TV Land (originally
Nick at Nite's TV Land) is an
American cable television network launched
April 29,
1996.
[Bianculli, David, "Oldies Net Loaded with Goodies"; New York Daily News, March 19, 1996]It is owned by
MTV Networks, a division of
Viacom, which also owns
MTV and
Nickelodeon. In
2008, TV Land launched a prime time programming block known as
TV Land Prime, which airs newer programs such as
3rd Rock from the Sun and
Scrubs, and the network's original programming efforts.
Origins
Original TV Land logo used from 1996 to 2001.
Building on the success and popularity of Nick at Nite, TV Land premiered in the first quarter of 1996, delivering classic situation comedies, dramas, variety shows and memorable TV programming 24 hours a day. The network featured a variety of television programming from the 1950s through the 1990s. Its inaugural season featured the Emmy Award-winning
Hill Street Blues,
St. Elsewhere and
The Ed Sullivan Show, and the popular series
Gunsmoke and
The Honeymooners. Great detectives were featured every Saturday, with programs including
Dog and Cat,
Burke's Law,
Nero Wolfe (1981) and
Ace Crawford, Private Eye. "TV Land Goes West" presented
Shane,
Barbary Coast,
Have Gun, Will Travel and
Best of the West. "Hooterville Saturday" featured
Petticoat Junction and
Green Acres; and "Sunday in the Barracks" laughed with the military in
The Phil Silvers Show and
Hogan's Heroes.
["Nick at Night's TV Land joins U.S. Satellite Broadcasting Lineup"; Business Wire, April 30, 1996]
