Updated 4:40pm with more schedule details -- SYRACUSE -- There's now an official launch date for the delayed arrival of "MeTV" on WSYR-TV digital channel 9.2. The ABC affiliate says the network's lineup of classic programs will make its debut on Monday.
Fans have been vocal about their anticipation of Me-TV since July, when WSYR-TV first announced it would be bringing the network to Syracuse. It wasn't until the original launch date, September 10, that the station revealed Me-TV's arrival would be delayed due to "equipment delays." The station had only revised the launch to "mid-October" until today, when Monday's launch date was announced.
Today's announcement also includes some insight on another question asked by many viewers: What's happening to channel 9.2's existing programming? According to the announcement on 9WSYR.com, at least some of the station's locally-produced programming will continue to air, pre-empting MeTV in those timeslots:
Don’t miss NewsChannel 9 at 10:00 on 9.2, our sports talk show Upon Further Review weekdays at 3:00 p.m., replays of Bridge Street and so much more.
While the 9WSYR.com announcement doesn't specify what'll happen with other local programming on on 9.2, a programming schedule posted on the Me-TV website confirms much of the local lineup will remain intact. For example, while Me-TV network airs My Three Sons, The Donna Reed Show, That Girl and I Love Lucy on weekdays between 7-9am, WSYR 9.2 will pre-empt these programs so it can continue to run an encore of "The Morning News," right after it airs live on 9.1 from 5-7am.
Me-TV's schedule also shows NewsChannel 9 at Noon re-airing at 1pm and the 5:00-6:30 newscasts re-airing from 6:30 to 8pm, as they do now. Channel 9.2 will also continue to re-play the previous weekday's episode of the syndicated Dr. Oz at 9:00am. We also noted other syndicated fare, like Storm Stories (8pm), Comics Unleashed (2am) and Who Wants to Date a Comedian (2:30am), remain on the 9.2 schedule, pre-empting Me-TV network programming.
However, the new schedule shows the 11pm newscast, which has always re-played at 12:00 midnight, will be moved to 1:30am.
Although the 9WSYR.com announcement says the live simulcast of Upon Further Review and taped replays of the locally-produced talk show Bridge Street will remain on 9.2, the schedule on Me-TV's website, as of Wednesday afternoon, did not list either program.
CNYTVNews.com had attempted to obtain answers on these items back in September, but messages sent to WSYR-TV General Manager Theresa Underwood, and to the corporate offices of WSYR-TV's owner, Newport Television, were not answered.