Youtoo TV

Not to be confused with YouTube or U2.
Youtoo America
Launched February 1, 1985
Owned by Center Post Networks, LLC.
Slogan Red, White and YOU!
Headquarters Arlington, Texas
Formerly called Nostalgia Channel
Nostalgia Television
GoodLife TV Network
American Life Network
Website www.youtoo.com
Availability
Terrestrial
See Article
Satellite
C-Band Galaxy 15, Transponder 22
Cable
Available on some cable systems Check local listings

Youtoo America, formerly known as American Life TV Network (ALN), GoodLife TV Network, Nostalgia Television and Nostalgia Channel, is an American cable-television channel launched on February 1, 1985.[1] 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-CD in Pensacola, Florida, which uses the network for part of its schedule.[2] 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.[3]

Background

The channel was originally launched in 1985 as The Nostalgia Channel through the efforts of former Our Gang child star George "Spanky" McFarland.[4] The channel featured vintage movies, similar to Turner Classic Movies, which would launch years later. The channel changed its name in 1990 to Nostalgia Television, removed movies with poor quality prints and added lifestyle series as well as vintage TV series programs.[1]

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.[5] 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.[6][7][8] 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.[9]

In May 2009, the network was acquired by ComStar Media Fund, an organization chaired by 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 Schuller's new program Everyday Life was first seen on ALN.[10]

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.[11][12]

On December 1, 2009, ALN announced that it would start airing episodes of Chuck Norris' World Combat League, previously seen on the Versus network.[13] ComStar also has access to a library of classic television programing including Happy Days and My Three Sons.[14] Some of the older television shows moved from ALN to its sister network, FamilyNet on March 1, 2010,[15] when it was spun out into its own company as Robert A. Schuller as the chairman.[16]

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 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.[17] Re-purposed programming from Revision3 was removed from the network after that provider's sale to Discovery Communications in 2012.

One of the creators of Youtoo TV is producer Mark Burnett, through his own social media project, VIMBY (Video in My BackYard).[18]

It was reported in September of 2014 that Youtoo TV has acquired America One & most of its programming.

Carriage

The network is available on Time Warner Cable, and Comcast, among other providers. Charter Communications previously carried the channel until November 15, 2011, when the channel was dropped from Charter's lineups; this decision was 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 or family-appropriate programming for a majority of the broadcast day.[17] 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.[17] As per an email sent to its subscribers, Verizon FiOS dropped the channel on December 31, 2012.

Affiliates [19]

References

Notes
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Film Appreciation : Basic and Pay Cable Channels Are Building Libraries of Classics For You To Check Out". Los Angeles Times. July 29, 1990. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  2. ↑ "WBQP TV–12 Programming Schedule". WBQP-CD. October–December 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2007.
  3. ↑ "AmericanLife Launches New VOD Offering". Multichannel News. September 2, 2007. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
  4. ↑ "'Nostagia' goes back to drawing board". Anchorage Daily News. July 4, 1984. Retrieved Jun 3, 2012.
  5. ↑ Dempsey, John (June 1, 2007). "American Life TV Targets Baby Boomers". Variety. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
  6. ↑ "American Life TV Targets Baby Boomers: Channel Airing Clooney's Darfur Docu". Variety. June 1, 2007.
  7. ↑ "The Time 100: George Clooney".
  8. ↑ "Clooney's Docu on Darfur to Air Monday".
  9. ↑ "AmericanLife TV Network (ALN) Donates Proceeds from A Journey to Darfur DVD to the International Rescue Committee".
  10. ↑ "Robert A. Schuller's TV Series Premieres Sunday". November 25, 2009.
  11. ↑ "GodTube Founder Buys AmericanLife TV Network". Broadcasting & Cable. May 27, 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Dr. Robert A. Schuller and Chris Wyatt's Comstar Acquires AmericanLife TV Network". ChristianNewsWire. May 27, 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2009.
  13. ↑ "Chuck Norris' World Combat League to Air on AmericanLife TV Network(TM)". December 1, 2009.
  14. ↑ "Schuller Media Company Expands Its Reach". December 8, 2009.
  15. ↑ "FamilyNet March 2010 Schedule". January 27, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Celebrated Televangelist Robert Schuller Named Chairman of FamilyNet TV". March 23, 2011.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Social-Media Focused Youtoo TV Replaces AmericanLife Net Multichannel News September 27, 2011
  18. ↑ "Mark Burnett and YouToo.com Launch First Social Television Network". Hollywood Reporter. September 28, 2011.
  19. ↑ List of Youtoo America Affiliates @ Rabbitears

External links