Miami Valley Channel
Encyclopedia
The Miami Valley Channel (or MVC), known at various times as UPN 44 and UPN 17, was a local cable TV channel based in Dayton, Ohio
. MVC launched in September, 1994 and closed down at the end of 2006. Owned and operated by Cox Enterprises
, through its local CBS
affiliate, WHIO-TV
, the channel was available in the Miami Valley
area of Ohio
on Time Warner Cable
and Time Warner's predecessor companies.
The station was the Dayton area's UPN
affiliate from October, 1998 until the network ceased operations in September, 2006.
(both of which were ultimately succeeded by Time Warner Cable), WHIO-TV sought its own, additional cable channel. Agreement was reached with Continental on July 8, 1994, and expectations had been that WHIO-TV would launch an all-news channel, as its Pittsburgh sister station
, WPXI
, had done in January of that year. Instead, WHIO-TV general manager David Lippoff said that MVC would be a full-service channel, programmed like an independent station, with syndicated game show
s, children's programs
, dramas, movies, sports
and talk show
s. In addition, WHIO-TV's noon, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts would be repeated on MVC at 12:30, 6:30 and 11:35 p.m., seven days a week.
MVC was started on September 19, 1994 as a joint venture among Continental, Viacom and WHIO-TV, appearing on channel 44 on both companies' systems. (The channel did not actually appear on Viacom's system until January 1, 1995.)
On January 16, 1995, MVC launched a 30-minute 9 p.m. weeknight news show, titled "MVC First News at 9." This was Dayton's first prime time local television newscast. The program originated from WHIO-TV's news set, used anchors and other on-air staff from WHIO-TV, and included recorded stories and news clips from WHIO-TV. However, the newscast used distinct MVC/"Miami Valley Channel" branding and graphics, with little to no visual reference to WHIO-TV, Channel 7, or the "NewsCenter 7" brand. On September 23, 1996, in an effort to boost viewership, this newscast was moved to 10 p.m. and renamed "First News at 10".
affiliate WRGT-TV
. As a secondary affiliate, it would have been normal for WRGT-TV to air UPN's programs "out of pattern" (that is, on days and in time slots other than those provided by the network). However, WRGT-TV aired most of UPN's programs significantly out of pattern, over the years relegating them to relatively undesirable time slots: at first they aired on weekend afternoons, later they aired in the very early hours of the morning after their network air date.
MVC gained primary UPN affiliation in the fall of 1998, airing its first programs on October 5, the beginning of the network's 1998-1999 season. The station was initially advertised as "UPN on MVC".
At some point between April, 1998 and October, 1999, MVC adopted the "NewsCenter 7" brand for its 10 p.m. newscast, now calling it "NewsCenter 7 First News at Ten".
By December, 2002, at the latest, UPN 44 was no longer airing repeats of WHIO-TV's newscasts.
and Greene County
subscribers. The station was then renamed UPN 17. On July 1, Time Warner moved UPN 44 to channel 6 for its remaining subscribers in the Miami Valley receiving the channel. These channel moves were done at WHIO-TV's request, to position the station closer to the Dayton-area broadcast channels on Time Warner's cable lineups.
In mid-June of 2004, it was announced that the 10 p.m. newscast would be renamed "NewsCenter 7 at 10", dropping the "First News" branding used since 1995. WHIO-TV touted this as an "improved newscast", naming one of its most experienced newscasters, Donna Jordan, as anchor, and featuring chief meteorologist Jamie Simpson and sports director Mike Hartsock on the program.
to form The CW
. Both UPN 17 and the Miami Valley's WB affiliate, WBDT
, sought affiliation with the new network.
At the time, UPN 17's programming included "NewsCenter 7 at 10", Big Ten
football
, Ohio State
basketball
, and such syndicated programs as Judge Hatchett
, Cops
, The Nanny
, Mad About You
and Magnum, P.I.
Around March 14, 2006, it was announced that The CW would air on WBDT. WHIO-TV's general manager, Harry Delaney, was quoted as saying, "Another new network, My Network TV
, is being developed by Fox. As a Fox product, My Network TV will appeal to a broader audience and is a viable option for us."
On July 26, 2006, it was announced by WHIO-TV that Time Warner Cable would no longer carry UPN 17 after December 31. After not getting the CW affiliation, the station attempted to affiliate with My Network TV. While WHIO-TV was negotiating with the new networks, it was also trying to renew UPN 17's carriage agreement with Time Warner, to convince one of the networks to affiliate with the station. Time Warner declined WHIO-TV's offer.
In spite of the timing of UPN 17's shutdown, My Network TV did not reach a Dayton affiliation agreement until August 24, 2006. My Network TV would air on a digital subchannel of WRGT-TV, WRGT-DT2 (45.2).
On September 16, 2006 (the day after UPN went off the air), UPN 17 changed its name back to the Miami Valley Channel. It did not reuse the logo from its prior incarnation of the name, or develop any new logos or graphics for the brief time the channel would be in existence. MVC still aired its regular daytime programming, including The Greg Behrendt Show
, Dr. Phil
and selected shows from the i network.
By coincidence, WHIO-TV and MVC anchor Donna Jordan announced on December 8, 2006 that she would be retiring on December 31.
After a 12-year run, the Miami Valley Channel was shut down at midnight on January 1, 2007, and was immediately dropped from Time Warner Cable's lineup. Viewers who tuned into MVC on January 1 saw a message from Time Warner Cable that stated, "The Miami Valley Channel (MVC) programming is no longer carried on Time Warner Cable. MVC was the former UPN network affiliate. UPN stopped broadcasting their signal in August of 2006 [sic] and MVC is no longer in operation as of December 31, 2006."
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. MVC launched in September, 1994 and closed down at the end of 2006. Owned and operated by Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises is the successor to the publishing company founded in Dayton, Ohio, United States, by James Middleton Cox, who began with the Dayton Daily News. He was the Democratic candidate for the President of the United States in the election of 1920...
, through its local CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate, WHIO-TV
WHIO-TV
WHIO-TV, virtual channel 7, is the CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Dayton, Ohio, serving that state's Miami Valley area. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 41 from its transmitter on Germantown Street in western Dayton....
, the channel was available in the Miami Valley
Miami Valley
The Miami Valley, broadly, refers to the land area surrounding the Great Miami River in southwest Ohio, USA, and also includes the Little Miami, Mad, and Stillwater rivers as well...
area of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
on Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
and Time Warner's predecessor companies.
The station was the Dayton area's UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
affiliate from October, 1998 until the network ceased operations in September, 2006.
Early years
In 1993 and 1994, as part of retransmission negotiations with Viacom Cable and with Continental CablevisionMediaOne
MediaOne was a cable company created by US West in 1995 where the cable service started as a division of US West Media Group.US West founded MediaOne , through the combination of GCTV serving Atlanta, Georgia and Dekalb County, Georgia and Wometco Cable's assets in the suburbs of Georgia.In time...
(both of which were ultimately succeeded by Time Warner Cable), WHIO-TV sought its own, additional cable channel. Agreement was reached with Continental on July 8, 1994, and expectations had been that WHIO-TV would launch an all-news channel, as its Pittsburgh sister station
Sister station
In broadcasting, sister stations or sister channels are radio and/or television stations operated by the same ownership....
, WPXI
WPXI
WPXI, channel 11, is the NBC-affiliated television station for Western Pennsylvania that is licensed to Pittsburgh. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 48 from a transmitter located on the north side of Pittsburgh. Owned by Cox Enterprises, the station has studios in the...
, had done in January of that year. Instead, WHIO-TV general manager David Lippoff said that MVC would be a full-service channel, programmed like an independent station, with syndicated game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
s, children's programs
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
, dramas, movies, sports
Broadcasting of sports events
The broadcasting of sports events is the coverage of sports as a television program, on radio and other broadcasting media. It usually involves one or more sports commentators describing the events as they happen.-United States:...
and talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
s. In addition, WHIO-TV's noon, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts would be repeated on MVC at 12:30, 6:30 and 11:35 p.m., seven days a week.
MVC was started on September 19, 1994 as a joint venture among Continental, Viacom and WHIO-TV, appearing on channel 44 on both companies' systems. (The channel did not actually appear on Viacom's system until January 1, 1995.)
On January 16, 1995, MVC launched a 30-minute 9 p.m. weeknight news show, titled "MVC First News at 9." This was Dayton's first prime time local television newscast. The program originated from WHIO-TV's news set, used anchors and other on-air staff from WHIO-TV, and included recorded stories and news clips from WHIO-TV. However, the newscast used distinct MVC/"Miami Valley Channel" branding and graphics, with little to no visual reference to WHIO-TV, Channel 7, or the "NewsCenter 7" brand. On September 23, 1996, in an effort to boost viewership, this newscast was moved to 10 p.m. and renamed "First News at 10".
UPN affiliation
Since its launch in January, 1995, UPN had been carried locally as a secondary affiliate by primary FoxFox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
affiliate WRGT-TV
WRGT-TV
WRGT-TV, virtual channel 45, is the Fox-affiliated television station for the Miami Valley area of Ohio, which is licensed to Dayton. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 30 from a transmitter at its Broadcast Plaza studios near the New Chicago section of the city. It can...
. As a secondary affiliate, it would have been normal for WRGT-TV to air UPN's programs "out of pattern" (that is, on days and in time slots other than those provided by the network). However, WRGT-TV aired most of UPN's programs significantly out of pattern, over the years relegating them to relatively undesirable time slots: at first they aired on weekend afternoons, later they aired in the very early hours of the morning after their network air date.
MVC gained primary UPN affiliation in the fall of 1998, airing its first programs on October 5, the beginning of the network's 1998-1999 season. The station was initially advertised as "UPN on MVC".
At some point between April, 1998 and October, 1999, MVC adopted the "NewsCenter 7" brand for its 10 p.m. newscast, now calling it "NewsCenter 7 First News at Ten".
UPN 44
At some point between April and June of 2001, MVC was renamed UPN 44, after its network and cable channel.By December, 2002, at the latest, UPN 44 was no longer airing repeats of WHIO-TV's newscasts.
UPN 17
On June 1, 2004, Time Warner Cable moved UPN 44 to channel 17 for the majority of Time Warner's MontgomeryMontgomery County, Ohio
Montgomery County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 535,153 in the 2010 Census. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada. The county seat is Dayton...
and Greene County
Greene County, Ohio
Greene County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 161,573 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Xenia, and it was named for General Nathanael Greene, an officer in the Revolutionary War. Greene County was established on March 24, 1803.Greene County is part...
subscribers. The station was then renamed UPN 17. On July 1, Time Warner moved UPN 44 to channel 6 for its remaining subscribers in the Miami Valley receiving the channel. These channel moves were done at WHIO-TV's request, to position the station closer to the Dayton-area broadcast channels on Time Warner's cable lineups.
In mid-June of 2004, it was announced that the 10 p.m. newscast would be renamed "NewsCenter 7 at 10", dropping the "First News" branding used since 1995. WHIO-TV touted this as an "improved newscast", naming one of its most experienced newscasters, Donna Jordan, as anchor, and featuring chief meteorologist Jamie Simpson and sports director Mike Hartsock on the program.
Shutdown
In early 2006, UPN was preparing to merge with The WBThe WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
to form The CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
. Both UPN 17 and the Miami Valley's WB affiliate, WBDT
WBDT
WBDT is the CW-affiliated television station for Ohio's Miami Valley. Licensed to Springfield, the station broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 26 from a transmitter in the Frytown section of Dayton. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 13 and in high...
, sought affiliation with the new network.
At the time, UPN 17's programming included "NewsCenter 7 at 10", Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, Ohio State
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and such syndicated programs as Judge Hatchett
Judge Hatchett
Judge Hatchett is a nationally-syndicated American television program produced and distributed by Sony Pictures Television. It starred The Honorable Glenda Hatchett and was modeled after other "court shows" such as Judge Judy and the long running The People's Court, as well as containing elements...
, Cops
COPS (TV series)
Cops is an American documentary/reality television series that follows police officers, constables, and sheriff's deputies during patrols and other police activities...
, The Nanny
The Nanny
Nanny may refer to:* Nanny, a child's caregiver* A grandmother * A Cajun word for godmother * A female goat* Nanny , a 1981–83 British drama series starring Wendy Craig* Nanny of the Maroons...
, Mad About You
Mad About You
Mad About You is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 23, 1992 to May 24, 1999. The show starred Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt as a newly married couple in New York City. Reiser played Paul Buchman, a documentary film maker. Hunt played Jamie Stemple Buchman, a public relations specialist...
and Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I. is an American television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from 1980 to 1988 in first-run broadcast on the American CBS television network....
Around March 14, 2006, it was announced that The CW would air on WBDT. WHIO-TV's general manager, Harry Delaney, was quoted as saying, "Another new network, My Network TV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
, is being developed by Fox. As a Fox product, My Network TV will appeal to a broader audience and is a viable option for us."
On July 26, 2006, it was announced by WHIO-TV that Time Warner Cable would no longer carry UPN 17 after December 31. After not getting the CW affiliation, the station attempted to affiliate with My Network TV. While WHIO-TV was negotiating with the new networks, it was also trying to renew UPN 17's carriage agreement with Time Warner, to convince one of the networks to affiliate with the station. Time Warner declined WHIO-TV's offer.
In spite of the timing of UPN 17's shutdown, My Network TV did not reach a Dayton affiliation agreement until August 24, 2006. My Network TV would air on a digital subchannel of WRGT-TV, WRGT-DT2 (45.2).
On September 16, 2006 (the day after UPN went off the air), UPN 17 changed its name back to the Miami Valley Channel. It did not reuse the logo from its prior incarnation of the name, or develop any new logos or graphics for the brief time the channel would be in existence. MVC still aired its regular daytime programming, including The Greg Behrendt Show
The Greg Behrendt Show
The Greg Behrendt Show is a daytime talk show which premiered in syndication on September 12, 2006. The show was distributed by Sony Pictures Television and was taped at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City....
, Dr. Phil
Dr. Phil (TV series)
Dr. Phil is a reality/talk television show hosted by Phil McGraw. After McGraw's success with his segments on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil debuted on September 16, 2002...
and selected shows from the i network.
By coincidence, WHIO-TV and MVC anchor Donna Jordan announced on December 8, 2006 that she would be retiring on December 31.
After a 12-year run, the Miami Valley Channel was shut down at midnight on January 1, 2007, and was immediately dropped from Time Warner Cable's lineup. Viewers who tuned into MVC on January 1 saw a message from Time Warner Cable that stated, "The Miami Valley Channel (MVC) programming is no longer carried on Time Warner Cable. MVC was the former UPN network affiliate. UPN stopped broadcasting their signal in August of 2006 [sic] and MVC is no longer in operation as of December 31, 2006."