More Info. Here:
http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2012/08/metv-network-fall-2012-schedule-has.html

I can't wait...

I am curious to see what episodes they'll air. Will they skip seasons 4, 6 and 7 like Nick at Nite in the 80s/90s? Or will they air the entire series? If they do show those seasons it would be:

-the first time we get to see them on TV since the original run (or I guess they may have been shown in syndication in the 70s)
-the only chance to get seasons 6-8 (unless Sony itself puts them out on DVD or licenses them out to another label).

UPDATE: I checked the Me-TV schedule for Sep.3 and they are going to start from the beginning with the series premiere episode "Weekend Trip":

http://metvnetwork.com/schedule.php?date=09/03/2012

It will be seasons 1-5 only as the deal was made with the Reed-Owen heirs. All the episodes that are available on DVD (through MPI, who has taken over s1-3 for DVD distribution as well) will be the ones airing on TV. There will not be any seasons 6-8 episodes in the package. I run the Donna Reed TV Show Facebook page and Mary Owen (Donna and Tony's daughter) announced the deal on it.

Thanks! I'm glad it's back on TV. Now if only Sony would resurrect seasons 6-8. But given what they've done (or rather haven't done) with other b/w shows (e.g. Farmer's Daughter), I won't hold my breath.

By the way, Jude, I understand the rights to seasons 1-5 reverted to Reed-Owen heirs in 2003. Do you happen to know why seasons 6-8 were not included in that, why Sony still owns them?

I really do not know the answer to that--it may have been part of the first contract signed by Donna and Tony and when the show was extended beyond the five years, it was perhaps negotiated by then Screen Gems that they would own any remaining seasons. I do not want to pry into what is obviously private family business matters by asking Mary.

Of course. I just hope seasons 6-8 aren't lost for good. Since Sony has a horrible track record with vintage b/w shows. Look how they abandoned Hazel 6 years ago. And Shout! Factory that saved it, now seems to be shifting towards the color shows of the 70s.

No, they aren't lost. We are hoping excellent sales for season 5 will convince MPI to try and license the remaining seasons from Sony. I'm sure the extra exposure the series will get from being aired on Me-TV, will help in the cause.

I thought I read somewhere that Donna had 4 sons and all sons avoided the draft and fled to Canada. Didn't know she had a daughter.

Donna had 2 sons and 2 daughters.

Now that Highway Patrol appears to have dropped off MeTV schedule, I may now tape Donna.

Now that Highway Patrol appears to have dropped off MeTV schedule, I may now tape Donna.

Highway Patrol is on THISTV

Highway Patrol is on THISTV
Oops I goofed. What happened in my area ThIS TV is on station 300 and METv is on 306. The day I happened to see the Honeymooners and thought HP had gone. I found out a few days later I had on METV instead of THIS.
Then I thought I would tape Donna and ended up taping Jeopardy instead for I had 7:30 PM instead of 7:30 AM. I am all mixed up.

Thanks! I'm glad it's back on TV. Now if only Sony would resurrect seasons 6-8. But given what they've done (or rather haven't done) with other b/w shows (e.g. Farmer's Daughter), I won't hold my breath.

By the way, Jude, I understand the rights to seasons 1-5 reverted to Reed-Owen heirs in 2003. Do you happen to know why seasons 6-8 were not included in that, why Sony still owns them?

http://www.trend-chaser.com/entertainment/the-donna-reed-show-freeing-the-housewife-one-episode-at-a-time/13/

For decades the TV series continues to air on TV. However, in 2008, Sony, the last company to own airing rights, lost them to the estates of Donna Reed and Tony Owen. While the show ran from 1985 to 1999 on Nick at Nite and from 2002 to 2004 on TV Land, it is rarely seen on TV now because of the cost to air the TV series in syndication.

http://www.trend-chaser.com/entertainment/the-donna-reed-show-freeing-the-housewife-one-episode-at-a-time/13/
I don't want to be rude, but why don't you want to create a new thread rather than bumping up old year thread?