Here at last! |
Over a decade overdue, This TV finally makes its CNY début on WONO-CD 11.2. It's another terrestrial-only station that's low-powered, low-budget and low-rated. The channel was left blank for some time until owner Rennard suddenly and unceremoniously launched the local affiliate. The network is owned by Byron Allens Allen Media Group, which owns Entertainment Studios, one of the largest independent TV companies in the country, which produces Funny You Should Ask which he's on and created and airs in syndication (on NewsChannel 9 WSYR in Syracuse). This TV used to have shows, but since Allen took over from Weigel, it's mainly films from MGM/UA with some programs that may appear on other (or sister) networks, as well as infomercials and E/I for the kids and FCC.
ThisTV in New York State is only also in Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, and downstate/Tri-state. There could be other affiliates as I had to look up the WNY ones and I couldn't edit the list on Wikipedia properly without getting a Syntax error until I figured it out. Back near me, we still wait for sister network Light TV, as well as Quest, Twist, Grio, Doctor, Retro, Cheddar, Clic, Azteca and Fave just to name a few. Even the bigger markets are still trying to catch up, let alone the small ones. Still wonder if Spectrum and Verizon FiOS would even pick up the whole WONO/WWDC/WHSU/WTVU tier. Dish doesn't have a national feed like they do with Laff and Get TV. Doubt DirecTV would bother, even after spinning off AT&T.
With so many of these upstart networks alongside the A-list ones, over-the-air in the US is as close to the UK's Freeview as we would get here. However, streaming is still what people do most these days. At least, ThisTV gives us another choice on the airwaves.