FamilyNet Merges with Rural TV on January 1, 2013; ABC Picks Up Full Season of Nashville

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

FamilyNet Merges with Rural TV on January 1, 2013; ABC Picks Up Full Season of Nashville

Rural Media Group, Inc., the parent company for both RFD-TV/RFD HD and Rural TV, is proud to announce that it has purchased FamilyNet, a 32-year-old basic cable channel currently distributed into 14.8 million U.S. homes, from Interactive Television And Gaming Networks, LLC (formerly Comstar Media). The move takes RMG's total distribution into over 61,000,000 homes through its cable and satellite carriers in all 50 states. The program schedules of Rural TV and FamilyNet will be formally merged into one network on January 1, 2013. As of now, some of the series from FamilyNet have already started popping-up on Rural TV, including primetime sitcoms Mr. Belevdere, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart from 8-10pm ET, airing right now on both networks. Rural TV also airs Highway to Heaven weeknights at 10pm and Bonanza on Saturday nights.

The acquisition of FamilyNet brings, for the ﬁrst time, Rural Media Group's popular rural-themed program library to many major U.S. cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles, plus the countryside of Kansas, Oklahoma, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas, and California. In addition, the expanding list of quality advertisers and sponsors who seek family-oriented programming and demographics now have another choice with a proven track record that delivers a large, and growing, Nielsen-rated audience. FamilyNet was bought by Comstar in December 2009, after Comstar bought AmericanLife TV Network. It later reprogrammed AmericanLife into YouToo TV, with a social media focus, allowing viewers to upload their own videos.

Stay with us for further information on Rural TV and to see if any more series programming will air on the network after the merger is complete on January 1! Will we see other FamilyNet series like Remington Steele? Stay tuned!

ABC has picked up a full season of new drama Nashville. Nashville joins previously announced full season orders for new comedy The Neighbors and returning second-year drama series Scandal. No decision yet on fellow ABC new dramas Last Resort and 666 Park Avenue, while new comedy Malibu Country is only in its second week, but is headed for a full-season pick-up. Stay tuned. Nashville airs Wednesday nights at 10:00 p.m. ET on the ABC Television Network.
Nashville stars Connie Britton as Rayna Jaymes, Hayden Panettiere as Juliette Barnes, Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne, Eric Close as Teddy Conrad, Clare Bowen as Scarlett O'Connor, Jonathan Jackson as Avery Barkley, Sam Palladio as Gunnar Scott, Robert Ray Wisdom as Coleman Carlisle and Powers Boothe as Lamar Wyatt.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, December 1

The Goldbergs - "Tennis People" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
After weeks of waiting, Adam finally receives news that he has been accepted into NYU. His excitement is soon diminished when he learns Brea has been accepted into her dream school, Brown University. Fearing the distance will affect their relationship, Adam attempts to find ways to keep his girlfriend close. Meanwhile, with Virginia’s help, Beverly begins looking for venues to hold Erica’s wedding shower. She discovers her nemesis’ tennis club and is determined to become a member even if it means embarrassing herself.

The Wonder Years - "Home for Christmas" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Dean can’t wait to spend Christmas with his older brother, Bruce, when he returns home from Vietnam. But adjusting to life back in Montgomery comes with unexpected challenges for Bruce, and the rest of the Williams family rely on their favorite holiday traditions to bring cheer.

The Conners - "Yard Sale, Phone Fail, and a College Betrayal" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
As Louise starts to move into the Conner’s home, Dan decides to sell the furniture set he bought for Roseanne when they were first married. However, he soon finds parting with the furniture – and old memories – harder than he thought it would be.

Home Economics - "Secret Santa Gift, $25 Limit" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
As Christmas approaches, Tom finally receives his first advance check from the Sofia Salazar book, leaving him and Marina to decide what to do with the money. Meanwhile, Sarah receives an extravagant gift from the parents at her new school and has a hard time parting with it.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "2020: A Year in Review" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
The Gang looks back on 2020 to justify their numerous PPE loans as they contributed to the chaos of the past political year way more than anyone could have imagined.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang Makes Lethal Weapon 7" (FXX, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Upon discovering that their self-made Lethal Weapon sequels have been pulled from the local library, the Gang decides to address their political incorrectness by making another film: Lethal Weapon 7.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 29)

Wednesday, December 1

Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Watch Ken on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Maya Erskine (PEN15/Casual/Betas) and Anna Konkle (PEN15) - Maya and Anna are guests on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Seth Rogen (Undeclared) - Seth appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Aisling Bea (Living with Yourself) - Aisling is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood/New Girl/Modern Men) - Max will be on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Heather Dubrow (Stark Raving Mad/Jenny/Life with Roger) - Heather appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 3am on Bravo.
Annaleigh Ashford (B Positive) - Annaleigh is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 3am on Bravo.
Rita Moreno (One Day at a Time/Happily Divorced/9 to 5) - Rita talks about West Side Story on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan (check your local listings) and chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Bradley Whitford (Perfect Harmony/Happyish/Trophy Wife) - Bradley will be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Nicholas Braun (10 Things I Hate About You) - Nicholas dishes on the new season of Succession on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Leah Remini (Kevin Can Wait/The Exes/Family Tools/The King of Queens/Fired Up) - Leah guest co-hosts The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Kristin Chenoweth (Schmigadoon!/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings. She talks about National Champions on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Sutton Foster (Younger) - Sutton chats about her new memoir Hooked on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Vanessa Lachey (Truth Be Told/Dads) - Vanessa shares her favorite peanut butter blossoms cookie recipe on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Mykal-Michelle Harris (mixed-ish/Raven's Home) - Mykal-Michelle talks about NBC's The Kids Tonight Show on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
David Moscow (Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane/Living Dolls) - David talks about Tubi's From Scratch on Access Daily, so check your local listings.