NBCU Nets Improve NYC Channel Slots

Oxygen is joining the rest of its NBC Universal brethren down at the low end of Time Warner’s New York City channel lineup, moving to the #12 position on the cable dial.Effective next month, Oxygen will be slotted adjacent to the low-teens neighborhood occupied by five other NBCU properties, including: MSNBC (channel 14), CNBC (15), USA Network (16), Syfy (17) and Bravo (18). The move down the dial––Oxygen currently occupies the 61st slot on Time Warner’s NYC lineup––unseats Lifetime, which will assume a higher channel position at #62.Also displaced by the Oxygen shift is Lifetime Movie Network, which will make way for its sibling network by moving 18 places to channel 80.The shuffle is only the latest in NBCU-Time Warner NYC’s long association. In September 2007, NBCU shelled out several million dollars for the equivalent of beachside property, moving MSNBC from channel 43 down next to CNBC, while pushing USA from the #40 slot to its present assignment (16). At the same time, the network formerly known as Sci Fi Channel jumped from channel 44 to the 17 hole, while Bravo moved down 20 pegs from its perch on channel 38.The Weather Channel is the lone fully-distributed NBCU outlet that will stay put, retaining its hold on channel 72. The bilingual Hispanic-targeted net mun2 will leave the triple-digits (channel 162) for the low-40s (channel 42), while digital net Chiller will remain at #102. (At the beginning of the year, Chiller companion net Sleuth disappeared from the TWC NYC dial, to little fanfare.)Along with assuring the NBCU cable properties of a more desirable piece of real estate, the relocation effort put some distance between MSNBC and the soon-to-be-launched Fox Business Network, which would set up shop at channel 43 the following month.“The new channel positions are extremely favorable and will greatly contribute to the networks’ success as they continue to grow in both ratings and distribution,” Mary Murano, executive vp of TV Networks Distribution at NBC Universal. “We believe Time Warner Cable customers––our viewers––will appreciate the easy access to Oxygen and mun2’s buzz-worthy programming.”In addition to the NBCU switcheroo, FX, BET, truTV, CNN and Cartoon Network are also on the move. Time Warner subs in the New York area will see FX take over channel 10, a markedly better neighborhood than its current post (37), which will force CNN to move way up to channel 78, where it will bump a subscription service named Chinese Prime. Cartoon Network loses its place at #22, bouncing 39 slots to Oxygen’s current position. The third Turner net to shift is TruTV, which leaves its cozy spot at channel 23 for channel 79, which is currently uninhabited.The two Turner entertainment nets are being displaced by a pair of Discovery Communications properties. Discovery Kids is moving into Cartoon Network’s current spot, moving all the way down from channel 110, while Investigation Discovery is bumping TruTV. Interestingly enough, the executive in charge of the re-branded Investigation Discovery––formerly Discovery Times––is Henry Schleiff, who had served as president and CEO of TruTV precursor Court TV from October 1998 to May 2006.Turner is owned by Time Warner Inc., the former parent company of Time Warner Cable. Of all the cable networks involved in next month’s game of musical chairs, BET will move the shortest distance, sliding from channel 42 to 37. All moves are expected to be completed on or around August 19.

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NBCU Nets Improve NYC Channel Slots

Anthony Crupi

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Anthony Crupi