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For more than 30 years, John Kiesewetter has been the source for information about all things in local media — comings and goings, local people appearing on the big or small screen, special programs, and much more. Contact John at johnkiese@yahoo.com.

WSTR-TV adds Antenna TV For Johnny Carson ‘Tonight Show’ Reruns

Tribune Broadcasting

WSTR-TV has added the Antenna TV network to Channel 64.2 in advance of the nostalgia network’s debut of Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” reruns Jan. 1.

Antenna TV bumped the Get TV network from Channel 64.2, which is carried by Time Warner Cable on Channel 996.

Get TV moved to Channel 64.4, not available on Time Warner.

Tribune Broadcasting pulled Antenna TV from WOTH-TV’s low-power Channel 20.3 in October to reach more viewers before Carson returns to TV in reruns. 

Credit Tribune Broadcasting
Antenna TV promotion for Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" reruns starting Jan. 1.

Last month Tribune Broadcasting announced a deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group to add Antenna TV to the multicast lineups on Channel 64; Dayton’s WKEF-TV (Channel 22); WSYX-TV in Columbus; WUHF-TV in Toledo; and 22 other stations owned by other companies. In all markets, Antenna TV will be carried by local cable systems, said Jessica Bellucci, Tribune Broadcasting vice president.

This will be the first time Carson “Tonight Show” episodes will air Monday-Friday since he retired in 1992. He died in 2005 at age 79.

One-hour “Tonight” shows from 1980-92 will air weeknights at 11 p.m. EST, repeating at 2 a.m. On weekends, Antenna TV will air 90-minute “Tonight” shows from 1972-80 at 10 p.m., with a repeat at 1:30 a.m.  (Carson cut the show to an hour in 1980.)

Antenna TV’s lineup includes “Newhart,” “Family Ties,” “All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons,” “The Partridge Family,” “Maude,” “One Day at a Time,” “Three’s Company,” “Doogie Howser, MD,” “Evening Shade,” “The Flying Nun,” “Leave it to Beaver,” “Sanford and Son,” “I Dream of Jeannie,” “Bewitched,” “Barney Miller,” “Green Acres,” “Mr. Ed” and “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.”

Here is the new WSTR-TV lineup. All four channels are available over-the-air with an antenna:

64.1: Star 64 and MyNetworkTV

64.2: Antenna TV

64.3: Comet (sci-fi)

64.4: Get TV (mostly old movies, and “Merv Griffin talk show reruns on Monday night)

WOTH-TV replaced Antenna TV with BUZZR on Channel 20.3 in November. BUZZR airs “Let’s Make A Deal,” “Family Feud,” “Match Game,” “Super Password,” “To Tell The Truth,” “What’s My Line,” “I’ve Got A Secret,” “Press Your Luck” and other old game shows.

John Kiesewetter, who has covered television and media for more than 35 years, has been working for Cincinnati Public Radio and WVXU-FM since 2015.