Back Porch Video
Encyclopedia
Back Porch Video was one of the first cable television
-based music video programs. It premiered on January 28, 1984 as the brainchild of Russ Gibb
, former owner of the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan. Gibb is best known as the radio DJ who suggested the Paul is Dead
rumor, suggesting that Paul McCartney
of the Beatles was actually dead.
Shown out of Westinghouse's Group W Cable studios in Dearborn, Michigan
, Back Porch Video stayed on the air for the better part of 16 years.
What made Back Porch Video unique was that it was crewed and hosted primarily by area high-school aged students. The program aired live in Dearborn from 10pm - 1am on Saturday nights, although that was later expanded to 9pm - 1am after about one year of cablecasting. The show was broken up into hour-long segments, each of which was hosted by a different personality (or personality team.) This allowed for the programs to be distributed in hour-long segments to a myriad of other cable systems in the Southeast Michigan area. The program also saw a short run of three programs on Detroit's PBS station, WTVS
Channel 56, and won a CableACE award for excellence in 1985.
The musical style favored by most of the hosts was alternative rock, although plenty of pop music, heavy metal, rap and hardcore punk was also shown. Within the first few years of being on the air, Back Porch Video was serviced by most every major record label, as well as dozens of smaller labels and independent video promoters.
Back Porch VJ Dino Kovas went on to join the New Monkees
.
Some of the VJ’s from 1989 thru 1992 were, Nicholas “Big Nick” Sawabini, Peter Sawabini, Scott “Mad Dog” Cook, Eric “Gangster o' Love” Gubka, Stacey Corbet, Rebecca Ramirez, Damian Dobez, Bill Russell, Kevin Esser, Alex Garcia, Bryce Miller, Darryl Miller, and David Schroeder.
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
-based music video programs. It premiered on January 28, 1984 as the brainchild of Russ Gibb
Russ Gibb
"Uncle" Russ Gibb is a former concert promoter, and media personality from Dearborn, Michigan, probably most famous for his role in the Paul is Dead phenomenon, a story he broke as a DJ on WKNR-FM....
, former owner of the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan. Gibb is best known as the radio DJ who suggested the Paul is Dead
Paul Is Dead
"Paul is dead" is an urban legend suggesting that Paul McCartney of the English rock band The Beatles died in 1966 and was secretly replaced by a look-alike....
rumor, suggesting that Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
of the Beatles was actually dead.
Shown out of Westinghouse's Group W Cable studios in Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
, Back Porch Video stayed on the air for the better part of 16 years.
What made Back Porch Video unique was that it was crewed and hosted primarily by area high-school aged students. The program aired live in Dearborn from 10pm - 1am on Saturday nights, although that was later expanded to 9pm - 1am after about one year of cablecasting. The show was broken up into hour-long segments, each of which was hosted by a different personality (or personality team.) This allowed for the programs to be distributed in hour-long segments to a myriad of other cable systems in the Southeast Michigan area. The program also saw a short run of three programs on Detroit's PBS station, WTVS
WTVS
WTVS, branded as Detroit Public TV, is the Public Broadcasting Service member Public television station in Detroit, Michigan. Broadcasting since 1955, its vision statement is "educate, entertain and inspire — in partnership with our community." The viewer supported station produces many local...
Channel 56, and won a CableACE award for excellence in 1985.
The musical style favored by most of the hosts was alternative rock, although plenty of pop music, heavy metal, rap and hardcore punk was also shown. Within the first few years of being on the air, Back Porch Video was serviced by most every major record label, as well as dozens of smaller labels and independent video promoters.
Back Porch VJ Dino Kovas went on to join the New Monkees
New Monkees
New Monkees was the name of both a US pop rock music group, and a 1987 syndicated television show featuring the group.-Background:The 20th anniversary of The Monkees in 1986 generated enough interest that New Monkees was conceived later that year, and launched the following year...
.
Some of the VJ’s from 1989 thru 1992 were, Nicholas “Big Nick” Sawabini, Peter Sawabini, Scott “Mad Dog” Cook, Eric “Gangster o' Love” Gubka, Stacey Corbet, Rebecca Ramirez, Damian Dobez, Bill Russell, Kevin Esser, Alex Garcia, Bryce Miller, Darryl Miller, and David Schroeder.