The new television season is upon us, and with it are yet more attempts to create networks. “The WB” and UPN are gone, replaced by “The CW”. Stations that lost their network affiliation in that consolidation are now promoting a loose network branded “My Network TV.” As if that weren’t a clunky enough brand, the new appelation gets a little weird on some stations. For instance, here in the San Francisco area, KRON Channel 4 (which, to confuse matters, used to be an NBC affiliate until NBC bought a station in San Jose and moved their programming)… where was I? Oh. KRON. It’s not known as K-R-O-N, but instead brands itself as the word KRON.
And now, with the new affiliation, they’re calling themselves My KRON 4.
Is it just me, or does Micron Four sound like either a synthetic fiber used in pantyhose — or a planet with a Class M atmosphere on Star Trek?
It’s also worth pointing out that all these stations that are only known by number — NBC 11, ABC 7, etc. — are rapidly coming up against a numbering crisis. Their station numbers will change, for the most part, come 2009 when the digital television transition is complete. Back in DC, NBC4’s actual digital channel is 48. WUSA’s 9 News (in high definition, ironically) should be called 34 News. And there’s a station here that goes by the extra-short-and-simple name of Action 36 Cable 6… and is on digital 52.
I think all stations should just use their damned call signs and get on with it.
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