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ABC Family
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (October 2007) |
| ABC Family | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | November 17, 2001 |
| Network | Disney-ABC Television Group |
| Owned by | The Walt Disney Company |
| Slogan | A New Kind of Family |
| Headquarters |  Burbank |
| Website | abcfamily.com |
| Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| DirecTV | Channel 311 |
| Dish Network | Channel 180 |
| Cable | |
| Available on most cable systems | Check Local Listings for channels |
ABC Family is an American cable television network currently owned by Disney-ABC Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company. ABC Family offers contemporary and inclusive programming, including series, movies, events, and enhanced ABC encore presentations.
Contents |
- See also: Television networks preceding ABC Family
ABC Family launched on November 17, 2001 after FOX Family was sold to ABC for $3.2 billion in July of that same year. The sale to ABC included the Fox Kids Network (a joint venture of Fox and Haim Saban) which provided the new ABC Family with hours of children's programming.
The sale to ABC, owned by Disney, was considered one of the largest mistakes or problems occurring during the tenure of Michael Eisner. The failure was primarily due to the acquisition being done by the strategic planning department of Disney, without consulting anyone at ABC. The original plan was to use the channel to essentially show re-runs of ABC programming, but this plan was completely impossible since ABC had no syndication rights to the majority of their own programs. During this time, the network did air same-season repeats of Alias, Less Than Perfect, Life with Bonnie, and The Bachelor. But in trying to change the focus of the channel, Disney also cancelled several Fox Family series, like State of Grace, and cut back on the network's TV movies, which were among the few programs Fox Family was doing well with. The ratings tumbled further as the network became dependent on syndicated reruns and no original programs (save for original wrap-around segments around Bachelor repeats, and children's programming).
The next major plan was to reposition the channel to market it to college students, young women, or to a more hip audience under the name XYZ, a reverse reference to ABC. Disney soon found that the channel could never be renamed as such. The sale from CBN contained a stipulation from Robertson that the channel contain the word "Family" in the name forever, no matter who owns the network. To create XYZ, the Family Channel would have had to cease to exist - terminating all existing cable TV contracts - and XYZ would have to be created as a new network. Cable companies would not be obligated to put XYZ in the spot vacated by the Family Channel. ABC scrapped the idea after discovering this clause.[1].
The name was revisited at one point in 2003, serving as a program block entitled "The XYZ.", showing programs and movies aimed at the above groups. The network was also used as a buffer to burn off failed ABC series, such as All American Girl, which featured Spice Girl Geri Haliwell.
Following controversial remarks made by 700 Club host Pat Robertson about Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, as well as other equally controversial comments regarding gays, feminists, Muslims, abortion, and many other social issues, ABC Family moved to distance itself from the program, changing the disclaimers before, during, and after the broadcasts from "The following/preceding program is brought to you by CBN" to "The following/preceding CBN telecast does not reflect the views of ABC Family." Since 2003, ABC Family has been producing more successful ABC Family Original Movies and series.
In August 2006, an all new slogan and visual style premiered on ABC Family: A New Kind of Family.
Note that the name implies family programming, which is somewhat misleading as there is an abundance of material not suitable for children under 13, such as the TV series Greek (which is usually rated TV-14). As previously stated, the word "Family" is required under the terms of the lease from Robertson. Neither CBN nor Robertson have prepared any legal action against ABC for its drifting into less family-friendly fare.
On August 31, 2006, ABC Family aired Jetix for the last time as a part of Disney's plan to convert all Jetix airings to Toon Disney. Jetix aired various programs since its debut on the network in 2002, which included Metabots, Beyblade, Digimon: Digital Monsters, Daigunder, Get Ed, and many others. Of its long list of programs, the Power Rangers series was its most successful. Sitcom repeats currently air in Jetix's former timeslot from 7 a.m.-9 a.m. ET, with the morning airing of the 700 Club/Living the Life block pushed back an hour further to 9 a.m. ET.
ABC Family is also becoming known for giving previews to upcoming movies, as it has done for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Hairspray and Stardust.
The network is also known for its holiday block programming. Among its largest and most ambitious programming is its "25 Days of Christmas," when most prime-time and weekend programming is jettisoned in favor of Christmas programs, of which the network owns a large library. Much of this includes Rankin-Bass originals and sequels owned by its predecessor, Fox Family, as well as feature-length movies and, usually, two new made-for-TV films, each year. There is also a "13 Nights of Halloween" (consisting of suspense and horror films, generally of the mild variety to keep with its family-friendly image).
ABC Family is also known for buying rights to movies that did not do well initially or those released in other countries primarily, and re-branding them to establish a larger fan base, among these films are
- Slap Her... She's French (Re-branded as She Gets What She Wants)
- The List
- Lovewrecked
- Full of It (Re-branded as Big Liar on Campus)
The popular show Kyle XY has given the channel the most viewers in the network's history. [1]
ABC Family has also recently been generating high levels of viewers with their weekend movie events. The "Harry Potter Weekend" Block generated some of the highest levels of viewers for the year so far [2], as well as their The Sound of Music weekend events.
In early 2008, the network is expected to launch a companion HDTV channel [3]; currently the network's original series are produced in a 16:9 HD format (currently downgraded to letterboxed 4:3 on the current channel), and episodes of Greek and Kyle XY have been broadcast in 720p on ABC HD during summer Friday broadcasts.
In October 2007, ABC Family completely revamped their website, giving it a more digital look as compared to its previous look, they also revamped, the Broadband Player, putting more content on it including reruns of Three Moons Over Milford, and episodes of 7th Heaven, Grounded for Life, Kyle XY, and Greek, as well as adding some Fox Kids programming they still own, such as "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes".
- Family (similar Canadian service)
- Official Site
- Family Channel takes on Fox look
- Disney buying Fox Family Channel
- Disney refocusing Family channel
- ABC Family at the Internet Movie Database
