Laff (TV network)

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Laff
Type Digital multicast television network
Country United States
Availability Nationwide via Over the air digital TV (covering 55% of the U.S.)[1]
Founded January 18, 2015 (2015-01-18)
by Jonathan Katz
Slogan You know you want to.
Owner Laff Media, LLC
Parent Katz Broadcasting, LLC
Key people
Jonathan Katz
(president/CEO, Katz Broadcasting)
Launch date
April 15, 2015 (2015-04-15)
Picture format
480i (SDTV)
Affiliates see list
Official website
laff.com

Laff is an American digital multicast television network that is owned by Laff Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Katz Broadcasting. The network specializes in comedy programming, featuring a mix of feature films and archived sitcoms. Laff is targeted at adults between the ages of 18 and 49 years old.[2]

Originally, Katz sold the network to affiliated TV stations via ad split but by October 2015 had moved to a carriage fees in exchange for the network get the ad inventory due to greater inventory with stations adding a third or fourth subchannel.[3]1 Bounce used direct response advertising as a meter of viewers before switching to Neilsen rating C-3 a few years before 2015.[3]3

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History

Laff's launch was announced by Katz Broadcasting in January 2015 as having a scheduled launch date of April 15, 2015, which coincides with Tax Day in the United States, when tax returns are due and, as Broadcasting & Cable writer Jon Lafayette noted in an article on Laff's launch, "people will need something to make them smile."[4]

Katz announced that television stations owned by ABC Owned Television Stations and 13 E. W. Scripps Company would serve as the network's charter affiliates.[5][6] On March 13, 2015, Katz Broadcasting announced an affiliation deal with the Cox Media Group to carry Laff on the subchannels of seven of its stations expanding its initial reach to 47% of the country.[7] The following week on March 20, as part of a multi-network affiliation agreement with Katz, the Meredith Corporation announced that it would carry the network on two of its stations.[8][9]

On February 13, 2015, Laff acquired the syndication rights to five sitcoms.[10] Laff followed that deal with three for film licensing with Walt Disney Studios, Miramax and Sony Pictures Television by March 17.[11]

Programming

Laff's comedy-centered programming consists of a mix of theatrically released feature films, as well as off-network sitcoms.[2] Laff would set itself apart from its multicast competitors by carrying more contemporary programming content, in contrast to the reruns of series from the 1980s and earlier commonly found on other over-the-air networks which rely on acquired content).[5] The network also provide additional content via the network's website and mobile app.[12]

Movies

Laff's program schedule will have access to approximately 250 titles comedic films from the libraries of three film studios by virtue of multi-year program licensing agreements with Walt Disney Studios, Miramax and Sony Pictures Entertainment (distributed by Sony Pictures Television).[13][11]

Television series

In addition to films, much of Laff's programming lineup consists of reruns of situation comedies of over 800 episodes.[11]

Current series

This is a list of shows currently airing on Laff as of May 2, 2016.[14]

E/I
  • America's Heartland
  • Animal Outtakes
  • Eco Company
  • Skooled
Future Programming

Affiliates

As of 10 December 2015, Laff has current or pending affiliation agreements with television stations in 62 media markets encompassing 21 states (including stations in the top 13 markets), covering 63% of the United States.[16]

Charter affiliates included all 8 ABC Owned Television Stations and 13 13 E. W. Scripps Company stations. [5][6] The two initial deals gave Laff affiliate clearances in 35% of all U.S. markets, and 13 of the 30 largest television markets (including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Detroit and Houston).[citation needed] On March 13, 2015, Katz Broadcasting announced an affiliation deal with the Cox Media Group to carry Laff on seven of its stations (including WSB-TV in Atlanta and WFXT in Boston), expanding its initial reach to 47% of the country [7] the following week on March 20, as part of a multi-network affiliation agreement with Katz, the Meredith Corporation announced that it would carry the network on its stations in Portland, Oregon (KPTV) and Hartford (WFSB).[8][17]

List of affiliates

This is the current list of affiliates for Laff as of April 25, 2016.[18]

City of license/market Station Virtual
channel
[16]
Primary affiliation Owner Date of affiliation[4] Notes

Alabama

Birmingham WVUA[18] 23.3 This TV University of Alabama TBD
Montgomery WALE-LD 17.2 Justice Network Woods Communications
Corporation
August 11, 2015

Arizona

Phoenix KNXV-TV 15.3 ABC E. W. Scripps Company April 15, 2015
Tucson KGUN-TV 9.2 July 1, 2015

Arkansas

Fayetteville-Fort Smith KFLU-LD 20.4 Bounce TV DTV America Corporation TBD
Little Rock KQPS-LD 14.2 Telemundo

California

Fresno KFSN-TV 30.3 ABC ABC Owned Television Stations April 15, 2015
Los Angeles KABC-TV 7.3
San Diego KGTV 10.2 E. W. Scripps Company
San FranciscoOakland
San Jose
KGO-TV 7.3 ABC Owned Television Stations

Colorado

Denver KMGH-TV 7.3 ABC E. W. Scripps Company April 15, 2015

Connecticut

HartfordNew Haven WFSB 3.3 CBS Meredith Corporation April 15, 2015[8]

Florida

Fort MyersNaples WFTX-TV 36.3 Fox E.W. Scripps Company September 1, 2015
Jacksonville WKBJ-LD 20.4 Buzzr TV DTV America Corporation February 17, 2016
MiamiFt. Lauderdale WLTV-DT 23.4 Univision Univision Communications September 1, 2015
Orlando WFTV 9.3 ABC Cox Media Group[7] April 15, 2015
Sarasota WSNN-LD 39.3 Independent/
All-news
Citadel Communications
TampaSt. Petersburg WFTS-TV 28.2 ABC E. W. Scripps Company
West Palm Beach WPTV-TV 5.3 NBC

Georgia

Atlanta WSB-TV 2.3 ABC Cox Media Group April 15, 2015[7]
Augusta WJEA-LD 28.1 Independent DTV America Corporation TBD
Savannah WDID-LP 26.1 Regal Media January 4, 2016

Idaho

Boise KIVI-TV 6.2 ABC E.W. Scripps Company July 1, 2015
Twin Falls KSAW-LD 51.2 Low-power repeater of KIVI-TV

Illinois

Chicago WLS-TV 7.3 ABC ABC Owned Television Stations April 15, 2015

Indiana

Evansville WEIN-LD 40.1 Independent DTV America Corporation TBD
Fort Wayne WEDX-LD 29.4 Grit
Indianapolis WRTV 6.3 ABC E. W. Scripps Company April 15, 2015

Iowa

Cedar Rapids KBBA-LD 14.2 Bounce TV DTV America Corporation TBD
Des Moines K28NF-D 28.2

Kansas

Wichita KGPT-CD 26.5 Cozi TV Great Plains Television Network, LLC October 26, 2015

Kentucky

Lexington WTVQ-DT 36.4 ABC Morris Multimedia March 30, 2016
Louisville WKYI-CD 24.2 This TV New Albany
Broadcasting Company
November 5, 2015

Maryland

Baltimore WMAR-TV 2.2 ABC E. W. Scripps Company April 15, 2015

Massachusetts

Boston WFXT 25.3 Fox Cox Media Group April 15, 2015[7]

Michigan

Cadillac-Traverse City WMNN-LD 26.3 Independent/
All-news
Freelancer Television Broadcasting January 4, 2016
Detroit WXYZ-TV 7.3 ABC E. W. Scripps Company April 15, 2015
Grand Rapids WOOD-TV[19] 8.3 NBC Media General
(sale pending to Nexstar Broadcasting Group)
December 18, 2015

Minnesota

Minneapolis-St. Paul KMBD-LD 43.3 Bounce TV DTV America Corporation April 2, 2016

Missouri

Kansas City KSHB-TV 41.3 NBC E. W. Scripps Company April 15, 2015
St. Louis KBGU-LP 33.4 Buzzr TV DTV America Corporation January 4, 2016

Nebraska

Lincoln KLKN 8.4 ABC Citadel Communications April 15, 2015
Omaha KMTV-TV 3.3 CBS E.W. Scripps Company October 26, 2015

Nevada

Las Vegas KTNV-TV 13.2 ABC E.W. Scripps Company[20] July 1, 2015

New Mexico

Albuquerque-Santa Fe KWBQ[19] 19.3 The CW Tamer Media, LLC
(operated under an SSA by Media General)
January 11, 2016
Roswell KRWB 21.3

New York

Albany WXXA-TV[19] 23.3 Fox Shield Media, LLC
(operated through SSA by Media General)
December 25, 2015
Buffalo WKBW-TV 7.2 ABC E. W. Scripps Company April 28, 2015[21] Launch was originally planned for April 15, 2015, but was delayed two weeks due to technical problems with the equipment used to transmit WKBW's subchannels.[22]
New York City WABC-TV 7.3 ABC Owned Television Stations April 15, 2015[6]

North Carolina

Charlotte WSOC-TV 9.2 ABC Cox Media Group April 15, 2015[7]
GreensboroWinston-Salem
High Point
WCWG 20.3 The CW Lockwood Broadcast Group June 1, 2015
Greenville WPDU-LD 45.4 Grit DTV America Corporation TBD
RaleighDurham WTVD 11.3 ABC ABC Owned Television Stations April 15, 2015
Wilmington WADA-LD 18.1 Independent DTV America Corporation January 4, 2016

North Dakota

FargoGrand Forks KRDK-TV 4.8 Cozi TV Major Market Broadcasting April 2015

Ohio

Cincinnati WCPO-TV 9.3 ABC E. W. Scripps Company April 15, 2015
Cleveland WEWS-TV 5.3
Dayton WHIO-TV 7.3 CBS Cox Media Group[7]
Youngstown WYFX-LD[19] 19.3 Fox Media General December 31, 2015

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City KBZC-LD 42.2 Bounce TV DTV America Corporation TBD
Tulsa KJRH-TV 2.3 NBC E. W. Scripps Company April 15, 2015

Oregon

Portland KPTV 12.3 Fox Meredith Corporation October 8, 2015[8]

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia WPVI-TV 6.3 ABC ABC Owned Television Stations April 15, 2015
Pittsburgh WPXI 11.3 NBC Cox Media Group June 1, 2015[7]

Rhode Island

Providence WNAC-TV[19] 64.3 Fox Super Towers, Inc.
(operated through LMA by Media General)
February 29, 2016

South Carolina

Charleston WBSE-LP 20.1 Independent Regal Media January 4, 2016

Tennessee

Jackson W20DJ-D 20.2 Escape DTV America Corporation TBD
Johnson CityKingsport WAPK-CD 36.3 Me-TV Glenwood Communications Corporation April 30, 2016
Knoxville WATE-TV[19] 6.3 ABC Media General
(sale pending to Nexstar Broadcasting Group)
January 10, 2016
Memphis WQEK-LD 36.2 Escape DTV America Corporation TBD
Nashville WTVF 5.3 CBS E.W. Scripps Company[20] September 20, 2015

Texas

Austin KNVA[18] 54.3 The CW Vaughan Media, LLC
(operated through LMA by Media General)
February 1, 2016
DallasFort Worth KUVN-DT 23.4 Univision Univision Communications August 4, 2015
Houston KTRK-TV 13.3 ABC ABC Owned Television Stations April 15, 2015
Lubbock KMYL-LD 14.2 MyNetworkTV Ramar Communications June 1, 2015
San Antonio KNIC-DT 17.4 UniMás Univision Communications September 1, 2015
Tyler KQKT-LD 21.2 Escape DTV America Corporation TBD
Waco KZCZ-LD 34.2 Bounce TV

Utah

Salt Lake City KTMW 20.4 Telemundo Serestar Communications October 7, 2015

Virginia

Norfolk-Hampton Roads WSKY-TV 4.3 Independent Lockwood Broadcast Group November 16, 2015
Richmond WWBK-LP 28.1 Regal Media TBD

Washington

Seattle KIRO-TV 7.3 CBS Cox Media Group April 15, 2015[7]

West Virginia

Charleston-Huntington WTZP-LD 50.3 Cozi TV Eagle Broadcasting Group, Inc. December 1, 2015

Wisconsin

Green Bay WGBA-TV 26.3 NBC E.W. Scripps Company[20] August 11, 2015
Madison WZCK-LP 8.4 Bounce TV DTV America Corporation TBD
Milwaukee WTMJ-TV 4.2 NBC E.W. Scripps Company[20] September 28, 2015

References

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External links