Superdude 108 Posted February 13, 2023 Share Posted February 13, 2023 Weigel Broadcasting Co. is flipping its digital broadcast network Decades into the sitcom-centric Catchy Comedy on March 27, Variety has learned exclusively. The over-the-air network will focus on a library of classic comedies, with an emphasis on key female stars including the signature shows from Lucille Ball, Mary Tyler Moore and Carol Burnett. But also central to the Catchy Comedy lineup are key series from Norman Lear, as well as some of the most lauded sitcoms of all time – including the original “Night Court,” which is back in the spotlight thanks to the success of the revival series on NBC. Unlike Decades, which wasn’t measured by ratings, Catchy Comedy will be Nielsen-rated. “That takes it into a different sphere, in terms of advertiser availability and access,” said Neal Sabin, vice chairman of Weigel Broadcasting Co. “There are many advertisers that won’t look at these networks unless they’re rated, and we’re pretty confident that we have something here that will rate well.” https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/decades-network-catchy-comedy-night-court-1235521267/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasTVNews 1373 Posted February 13, 2023 Share Posted February 13, 2023 No more Decades Binge, Through the Decades, and drama shows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.L. Hughes 824 Posted February 14, 2023 Share Posted February 14, 2023 7 minutes ago, TexasTVNews said: No more Decades Binge, Through the Decades, and drama shows? The binge blocks will continue post-relaunch, but they’ll be known as “The Catchy Binge”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Newsroom 1194 Posted February 14, 2023 Share Posted February 14, 2023 Decades has changed its format and on-air schedule a few times across its history (including into what it is at its end), so it doesn't surprise me much. I enjoy the sitcoms reruns it airs and The Binge though, and I'm excited they will carry over to the new network, along with the new pickups I love. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseyfla 203 Posted February 14, 2023 Share Posted February 14, 2023 (edited) The channel is really 3 of Pluto TV’s classic sitcom channels combined into one diginet. It will be nice to have for a subchannel option. The 80s kid in me really wishes Nexstar would push Rewind TV for distribution harder. Edited February 14, 2023 by jerseyfla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
east-tx-tv 117 Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 The article I saw said that they would throw in some occasional weekend showings of series that didn't last as long (and therefore didn't really get the full syndication treatment) like Square Pegs, for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD TV 217 Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 I see that there is a number of existing sitcoms that will remain on the schedule. I kinda thought that said existing sitcoms were being wasted on this, a lesser-known subchannel, especially after the CBS O&Os dumped it in favor of Start TV. Don't like the new name, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1421 Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 They could have easily kept the "Decades" name and simply slowly added more sitcoms, so the name change is all about the marketing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megatron81 215 Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 Decades is on WLLA's .5 I believe, the only subchannel that Spectrum has from WLLA is METV which was Retro when they added it. Through The Decades would've been the only show I'd watch from time to time if it was ever added. Nextar promoted SportsGrid when that was added to .3 before they removed it for TheGrio in late Oct than they do for Rewind TV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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