Turner South
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Turner South is a popular regional cable TV network that shows sports and variety programming. It is currently owned by News Corporation under its Fox Cable Networks subsidiary, which acquired the network from Time Warner in 2006.
Turner South began in 2000 as the Turner Broadcasting System attempted to return to its southern roots. Turner South broadcasts original series as well as Atlanta sports teams, including the Atlanta Thrashers, Atlanta Braves, and Atlanta Hawks.
The original series that the network broadcasts can be broadly termed "southern lifestyle". The network broadcasts cooking and gardening shows, among others.
From 2000-2006, the sitcoms and dramas the network broadcasted tended to appeal to southerners or are set in the South, such as Major Dad and In the Heat of the Night, as well as a live simulcast of "The Rick and Bubba Show".
On February 23, 2006, Fox Cable Networks agreed to purchase Turner South for an undisclosed sum. On May 1, 2006, Fox took over operation of the cable network. Most of Turner South's old programming, including Rick and Bubba and the movies shown have been discontinued. Some of Turner South's lifestyle and 'how-to' programming (including 'Blue Ribbon', 'Home Plate', 'Home Makers', and 'Junkin') has been retained, and is aired in two programming blocks: Weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern time). Much of the remaining programming is repurposed from other Fox Sports Net properties, including (most notably) FSN South.
Future Plans
Fox has announced plans to convert the network into a Fox Sports Net network. Although not yet announced, two possibilities exist for the network's future. One is to operate it in companion with Fox's current local FSN, Fox Sports Net South. Another possibility is to split the current FSN South and the new Turner South to target different areas. One would service Atlanta and Georgia, and another would service the rest of the Southeastern region.According to a May 7 Atlanta Journal-Constitution article [link], Jeff Genthner, who was appointed by FSN to head the network, said that the new name would reflect the network's focus, but wouldn't be something "obvious" like FSN South 2.
"We don't want to create another 'FSN' brand in the market where the consumer gets confusion between the two," Genthner was quoted as saying in the AJC article.
Also unclear is whether or not Turner South will be available to viewers on DIRECTV in other regions of the country by way of the premium "Sports Pak" service. Right now, the satellite television service blacks out the network outside of ZIP codes originally designated as the Turner South coverage area.
External link
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