Turner South
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Type | Cable television network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Availability | Regional Cable Network and Satellite Television; six-state region comprising Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, and regions of western North Carolina |
| Founded | by Turner Broadcasting System, Ted Turner |
| Motto | "Your South" |
| Owner | Turner Broadcasting System |
| Launch date | October 1, 1999 |
| Dissolved | October 13, 2006 |
| Website www.turnersouth.com (still active) |
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Turner South was launched on October 1, 1999, [1] by Turner Broadcasting System as the first regional entertainment network developed especially for viewers in the southern United States. The regional cable TV network offered movies, tv series, sitcoms, regional news updates, and unique original programming, plus professional sports coverage for Atlanta Braves (Major League Baseball), Atlanta Hawks (National Basketball Association), and Atlanta Thrashers (National Hockey League), all of which were owned by Turner Broadcasting at network launch.
The cable and satellite television service reached approximately 8 million subscribers across a six-state region comprising Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, and regions of western North Carolina.
The original series that the network broadcasted can be broadly termed "southern lifestyle". The network broadcasted cooking and gardening shows, among others.
From 2000 to 2006, the sitcoms and dramas the network broadcasted tended to appeal to Southerners, or are set in the South--such as Major Dad and In the Heat of the Night, as well as a live simulcast of The Rick and Bubba Show.
On February 23, 2006, Fox Cable Networks agreed to purchase Turner South, reportedly for $375 million. On May 1, 2006, Fox took over operations of the cable network. Most of Turner South's old programming, including Rick and Bubba and the movies shown were discontinued. Some of Turner South's lifestyle and "how-to" programming (including Blue Ribbon, Home Plate, Home Makers, and Junkin') were retained, and aired in two weekday blocks: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern time). Much of the remaining programming was repurposed from other Fox Sports Net properties, including (most notably) FSN South.
On October 13, 2006, the network had officially changed its name to SportSouth. Ironically, Fox Sports purchased another channel entitled SportSouth from Turner in 1996, and changed its name to FSN South.[2]The channel is operated as a sister network much like FSN West and Prime Ticket in Southern California.
