Prime Time Entertainment Network

The Prime Time Entertainment Network (PTEN) was an American television network that was operated by the Prime Time Consortium, a joint venture between the Warner Bros. Domestic Television subsidiary of Time Warner and Chris-Craft Industries. First launched on January 20, 1993, and operating until 1997, the network mainly aired drama programs aimed at adults between the ages of 18 and 54. At its peak, PTEN's programming was carried on 177 television stations, covering 93% of the country.[1]

Prime Time Entertainment Network
TypeDefunct broadcast television network
Country
United States
AvailabilityNational
OwnerWarner Bros. Domestic Television
Chris-Craft Industries
Launch date
January 20, 1993 (1993-01-20)
DissolvedOctober 27, 1997 (1997-10-27)
AffiliatesList of affiliates

History

Origins

At the time of PTEN's founding, co-owner Chris-Craft Industries owned independent television stations in several large and mid-sized U.S. cities (among them its two largest stations, WWOR-TV in New York City and KCOP-TV in Los Angeles) through its BHC Communications and United Television divisions, which formed the nuclei of the network.[2]

PTEN was launched as a potential fifth television network, and was created in reaction to the success of the Fox network (which debuted in October 1986, seven years before PTEN launched) as well as the successes of first-run syndicated programming during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It offered packaged nights of programming to participating television stations, beginning with a two-hour block on Wednesday evenings, with a second block (originally airing on Saturday, before moving to Monday for the 1994-95 season) being added in September 1993.[3] Originally, the station groups involved in the Prime Time Consortium helped finance PTEN's programs; however, that deal was restructured at the beginning of the network's second year.

The service sought affiliations with various television stations not affiliated with the Big Three television networks. However, close to half of PTEN's initial affiliates were stations that were already affiliated with Fox; as a result, these stations usually scheduled PTEN programming around Fox's then five-night prime time schedule (although Fox would expand its schedule to seven nights with the addition of programming on Tuesdays and Wednesdays on January 19, 1993, the day before PTEN launched). PTEN launched on January 20, 1993, with two series: the science fiction series Time Trax and the action drama Kung Fu: The Legend Continues.[2]

Demise

PTEN faced two obstacles created by its parent companies, that would affect the network. On November 2, 1993, the Warner Bros. Entertainment division of Time Warner announced that it would form its own fifth network, The WB Television Network, as a joint venture with the Tribune Company,[4] Six days earlier, on October 27, Chris-Craft Industries announced the launch of the United Paramount Network (UPN), in a programming partnership with Paramount Television (which would become part-owner of the network in 1996). As a result, the core Chris-Craft independent stations (as well as those owned by Paramount) would serve as charter stations of the new network; Chris-Craft also chose to pull out of the partnership to focus on operating UPN.

The network also faced issues from some PTEN-affiliated stations that took issue with the network's barter split, which gave nine minutes of advertising time per hour to the syndicator, leaving only five minutes for the stations to sell and program locally. PTEN also ran into difficulty when the studio was forced to let stations out of their back-end commitments for several series. PTEN adopted a variable schedule for the 1995-1996 season, for affiliates to schedule around The WB and UPN's programming on the night of their choosing. With Chris-Craft pulling out of the venture, PTEN essentially became a syndication service for its remaining shows. The network ceased operations in 1997. One of the two series that aired during the service's final year of operation, the science fiction drama Babylon 5, would later be revived by TNT, where it aired for a fifth and final season beginning in 1998.

Programming

Former programming

Series
  • Babylon 5 (February 22, 1993, as a made-for-TV movie; January 26, 1994 – October 27, 1997, as a weekly series)
  • Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (January 27, 1993 – January 1, 1997)
  • Pointman (January 24, 1994, as a made-for-TV movie; January 26–November 27, 1995, as a series)
  • Time Trax (January 20, 1993 – December 3, 1994)

Movies and mini-series
  • The History of Rock 'n' Roll (March 6, 1995) 10 hour documentary[5]
  • Island City (March 2, 1994)
  • The Wild West (March 22–26, 1993)

Affiliates
This film, television or video-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it with reliably sourced additions.
Market/city of license Station[6] Owner(s) at the time of affiliation Years of affiliation
Albany WXXA-TV 23 Heritage Broadcasting Group (1993–1994),
Clear Channel Communications (1994–)		 1993–1995 (secondary)
Alexandria K47DW 47 Delta Media
Amarillo KCIT 14 Epic Broadcasting Corporation 1993–1995 (secondary)
Anchorage KYES-TV 5 1993–1995
Atlanta WATL 36 Fox Television Stations,
Qwest Broadcasting		 1993–1997
Augusta, Georgia WFXG 54 Pezold Management Associates Inc. 1993–1994
Augusta, Georgia WJBF 6 Spartan Radiocasting 1995
Bainbridge WTLH 49
Bakersfield KUZZ-TV 45 Buck Owens
Baltimore WNUV 54 Abry Communications,
Glencairn, Ltd.
Baton Rouge WGMB 44
Billings KSVI 6
Birmingham WABM 68
Bloomington, Illinois WYZZ-TV 43
Bloomington/Indianapolis WTTV 4 River City Broadcasting,
Sinclair Broadcast Group		 1993-1997
Boise KTRV-TV 12
Boston WSBK-TV 38 New World Communications,
Paramount Stations Group
Bryan KYLE 28
(satellite of KWKT)
Buffalo WUTV 29 Act III Broadcasting,
Abry Communications,
Sinclair Broadcast Group		 1993-1997
Cadillac WGKI 33
(now WFQX-TV)		 Gary Knapp
Cape Coral WFTX 36 Wabash Valley Broadcasting 1993-1997
Cape Girardeau KBSI 23
Cedar Rapids KOCR 28
(now KFXA)		 Metro Program Network
Charleston, West Virginia WVAH-TV 11 Act III Broadcasting,
Abry Communications,
Glencairn, Ltd.		 1993-1997
Charlottesville WVIR-TV 29 Waterman Broadcasting Corporation
Chico KCVU 30
Cincinnati WSTR-TV 64 Abry Communications,
Sinclair Broadcast Group		 1993-1997
Cleveland-Canton-Akron, Ohio WUAB 43 Cannell Broadcasting 1993-1997
Colorado Springs KXRM-TV 21
Columbia, South Carolina WACH 57 Ellis Communications
Columbus, Georgia WLTZ 38 J. Curtis Lewis
Columbus, Ohio WBNS-TV 10 Dispatch Broadcast Group 1993-1997
Corpus Christi K47DF 47
Danville, Kentucky WDKY-TV 56
Davenport KLJB-TV 18 Grant Broadcasting System II
Dayton WKEF 22 KT Communications,
Max Media
Denver KDVR 31 Renaissance Broadcasting,
Fox Television Stations		 1993-1997
Derry WNDS 50
(now WWJE-DT)		 CTV of Derry
Des Moines KDSM-TV 17 River City Broadcasting
Detroit WXON 20
(now WMYD)		 1993-1997
Dothan WDHN 18 Morris Multimedia
El Centro KECY-TV 9
El Paso KCIK-TV 14
(now KFOX-TV)		 1993-1997
Elmira WETM-TV 18 Smith Broadcasting
Eureka KBVU-TV 29
Evansville WFIE 14 Cosmos Broadcasting
Fairbanks K07UU 7
(now KFYF)		 Tanana Valley Television Company
Fargo KVRR 15 Red River Broadcasting
Flint WSMH 66
Fort Collins KFCT 22
(satellite of KDVR)		 Renaissance Broadcasting,
Fox Television Stations
Fort Pierce WTVX 34 Whitehead Media 1993-1997
Fort Smith KPBI-LP 46
(now KPBI-CA)		 Pharis Broadcasting
Fort Worth-Dallas KTXA 21 Paramount Stations Group 1993-1997
Gary-Chicago WPWR-TV 50 Newsweb Corporation 1993-1997
Grand Rapids WXMI 17 Dudley Communications
Great Falls KFBB-TV 5 Dix Communications
Green Bay WGBA 26 Aries Telecommunications
Greensboro-High Point-Winston-Salem WGGT 48
(satellite of WNRW)
(now WMYV)		 Guliford Broadcasters
Greenville WYDO 14
(satellite of WFXI)
Hartford-New Haven WTIC-TV 61 Renaissance Broadcasting September 1993 – 1997, replacing WTXX
Helena K21DU 21
(satellite of KFBB-TV)
(now KHBB-LP)		 Dix Communications
Henderson-Las Vegas KVVU-TV 5 Meredith Corporation 1993-1997
Hilo KHBC-TV 2
(satellite of KHNL)		 Providence Journal Broadcasting
Honolulu KHNL 13 Providence Journal Broadcasting
Houston KTXH 20 Paramount Stations Group 1993-1997
Huntsville WZDX 54
Jackson, Mississippi WAPT 16 Northstar Television,
Argyle Television
Jackson, Tennessee WMTU 16
(now WJKT)
Jacksonville WNFT 47
(now WJAX-TV)		 RDS Broadcasting 1993–1995, 1995-1997 (secondary)
Jamestown KJRR 7 Red River Broadcasting
Johnstown WWCP-TV 8 Peak Media of Pennsylvania
Kansas City KSMO-TV 62 Abry Communications,
Sinclair Broadcast Group
Kingsport WKPT-TV 19/W30AP 30
(W30AP now WAPK-CD 36)		 Holston Valley Broadcasting Corporation
Knoxville WKCH-TV/WTNZ 43 Ellis Communications
Kokomo WTTK 29
(satellite of WTTV)		 River City Broadcasting,
Sinclair Broadcast Group		 1993-1997
Lafayette, Louisiana KLAF-LD 46 Delta Media
Lansing WSYM-TV 47 Journal Broadcast Group
Little Rock KLRT-TV 16
Louisville WDRB 41 1993-1997
Los Angeles KCOP-TV 13 Chris-Craft Television:
KCOP Television		 1993-1997
Lubbock KJTV-TV 34
Lynchburg WJPR 21
(satellite of WFXR-TV)
(now WWCW)		 Grant Broadcasting System II
Madison WMSN-TV 47
Memphis WLMT 30 Mass Media, Inc.
Miami WDZL 39
(now WSFL-TV)		 Renaissance Broadcasting 1993-1997
Midland, Texas KPEJ 24
Milwaukee WVTV 18 Gaylord Entertainment Company,
Glencairn, Ltd.		 1993-1997
Minneapolis KMSP-TV 9 BHC: United Television 1993-1997
Mobile WPMI-TV 15 Clear Channel Communications
Monroe KARD-TV 14 Banam Broadcasting
Montgomery WCOV-TV 20 Woods Communications
Morehead City WFXI 8
Nashville WZTV 17 Act III Broadcasting,
Abry Communications,
Sinclair Broadcast Group
New Orleans WNOL-TV 38 Quincy Jones Broadcasting
Qwest Broadcasting		 1993-1997
Ocala WOGX 51 Wabash Valley Broadcasting
Meredith Corporation		 1993-1997
Oklahoma City KOCB 34 Superior Broadcasting
Omaha KPTM 42 Pappas Telecasting
Orlando WOFL 35 Meredith Corporation 1993-1997 (secondary)
Panama City WPGX 28
Pembina KNRR 12
(satellite of KVRR)		 Red River Broadcasting
Philadelphia WPHL-TV 17 Tribune Broadcasting 1993-1997
Phoenix KUTP 45 BHC: United Television 1993-1997
Pittsburgh WPTT-TV 22
(now WPNT)		 Eddie Edwards
Glencairn, Ltd.
Plattsburgh W27BI/WWBI-LP 27
Portland, Maine WPXT 51 Pegasus Broadcast Television
Portland, Oregon KPTV 12 Chris-Craft TV:Oregon TV 1993-1997
Portsmouth-Norfolk, Virginia WGNT 27 Centennial Broadcasting
Providence, Rhode Island-New Bedford, Massachusetts WNAC-TV 64 Northstar Television,
Argyle Television
Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville, North Carolina WLFL 22 Paramount Stations Group
Sinclair Broadcast Group
Reno KAME-TV 21
Richmond WRLH-TV 35 Act III Broadcasting,
Abry Communications,
Sullivan Broadcasters
Roanoke WFXR-TV 27 Grant Broadcasting System II
Rochester, New York WUHF-TV Act III Broadcasting,
Abry Communications,
Sinclair Broadcast Group		 1993-1997
Sacramento KRBK-TV/KPWB-TV 31
(now KMAX-TV)		 Koplar Broadcasting,
Pappas Telecasting
Salina KAAS-TV 18
(satellite of KSAS-TV)
Salinas KCBA 35 Ackerley Broadcasting
Salt Lake City KJZZ-TV 14 Larry H. Miller
San Angelo K55AA 55
(satellite of KTXS-TV)
(now KTXE-LP 38)
San Antonio KRRT 35
(now KMYS)		 Paramount Stations Group,
Jet Broadcasting
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose KBHK-TV 44
(now KBCW)		 United Television 1993-1997
Santa Fe KASA-TV 2 Providence Journal Company
Santa Maria KCOY-TV 12 Stauffer Communications
Savannah WJCL 22 J. Curtis Lewis
Secaucus, NJ-New York City WWOR-TV 9 BHC:Pinelands
Chris-Craft Industries		 1993-1997
Shreveport KMSS-TV 33
Spokane KHQ-TV 6
Springfield, Illinois WRSP-TV 55
Springfield, Missouri KDEB-TV 27
(now KOZL-TV)
St. Louis KPLR-TV 11 Koplar Broadcasting 1993-1997
St. Petersburg-Tampa WTOG 44 Hubbard Broadcasting,
Paramount Stations Group		 1993-1997
Sweetwater KTXS-TV 12
Syracuse WSYT 68
Tacoma-Seattle KSTW 11 Gaylord Entertainment Company
Paramount Stations Group		 1993-1997
Thief River Falls KBRR 10
(satellite of KVRR)		 Red River Broadcasting
Tijuana-San Diego XETV 6 Televisa 1993-1997
Toledo WUPW 36 Ellis Communications
Tucson KTTU-TV 18 Clear Channel Communications
Urbana WCCU 27
(satellite of WRSP-TV)
Visalia KMPH-TV 26 Pappas Telecasting
Waco KWKT 44
Wailuku KOGG 15
(satellite of KHNL)		 Providence Journal Broadcasting
Washington, D.C. WDCA 20 Paramount Stations Group 1993-1997
Waterbury WTXX 20
(through early 1993)
(now WCCT-TV)		 Counterpoint Communications 1993-1997
Wichita KSAS-TV 24
Wichita Falls KJTL 18 Epic Broadcasting Corporation
Winston-Salem WNRW 45
(now WXLV-TV)		 Act III Broadcasting,
Abry Communications,
Sinclair Broadcast Group
Vanderbilt WGKU 45
(satellite of WGKI)
(now WFUP)		 Gary Knapp
Yakima K53CY 53
York WPMT 43 Renaissance Broadcasting
gollark: What?
gollark: As I said, I suppose you could argue I'm mostly not against it on *principled* grounds, however <:icosidodecahedron:726025762590949426>.
gollark: It's stating *directly relevant* things as fact and then complaining when I disagree with them.
gollark: They just state them as fact. And as I said, I don't believe torture is actually effective at anything but making terrible people happy.
gollark: But the question just states it as fact and has "yes, torture fat person" and "no, no torturing fat person, you are awful and want the entire city to be explodinated".

References
  1. Susan King (January 23, 1994). "Space, 2258, in the Year 1994". Los Angeles Times. Times Mirror Company. p. 4. Retrieved June 25, 2009.
  2. Jim Benson (May 28, 1993). "Warner weblet to 2-night sked". Variety. Cahners Business Information.
  3. Mike Freeman (May 31, 1993). "PTEN goes to two evenings, sort of". Broadcasting & Cable. Cahners Business Information. p. 16.
  4. Time Warner TV Network to Cover 40% of Nation, The Buffalo News, November 2, 1993. Retrieved May 28, 2013 from HighBeam Research.
  5. B, M (March 6, 1995). "rock 'n' roll finds home on Internet" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  6. Lee Whiteside (April 6, 1995). "B5: Babylon 5 TV Station List/Times updated!". rec.arts.sf.tv. Google Groups. Retrieved November 27, 2006.
  • Mike Freeman (January 17, 1994). "Lots of action in action-adventure genre". Broadcasting & Cable.
  • Mike Freeman (August 29, 1994). "Action escalates For Syndicators". Broadcasting & Cable. Cahners Business Information.
  • David Tobenkin (April 24, 1995). "Fate of WB's `Pointman' undecided". Broadcasting & Cable. Cahners Business Information.
  • Lee Whiteside (April 6, 1995). "B5: Babylon 5 TV Station List/Times updated!". rec.arts.sf.tv. Google Groups. Retrieved November 27, 2006.
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