The Omni Broadcasting Network was a small over-the-air broadcast television network in the United States. The company's motto was "Less Edge and More Entertaining". Omni's flagship station was low-power station KSSY-LP.[1] The network's reach was reported as 50 million households, according to a quote in Variety.[2]
History
The Omni Broadcasting Network was incorporated in 2001.[3] Its parent company, OBN Holdings,[4] produced films as well as television.[5] OBN's target demographic was adults age 25 and older during prime time, and ages 8 to 13 on weekend mornings.[1]
Broadcast operations began in September 2003. In December 2003, Omni announced affiliation agreements with 119 stations and cable systems, as well as the All Sports Television Network.[1]
According to an Omni executive, the network struggled to get the funding necessary for new projects.[6] OBN Holdings' stock was delisted in 2013.[7]
Programming
Omni broadcast 60 hours of programming per week, 21 hours during prime time.[8] The network primarily ran classic films, usually during late-night hours or on the weekends. Omni also offered a few original programs. One was "Thirteen O'Clock Theater", an umbrella title for old science fiction and horror films in public domain, shown at 1 AM. The network also showed older children's programming such as Birdz,[9] (to meet FCC requirements for educational and informative programming requirements), as well as The MovieTime Showcase, The Flutemaster, The Mini-Movie Hour, and Wizards Tales.[1]
The network also broadcast the 50th Anniversary concert of the Four Tops.[6] This was the network's first original production, taped July 28, 2004,[2] Titled From the Heart: The Four Tops 50th Anniversary and Celebration, the special aired in 2005,[10] and starred musicians Aretha Franklin, Paul Rodgers, Dennis Edwards (of The Temptations), and Mary Wilson (of The Supremes), in addition to the Four Tops themselves.[11] The special won the network a Telly Award.[12]
Other original programs included The Vegas Variety Hour and The Adventures of Unit 28.[13]
Former affiliates
The following were signed or pending OBN affiliates in December 2003:[1]
