- Youtoo TV
-
Youtoo TV 
Launched May 1, 1985 Owned by Youtoo Media Slogan "Social TV" Formerly called Nostalgia Television
GoodLife TV Network
American Life NetworkWebsite http://www.youtoo.com Availability Terrestrial Pensacola, FL WBQP-CA Satellite C-Band Galaxy 15, Transponder 22 Cable Available on some cable systems Check local listings Verizon FiOS 243 Youtoo TV, formerly known as American Life TV Network (ALN), GoodLife TV Network, and Nostalgia Television, is an American cable-television channel launched on May 1, 1985. It now claims over 15 million subscribers throughout the U.S. It is also available on at least one over-the-air terrestrial affiliate — WBQP-CA in Pensacola, Florida, which uses the network for part of its schedule.[1] The network had made a video on demand (VOD) deal with TVN Entertainment Corporation to offer up to 20 hours of programming per month to more than 100 cable affiliates.[2]
Contents
Background
ALN was owned by the Unification Church from 2001 to 2009. According to a June 2007 story in Variety, the network had been a consistent money-loser, although the church's tax-exempt status made it easier to absorb the losses. [3] In 2001, ALN broadcast the Unification Church-sponsored film Inchon (1982), one of the few times it has been seen since its initial theatrical run. In 2007 the network broadcast George Clooney's documentary, A Journey to Darfur.[4][5][6] It released the film on DVD in 2008 and announced that proceeds from its sale would be donated to the International Rescue Committee for its humanitarian efforts in Darfur.[7]
In May 2009, the network was acquired by ComStar Media Fund, an organization chaired by televangelist Robert A. Schuller, son of Crystal Cathedral founder Robert H. Schuller. Schuller said that the network would concentrate on "family-values programming that speaks to all generations." On November 29 Shuller's new program Everyday Life was first seen on ALN. [8]
Chris Wyatt, ComStar's chief executive officer and founder of religious website Godtube, commented: "We are not creating another religious network but rather a family-values channel. We've tapped into a huge underserved market and have the opportunity over time to increase distribution to exceed 40 million homes." Media reports indicated that the network's on-air presentation would change and that other syndicated series would be targeted for acquisition.[9][10]
On December 1, 2009, ALN announced that it would start airing episodes of the Chuck Norris World Combat League, previously seen on the Versus network.[11] ComStar also has access to a library of classic television programing including as Happy Days and My Three Sons.[12] Some of the older television shows moved from ALN to its sister network, FamilyNet (also owned by Comstar) on March 1, 2010,[13] when it was spun out into its own company as Robert A. Schuller as the chairman. [14]
Rebrand
On September 27, 2011, ALN was rebranded as Youtoo TV with a focus on mobile devices; as of that date, all links to the website will redirect to a page inviting viewers to sign up for the new service at youtoo.com. The only "retro" programs remaining on the schedule are Batman, The Green Hornet, and The X-Files.
Executives claim Youtoo TV to be a social television service, allowing viewers to participate in television programming using personal electronic devices. Interactive features include the ability for viewers to create and submit 15-second videos, called "Fame Spots", commenting on a variety of subjects, which will air.
In addition, the network will carry programming such as Diggnation, Revision3, Howcast and Christopher Coppola's Digivangelist Show. Also on the network will be new TV versions of Web series including GeekBeat.TV, Koldcast, and Rooftop Media. The network also will have interactive programs including Say Yes & Marry Me, which will offer viewers the opportunity to propose marriage on-air via Fame Spots. [15]
One of the creators of Youtoo TV is producer Mark Burnett, through his own social media project, VIMBY (Video in My BackYard). [16]
Carriage
The network is available on Verizon FiOS, Time Warner Cable, and Comcast, among other providers. Charter Communications also carries it; however, they have announced they are dropping it on November 15, 2011, a decision made before the re-brand of ALN, as the channel received carriage under that provider's "faith and values"/religious tier of networks and no longer carried religious programming for a majority of the broadcast day.[15] For subscribers of TV providers that do not offer Youtoo TV, the channel offers viewers up to $200 in credits if they switch to a provider that offers the channel.[15]
References
- ^ "WBQP TV–12 Programming Schedule". WBQP-CA. October–December 2007. http://www.wbqp.com/schedule/marschedule2007.html. Retrieved October 18, 2007.
- ^ "AmericanLife Launches New VOD Offering". Multichannel News. September 2, 2007. http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6473613.html. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
- ^ Dempsey, John (June 1, 2007). "American Life TV Targets Baby Boomers". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117966145.html?categoryid=2522&cs=1. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
- ^ "American Life TV Targets Baby Boomers: Channel Airing Clooney's Darfur Docu". Variety. June 1, 2007.
- ^ "The Time 100: George Clooney".
- ^ "Clooney's Docu on Darfur to Air Monday".
- ^ "AmericanLife TV Network (ALN) Donates Proceeds from A Journey to Darfur DVD to the International Rescue Committee".
- ^ "Robert A. Schuller's TV Series Premieres Sunday". November 25, 2009.
- ^ "GodTube Founder Buys AmericanLife TV Network". Broadcasting & Cable. May 27, 2009. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/266355-GodTube_Founder_Buys_AmericanLife_TV_Network.php. Retrieved May 27, 2009.
- ^ "Dr. Robert A. Schuller and Chris Wyatt's Comstar Acquires AmericanLife TV Network". ChristianNewsWire. May 27, 2009. http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/5334010491.html. Retrieved May 27, 2009.
- ^ "Chuck Norris' World Combat League to Air on AmericanLife TV Network(TM)". December 1, 2009.
- ^ "Schuller Media Company Expands Its Reach". December 8, 2009.
- ^ "FamilyNet March 2010 Schedule". January 27, 2010.
- ^ "Celebrated Televangelist Robert Schuller Named Chairman of FamilyNet TV". March 23, 2011.
- ^ a b c Social-Media Focused Youtoo TV Replaces AmericanLife Net Multichannel News September 27, 2011
- ^ "Mark Burnett and YouToo.com Launch First Social Television Network". Hollywood Reporter. September 28, 2011. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mark-burnett-youtoocom-launch-first-241698.
External links
- Official website
- SitcomsOnline.com interview with Mark Ringwald, VP of Programming for AmericanLife TV, 6/5/07
- Mediavillage.com interview with Mark Ringwald, Vice-President of Programming for AmericanLife TV Network
Broadcast television networks in the United States English English-language broadcast television networks in the United States Major networks Public television Specialty networks General entertainment.2 Network · A1 · AmericanLife · AMGTV · Antenna TV · Ion Television · Me-TV · My Family TV · OBN · RTV · This TV · Tuff TVNews and lifestyleSportsMusicChildren and teensEthnic programmingArirang TV · Asia Vision · Bounce TV · CaribVision · DW · ImaginAsian · KBS World · KEMS · NATV · NHK World · MBC AmericaHome shopping networks Defunct networks Defunct English-language broadcast television networks in the United States Major Minor Specialty All News Channel · Bohemia Visual Music · The Box · Colours TV · FUNimation · NBC Weather Plus · Pulse 87 · ResearchChannel · Retro Jams · The Tube · WSTV · WCSNHome shopping networks Spanish Spanish language broadcast television networks in the United States Major networks Specialty networks CaribeVisión · Estrella TV · HITN · HTV · Inmigrante TV · Mega TV · Mexicanal · LFN · LATV (Bilingual English/Spanish) · mun2 · Multimedios · Tr3́s · V-me
Defunct networks Religious Religious broadcast television networks in the United States English networks MusicChildren's and TeenEntertainmentSpanish networks Additional resources on North American television North America List of local television stations in North America · DTV transition · North American TV mini-templateCanada Canadian networks · List of Canadian television channels · Table · Local Canadian TV stations · List of United States stations available in Canada · 2001 Vancouver TV realignment · 2007 Canada broadcast TV realignmentMexico Mexican networks · Local Mexican TV stationsUnited States American networks · List of American over-the-air networks · Local American TV stations (W) · Local American TV stations (K) · Fox affiliate switches of 1994 · 2006 United States broadcast TV realignment · List of Canadian television stations available in the United States · Insular Areas TVDigital television in North America Terrestrial Digital standardsATSC Standards (ATSC · ATSC-M/H · 8VSB · A-VSB · E-VSB · PSIP · PMCP · full list) · Standard-definition TV (480i · 576i) · Enhanced-definition TV (480p · 576p) · High-definition TV (720p · 1080i · 1080p) · Serial digital interface · Smart antennas (CEA-909)Digital networkssee Template:American broadcast televisionNational deploymentCable Satellite TV DVB-S (Dish Network · GlobeCast World TV · Free-to-air receiver · Bell TV · Dish Network Mexico ) · DigiCipher 2 (4DTV · Shaw Direct) · Digital Satellite Service/DVB-S2 (DirecTV)IPTV AT&T U-verse · MSN TVTechnical issuesDigital television in North America Terrestrial Digital standardsATSC Standards (ATSC · ATSC-M/H · 8VSB · A-VSB · E-VSB · PSIP · PMCP · full list) · Standard-definition TV (480i · 576i) · Enhanced-definition TV (480p · 576p) · High-definition TV (720p · 1080i · 1080p) · Serial digital interface · Smart antennas (CEA-909)Digital networkssee Template:American broadcast televisionNational deploymentCable Satellite TV DVB-S (Dish Network · GlobeCast World TV · Free-to-air receiver · Bell TV · Dish Network Mexico ) · DigiCipher 2 (4DTV · Shaw Direct) · Digital Satellite Service/DVB-S2 (DirecTV)IPTV AT&T U-verse · MSN TVTechnical issuesFamily-oriented television channels in the United States Preschoolers Pre-teens and teens Boomerang • Cartoon Network • Disney Channel • Disney XD • Funimation Channel • Kids & Teens TV • Nickelodeon • Nicktoons • Smile of a Child TV • SonBeam Channel • Sorpresa • Studio 4 Kids • TeenNickGeneral audiences ABC Family • AMGTV • Blue Highways TV • Familyland Television Network • FamilyNet • Gospel Music Channel • Hallmark Channel • Hallmark Movie Channel • The Hub • La Familia Network • Nick at Nite • PBJ • Pets.tv • PixL • qubo • Retro Television Network • TV Land • Youtoo TVAdditional resources on North American television North America List of local television stations in North America · DTV transition · North American TV mini-templateCanada Canadian networks · List of Canadian television channels · Table · Local Canadian TV stations · List of United States stations available in Canada · 2001 Vancouver TV realignment · 2007 Canada broadcast TV realignmentMexico Mexican networks · Local Mexican TV stationsUnited States American networks · List of American over-the-air networks · Local American TV stations (W) · Local American TV stations (K) · Fox affiliate switches of 1994 · 2006 United States broadcast TV realignment · List of Canadian television stations available in the United States · Insular Areas TVCategories:- American television networks
- English-language television stations in the United States
- Television channels and stations established in 1985
- Television channels and stations established in 2011
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
