The old MGM/UA Premiere Network (ad hoc syndicated TV service from the '80s)

[TMC]

The Premiere Network, or MGM/UA Premiere Network, was an ad-hoc television network created by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, which announced plans to launch in 1984, originally set for an October launch.



Background

In 1982, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television was renamed MGM/UA Television Distribution after the merger with United Artists the previous year. In 1984, MGM/UA TV again launched an ad hoc TV network, MGM/UA Premiere Network, with movies.

The MGM/UA Premiere Network along with MCA TV's Universal Pictures Debut Network came as a response to the weakened network television market for films in packages. By the summer of 1984, the network had signed affiliation agreements with eight television stations in large markets.

The service was expected to broadcast 24 movies in double-runs once a month for two years. MGM received 10½ minutes of advertising time within a two-hour movie telecast, while its stations would retain 11½ minutes. 100 television stations were signed as affiliates by October 1984, with the planned launch pushed back and set for November 10 of that year.

The Premiere Network was distributed in part by LBS Communications. By 1993, the name was shortened to simply the MGM Premiere Network.

List of films featured

• Apocalypse Now
• The Beastmaster
• The Black Stallion Returns
• Blue Steel
• Brainstorm
• Cannery Row
• Cat's Eye
• Clash of the Titans
• Curse of the Pink Panther
• Endangered Species
• Fame
• Forced Vengeance
• The Formula
• The Ice Pirates
• The French Lieutenant's Woman
• My Favorite Year
• Pennies from Heaven
• The Pope of Greenwich Village
• Reckless
• Red Dawn
• The Return of a Man Called Horse
• Romantic Comedy
• Shoot the Moon
• Spaceballs
• Thief
• To Live and Die in L.A.
• Trail of the Pink Panther
• True Confessions
• WarGames
• The Final Option
• Whose Life Is It Anyway?
• The Year of Living Dangerously
• Yentl

‎List of stations

City Station

• Atlanta WGNX 46
• Chicago WGN 9
• Fresno KMPH 26
• Los Angeles KTLA 5
• Minneapolis KTMA 23
• New York WPIX 11
• Pittsburgh WPXI 11
• Rochester WUHF 13
• Seattle KCPQ 13
• Sioux City KCAU 9
• Smithtown WFTY 67
• Washington, D.C. WTTG 5

Ratings

From September 4, 1988 through January 1, 1989, the Premiere Network earned a 7.5 rating. This placed it at eleventh place among the top barter series for the first 16 weeks of the 1988–89 United States television season. For the week of November 26-December 2, 1990, the Premiere Network garnered a 10.6 rating and a fourth place finish among syndicated programs. For the week ending on May 24, 1992, the Premiere Network finished in third place behind Wheel of Fortune and Star Trek: The Next Generation with a 10.9 rating.

References

• Kerry Segrave (January 1, 1999). Movies at Home: How Hollywood Came to Television. McFarland. p. 146. ISBN 9780786406548. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
• "A Kid From Brooklyn: Lessons Learned" (PDF). mcclellansjbl.web.app.
• Farber, Stephen (October 23, 1984). "Film Studio's New Approach to TV". New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
• "MGM/UA PREMIERE NETWORK - Trademark Details". JustiaCompany.
• "1989-01-23-RTVA-Page-0217.pdf" (PDF). World Radio History.
• "BC-1985-05-20-OCR-Page-0064" (PDF). World Radio History. May 20, 1985.
• Hilmes, Michele. Hollywood and Broadcasting: From Radio to Cable. p. 191.
• "Larry Gershman: Creating The Basis For Innovating U.S., Int'l TV Distribution". VideoAge.
• "BC-1985-08-12-OCR-Page-0028" (PDF). World Radio History. August 12, 1985.
• "A Special MGM Premiere Network Presentation Viewer Discretion Is Advised ..." Star Tribune. November 8, 1987.
• MGM Premiere Network (1993) on YouTube
• BC-1986-01-06.pdf (PDF). p. 39.
• "Desperately Seeking Svengoolie Shows". Sitcoms Online Message Boards - Forums > Trading Post. February 26, 2019.
• Farber, Stephen (October 23, 1984). "FILM STUDIO'S NEW APPROACH TO TV". The New York Times.
• MGM/UA Premiere Network (1985) on YouTube
• 1987 Feb 10 WPIX Commercials The Pope Of Greenwich Village Broadcast Premier on YouTube
• "Original MGM/UA PREMIERE NETWORK Press Kit Photo RED DAWN PATRICK SWAYZE See original listing". eBay.
• Thomas, Kevin (November 3, 1991). "True Believer (KCOP tonight at 8:30 p.m.)..." Los Angeles Times.
• "KTLA CHANNEL 5 (1980S): MOVIE BUMPERS AND PROMOS". BitChute. November 17, 2019.
• MGM/UA Premiere Network on KCPQ 1988 preview on YouTube
• Caulfield, Deborah (April 20, 1988). "MOVIES". Los Angeles Times.
• December 27-28, 1986 KCAU-9 (ABC) Commercials on YouTube
• "Channels-1989-03-OCR-Page-0071.pdf" (PDF). World Radio History.
• "BC-1990-12-10-OCR-Page-0065" (PDF). World Radio History. December 10, 1990.
• "BC-1992-06-08-OCR-Page-0056" (PDF). World Radio History. December 10, 1990.