Lowell 'Bud' Paxson 1934-2015 (Founder of PAX/ION Network) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 01-10-2015, 10:20 PM

The radio and television station owner and creator of the Home Shopping Network and Pax TV (later Ion TV) died on Jan. 9 at the age of 80. NAB President Gordon Smith commented: "Broadcasters have lost a friend and a legend in the passing of Bud Paxson, who was a tenacious advocate for over-the-air radio and televsion."

Link

Lowell Paxson, a radio and TV entrepreneur who launched TV's home shopping industry and then went on to create the network that became Ion Media, died at his home in Montana on Jan. 9. He was 80.

Born in Rochester, New York to Maybelle and Donald Paxson, Bud developed an early passion for television, radio and showmanship. He was the star deejay on radio show Kiddie Go Round at 14 years old and post-graduation from Syracuse University, owned his first TV station by his early twenties.

It was as the owner of WWQT-AM in Clearwater, Fla., that Paxson, known to most as Bud, discovered the power of selling products directly to consumer over the airwaves. In 1977, when on of his station's advertisers could not pay his bill, Paxson accepted 118 avocado green can openers instead of money. Needing to make payroll the next day without the funds to do so, he went on the air and announced he would sell the $30 can openers for $10 each to anyone who could come to the station and pay cash. In three hours he sold them all, making the payroll and starting the concept for the most successful television direct sales network in history — Home Shopping Network. By 1985, Home Shopping Network was grossing $1 billion annually.

With partner Ray Speer, Paxson took the retailing concept to cable in Florida and built the Home Shopping Club. Sales boomed. It went national as the Home Shopping Network. By 1985, HSN was grossing $1 billion annually. But unhappy with the direction of the company, Paxson walked away to form another media company in 1991.

The new company, Paxson Communications, accumulated radio and TV stations. Paxson sold the radio stations to Clear Channel in 1997 for nearly $700 million, but continued to buy TV stations to use as the backbone of Pax TV, a broadcast network promising family-friendly programming, an alternative to the sex and violence he thought was rife on TV.

The programming philosophy was an outgrowth of his evangelistic Christianity. With off-network shows like The Father Dowling Mysteries, Highway to Heaven and Eight Is Enough and a smattering of original programming, Pax TV debuted in August 1998.

HauntedThunderman94 · 01-11-2015, 03:08 PM

R.I.P Lowell 'Bud' Paxson

Marvo301 · 01-11-2015, 06:39 PM

Lowell "Bud" Paxson

mets82 · 01-12-2015, 05:50 PM

RIP.

Marvo301 · 01-13-2015, 04:02 PM

There were two PAX original series that I really liked. "Doc" and "Sue Thomas, Private Eye".

bh7812 · 01-17-2015, 04:30 PM

Was honestly surprised to hear he was still alive up till this week! Thought he had passed away a while ago. I didn't know about the origins of Hsn, that's an interesting story behind how it started.

I really liked the launch jingle/song that they used when Pax TV launched, "Share It With Someone You Love" great song and it's one of the better sings/jingles for a network I've ever heard. Probably second only to the old "Super 66" jingles WGBO used here in Chicago at the height of its days as an independent. I wish I could find a cd quality version of the Pax song, even better would be finding a cd quality version of the full 4 minute song which was used only one time-on launch day when Pax TV actually launched, I was lucky enough to be able to see the actual launch on WCPX!

01-10-2015, 10:20 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,349	Lowell 'Bud' Paxson 1934-2015 (Founder of PAX/ION Network) The radio and television station owner and creator of the Home Shopping Network and Pax TV (later Ion TV) died on Jan. 9 at the age of 80. NAB President Gordon Smith commented: "Broadcasters have lost a friend and a legend in the passing of Bud Paxson, who was a tenacious advocate for over-the-air radio and televsion." Link Lowell Paxson, a radio and TV entrepreneur who launched TV's home shopping industry and then went on to create the network that became Ion Media, died at his home in Montana on Jan. 9. He was 80. Born in Rochester, New York to Maybelle and Donald Paxson, Bud developed an early passion for television, radio and showmanship. He was the star deejay on radio show Kiddie Go Round at 14 years old and post-graduation from Syracuse University, owned his first TV station by his early twenties. It was as the owner of WWQT-AM in Clearwater, Fla., that Paxson, known to most as Bud, discovered the power of selling products directly to consumer over the airwaves. In 1977, when on of his station's advertisers could not pay his bill, Paxson accepted 118 avocado green can openers instead of money. Needing to make payroll the next day without the funds to do so, he went on the air and announced he would sell the $30 can openers for $10 each to anyone who could come to the station and pay cash. In three hours he sold them all, making the payroll and starting the concept for the most successful television direct sales network in history — Home Shopping Network. By 1985, Home Shopping Network was grossing $1 billion annually. With partner Ray Speer, Paxson took the retailing concept to cable in Florida and built the Home Shopping Club. Sales boomed. It went national as the Home Shopping Network. By 1985, HSN was grossing $1 billion annually. But unhappy with the direction of the company, Paxson walked away to form another media company in 1991. The new company, Paxson Communications, accumulated radio and TV stations. Paxson sold the radio stations to Clear Channel in 1997 for nearly $700 million, but continued to buy TV stations to use as the backbone of Pax TV, a broadcast network promising family-friendly programming, an alternative to the sex and violence he thought was rife on TV. The programming philosophy was an outgrowth of his evangelistic Christianity. With off-network shows like The Father Dowling Mysteries, Highway to Heaven and Eight Is Enough and a smattering of original programming, Pax TV debuted in August 1998.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

01-11-2015, 06:39 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,452	Lowell "Bud" Paxson
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

01-12-2015, 05:50 PM	#4
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	RIP.
	__________________ http://www.superbowlgreatness.blogspot.com/ Please check out my blog. I vent on all things. TV, sports etc. you name it. Its also a work in progress. Check out and see what you think.

01-11-2015, 03:08 PM	#2
HauntedThunderman94 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 09, 2013 Posts: 495	R.I.P Lowell 'Bud' Paxson

01-13-2015, 04:02 PM	#5
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,452	There were two PAX original series that I really liked. "Doc" and "Sue Thomas, Private Eye".

01-17-2015, 04:30 PM	#6
bh7812 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 21, 2005 Posts: 272	Was honestly surprised to hear he was still alive up till this week! Thought he had passed away a while ago. I didn't know about the origins of Hsn, that's an interesting story behind how it started. I really liked the launch jingle/song that they used when Pax TV launched, "Share It With Someone You Love" great song and it's one of the better sings/jingles for a network I've ever heard. Probably second only to the old "Super 66" jingles WGBO used here in Chicago at the height of its days as an independent. I wish I could find a cd quality version of the Pax song, even better would be finding a cd quality version of the full 4 minute song which was used only one time-on launch day when Pax TV actually launched, I was lucky enough to be able to see the actual launch on WCPX!