50 (The CW) DT2FiOS 863
Comcast 207
Cox 804
Tribune BroadcastingWas This TV, now Antenna TV
This TV now on 50.3
10HoustonKHCW 39 (The CW) DT2 (now KIAH)Comcast 306Tribune BroadcastingWas Universal Sports, now Antenna TV
12Tampa/St. PetersburgWTTA 38 DT2 (Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast GroupCurrently silent
14Seattle/TacomaKMYQ 22 (MyNetworkTV) DT2Comcast 116
Millennium Digital Media 723
Tribune BroadcastingKCPQ
16Miami / Ft. LauderdaleWSFL-TV 39 (The CW) DT2Comcast 224
Atlantic Broadband 187
Tribune BroadcastingAzteca América
17Cleveland / Akron / CantonWUAB 43 (MyNetworkTV) DT2Time Warner Cable 545
WOW! 140
Cox 124
Raycom MediaWas This TV, now Bounce TV
(This TV now on WBNX-TV 55.3)
18DenverKWGN-TV 2 (The CW) DT2Comcast 248Tribune BroadcastingThis TV
20SacramentoKTXL 40 (Fox) DT2Starstream 241
Comcast 194
Charter 284
Tribune BroadcastingWas LATV, now Antenna TV
21St. LouisKPLR-TV 11 (The CW) DT2Charter 136Tribune BroadcastingThis TV
22PittsburghWPMY (Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)Comcast Channel 241Sinclair Broadcast GroupCurrently silent
23Portland, ORKRCW-TV 32 (The CW) DT2Comcast 303Tribune BroadcastingWas Universal Sports, now Antenna TV
24Baltimore(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast Group
25IndianapolisWTTV 4 (The CW, now CBS) DT2Comcast 254
Insight 834
Tribune BroadcastingWas This TV, now Indiana's 4.2, an Independent Station
27San DiegoKSWB-TV 69 (The CW, now Fox) DT3Cox 199Tribune BroadcastingThis TV
28Hartford / New HavenWTXX 20 (The CW) DT2 (now WCCT-TV)Comcast 250
Cox 810
Charter 752
Cablevision 184
Tribune BroadcastingThis TV
29Raleigh / DurhamWRDC 28 DT2 (Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)never carriedSinclair Broadcast GroupCurrently silent
30NashvilleWUXP-TV 30 DT2 (Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast GroupCurrently silent
32Columbus, OH(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast Group
33CincinnatiWXIX-TV 19 (Fox) DT2Insight 140
Time Warner Cable 920
Raycom MediaWas This TV, now Bounce TV
(This TV now on WBQC-LD Channel 25.2)
34MilwaukeeWCGV-TV 24 (MyNetworkTV) DT2
(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)
never carriedSinclair Broadcast GroupWas The Country Network, now Comet
36Greenville / Spartanburg / Anderson, SC(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast Group
37San Antonio(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast Group
38West Palm Beach/Ft. PierceWFLX 29 (Fox) DT2Comcast 220 & 184Raycom MediaBounce TV
39Grand RapidsWXMI 17 (Fox) DT2Charter 137
Comcast 254
Tribune BroadcastingAntenna TV
40Birmingham/Tuscaloosa/Anniston(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast Group
41HarrisburgWPMT 43 (Fox) DT2Comcast 250Tribune BroadcastingWas News 24/7, now Antenna TV
News 24/7 moved to 43.3
43Las Vegas(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast Group
44MemphisWMC-TV 5 (NBC) DT3Comcast 755Raycom MediaThis TV
45Albuquerque/Santa FeKASA 2 (Fox) DT2 (Dropped by station prior to closedown)Comcast 207LIN TV(Purchased from Raycom Media in 2006)Currently silent
46Oklahoma City(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast Group
48LouisvilleWAVE 3 (NBC) DT3?Insight 834Raycom MediaWas Weather Now, now Bounce TV
56Albany, NYWCWN 45 (The CW) DT2unknownSinclair Broadcast GroupCurrently silent
58Dayton(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast Group
60KnoxvilleWTNZ 43 (Fox) DT2Comcast 195
Charter 195
Raycom MediaThis TV
61Richmond/PetersburgWTVR-TV 6 (CBS) DT3Comcast 207
FiOS 867
Raycom MediaNow CBS 6 Xtra
63Lexington, KY(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)WDKY-TV 56 (Fox)Sinclair Broadcast GroupCurrently silent
65Charleston-Huntingon WV(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast Group
66Flint / Saginaw / Bay City(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast Group
70Tucson/Sierra VistaKOLD-TV 13 (CBS) DT3Comcast 207
Cox 763
Raycom MediaMe-TV
71ToledoWNWO-TV 24 (NBC) DT2Buckeye Cable System 625
Time Warner Cable 81
Barrington BroadcastingWas Retro Television Network, now American Sports Network
72HonoluluKFVE 5 (MyNetworkTV) DT2Oceanic Time Warner Cable 590Raycom MediaCurrently silent
73Des Moines(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast Group
74Portland, ME(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast GroupCurrently silent
77Spokane, WAKAYU 28 (Fox) DT2Comcast 116Mountain Broadcasting, LLCThis TV
78Rochester, NY(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast Group
79SyracuseWSTM-TV 3 (NBC) DT4Time Warner Cable 864Barrington BroadcastingCurrently silent
80Paducah / Cape Girardeau / Harrisburg, ILKFVS-TV 12 (CBS) DT3City Cable 139Raycom MediaGrit TV
81ShreveportKSLA-TV 12 (CBS) DT2Time Warner 1113
Cox 245
Raycom MediaThis TV
82Champaign/Springfield(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast GroupThe Country Network (WICS) / Was, TheCoolTV Now silent (WICD)
83Columbia, SCWACH 57 (Fox) DT2 (Dropped by station prior to closedown)unknownBarrington BroadcastingCurrently silent
84Huntsville / Decatur / FlorenceWAFF 48 (NBC) DT3Charter 183
Comcast 184
Knology 175
Mediacom 226
Raycom MediaCurrently silent
85Madison, WIWMSN 47 (Fox) DT2
(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)
never carriedSinclair Broadcast GroupCurrently silent
87Jackson, MSWLBT 3 (NBC) DT3Comcast 153Raycom MediaThis TV
89Cedar Rapids/Waterloo/Iowa City/DubuqueKWWL 7 (NBC) DT3Mediacom 106
Cedar Falls Cable 472
Quincy NewspapersRTV
93Baton RougeWAFB 9 (CBS) DT4Cox 120Raycom MediaWBXH-CA
94Colorado Springs/PuebloKXRM-TV 21 (Fox) DT2Comcast 142 & 478Barrington BroadcastingRetro Television Network
97SavannahWTOC-TV 11 (CBS) DT3Comcast 243Raycom MediaWas This TV, now Bounce TV
100Charleston(Dropped by Sinclair prior to closedown; see above)unknownSinclair Broadcast Group
101EvansvilleWFIE 14 (NBC) DT3Insight 834
Sigecom 248
Raycom MediaWas This TV, Then Movies!/Me-TV/Grit (TV network), Now Circle (TV Network)
109Springfield, MAWGGB 40 (ABC) DT2Comcast 6
Charter 10
Gormally Broadcasting, LLC

Fox-primary/MNTV-secondary

111Tyler/LongviewKLTV 7 (ABC) 7.3Suddenlink 245Raycom MediaTelemundo
113Traverse City/CadillacWPBN-TV 7/WTOM-TV 4 (NBC) DT2Charter 200Barrington BroadcastingRetro Television Network
114Augusta, GAWFXG 54 (Fox) DT2Comcast 241
Knology 179
Raycom MediaThis TV
128Columbus, GAWXTX 54 (Fox) DT2Mediacom 230
Knology 179
Charter 187
Raycom MediaThis TV
131Amarillo, TXKVII-TV 7 (ABC) DT3unknownBarrington Broadcastingwas The Local AccuWeather Channel, now Comet TV
136Wilmington, NCWSFX-TV 26 (Fox) DT2Time Warner Cable 925Wilmington Telecasters, Inc.
(under LMA by Raycom Media)
This TV
141Medford, ORKMVU 26 (Fox) DT2Charter 286Stainless Broadcasting Company
145Albany, GA(Dropped by station prior to closedown)unknownBarrington Broadcasting
147Lubbock, TXKCBD 11 (NBC) DT3Suddenlink 113Raycom MediaThis TV
156Panama CityWPGX 28 (Fox) DT2Comcast 237
Knology 179
Raycom Media
160Biloxi/GulfportWLOX-TV 13 (ABC) DT3Cable One 455Raycom MediaWas This TV, now Bounce TV
165Hattiesburg/LaurelWDAM-TV 7 (NBC) DT2Comcast 195Raycom MediaThis TV
172DothanWDFX-TV 34 (Fox) DT2unknownRaycom Media
175Lake Charles, LAKPLC 7 (NBC) DT3Suddenlink 245Raycom Media
178Marquette(Dropped by station prior to closedown)unknownBarrington Broadcasting
188Lafayette, INWTTK 29 (The CW)Insight 834Tribune BroadcastingWas This TV, now Indiana's 4.2, an Independent Station
199Ottumwa/Kirksville(Dropped by station prior to closedown)unknownBarrington Broadcasting
200Jonesboro, ARKAIT 8 (ABC) DT3unknownRaycom MediaRelaunched in 2018 as an affiliate of The CW

See also

References

  1. Taub, Eric (June 9, 2008). "More Channels Are Coming. Will Anyone Be Watching?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  2. Romano, Allison (March 10, 2008). "Local Stations Multiply". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  3. "Raycom Launches The Tube Music Network". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Mediaweek. April 25, 2005. Archived from the original on 2020-03-29. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  4. Jessell, Harry A. (August 3, 2016). "LaPlatney To Power Raycom With TV + Digital". TVNewsCheck.com. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  5. "Les Garland's Latest Video Invention". Broadcasting & Cable. May 22, 2005. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  6. "The Tube enters Tribune markets". South Florida Business Journal. March 9, 2006. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  7. Malone, Michael (October 9, 2007). "The Tube Goes Down the Tubes". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
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