Capitol Broadcasting Goes 'Retro'

WRAZ-DT will begin airing Retro Television Network’s “Prime Time All the Time” lineup on Sept. 10. The new 24 hour-a-day network will be available over-the-air on digital channel 50.2 and on Time Warner Digital Cable channel 251.

Over-the-air Fox 50 programming will still be broadcast over analog channel 50 and digital 50.1. The 50.2 channel, which is currently a simulcast of Fox 50, also carries Durham Bulls baseball games. Bulls games will continue to be broadcast over 50.2 after the transition to RTN.

RTN is home to dozens of classic TV shows, such as Hawaii 5-0, Matlock, Perry Mason, Mission: Impossible, Hogan's Heroes and Gomer Pyle USMC.

“I’m a big fan of the classic programs on RTN”, said Capitol Broadcasting President and CEO Jim Goodmon. “This is a great broadcast service with family-friendly programming, and we are looking forward to bringing it to the market and adding more local programs to it as we move forward.”

The network is part of Capitol’s efforts to take advantage of additional opportunities presented by the move to digital signals, such as high definition. Federal Communications Commission requires that TV stations move to digital format by February of 2009.

Goodmon said in an e-mail to Capitol employees other program offerings could be made as the transition to digital broadcasting continues.

“I think we will be doing more and more projects like this as we move closer to the digital transition in February 2009,” Goodmon wrote.

“Digital technology continues to be a huge win for our communities,” said Tommy Schenck, Vice President and General Manager of Fox 50. “Research shows there is a real appetite for this type of programming, and our local viewers are now gaining a brand new network with these great familiar classics."

“Capitol Broadcasting is known for being an industry leader in technology and it is fitting that our network has partnered with them," said Mark Dvornik, executive vice president of RTN. "RTN’s unique delivery system allows WRAZ-DT to air a customized network feed that best suits their viewers.”

RTN, which launched in July, is owned by Equity Media Holdings Corporation, which already owns TV stations in 41 markets. The company is based in Little Rock, Ark.

RTN Raleigh-Durham will cover more than 22 counties throughout North Carolina and will be operated out of the same Diamond View studios where FOX 50 (WRAZ-TV) broadcasts.