Channel America

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Channel America (CA) was the first United States terrestrial broadcast television network to be intentionally assembled out of LPTV, or low-power television licensees, in the early- and mid-1980s.

It offered a 24-hour feed of mostly inexpensive programming, delivered to its affiliate stations, many owned and originally established by CA, via satellite. In this, it was a model for the American Independent Network (now succeeded by the rather similar programming of Urban America Television) and the somewhat more visible i (formerly PAX), both of which also were largely seen around the U.S. on LPTV signals and on cable systems required to clear them. In late 1995, the network peaked with a reach of 44,000,000 households through 100 affiliates. In 1996, the Channel America Network was sold to a Florida based company, EVRO Entertainment, that was interested in creating a sports themed home shopping network. Many of the Channel America owned and operated stations were sold to PAX prior to the EVRO sale. Most of the affiliates eventually switched over to America One.