Life as a Syndication Kid: What was it like?

[Cure DragonEagle 255]

I am a cable kid but ever since I learned about Cartoon TV Syndication I've been fascinated with the process. Can you guys please share stories of growing up as Syndication Kids?

[The Other Jason]

Hi Cure DragonEagle,

I'm not sure I quite understand what you're asking. But, if it's strictly about over-the-air television, I don't think I can really add much. I grew up in an area of the US that adopted cable very early. The only times I can remember not having it was in my family's first house. I think we moved from there when I was 6. But while there, I watched syndicated shows like Adventures of Superman, Batman, The Brady Bunch, Star Trek The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends and Combat!. I also remember The Hollywood Squares, a syndicated game show. I'm sure I saw a lot more syndicated shows while there, but those are the only ones really coming to mind for certain. I don't remember a lot of the circumstances around watching the programs though.

I had cable in our second house (although I also had my own antenna set, the only specific thing I remember watching on it was the first made-for-TV Captain America film), and aside from a couple months in my family's third place, have had cable in all subsequent houses.

Although, if that's not what you meant, let me know and I'll see if I can give you a better answer.

[Bobkat]

Hi CureDragon!

I didn't move around like The Other Jason, I grew up in the same place - southern Indiana. It was farming area. We lived right off a state highway and had easy access to things.

My syndication experience was different because for years we had only one TV in the house (as an adult, I have 2). We picked up the channels out of Louisville, KY - WAVE 3 (NBC), WHAS 11 (CBS), WLKY 32 (ABC), WDRB 41 (Independent), 15 (don't recall the call letters but it was PBS) and 68 - part of the Kentucky Educational Network. Nevermind that 41 eventually went Fox along with WHAS and WLKY trading affiliations. Probably WAY more info than you wanted, but there it is.

Everybody ran a little bit of everything. I remember watching Emergency!, Adam-12, Battle, Three's Company, Hogan's Heroes, Star Trek and several others including those that The Other Jason mentioned. They were shown along with local news and programs 7 days a week. Louisville was really good about that - we got just about a bit of everything.

WDRB also aired four movies on Sundays back in the day: starting with a comedy or kid's movie, another comedy, a drama and something even darker as the last one. The Godzilla movies would usually be in the first batch.

I guess it all depended on what was in the market at the time. When I moved to Anchorage and cable was available (my parents got satellite when I moved out to the USAF), there were still several shows in syndication including Star Trek: the Next Generation and Babylon 5. And this was long before all the back channels (diginets) started up.

[Cure DragonEagle 255]

Hi Cure DragonEagle,

I'm not sure I quite understand what you're asking. But, if it's strictly about over-the-air television, I don't think I can really add much. I grew up in an area of the US that adopted cable very early. The only times I can remember not having it was in my family's first house. I think we moved from there when I was 6. But while there, I watched syndicated shows like Adventures of Superman, Batman, The Brady Bunch, Star Trek The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends and Combat!. I also remember The Hollywood Squares, a syndicated game show. I'm sure I saw a lot more syndicated shows while there, but those are the only ones really coming to mind for certain. I don't remember a lot of the circumstances around watching the programs though.

I had cable in our second house (although I also had my own antenna set, the only specific thing I remember watching on it was the first made-for-TV Captain America film), and aside from a couple months in my family's third place, have had cable in all subsequent houses.

Although, if that's not what you meant, let me know and I'll see if I can give you a better answer.

This an awesome answer, sure its not what I wanted but I actually feel better because I feel a bit better as a cable kid (If the awesome Other Jason is a cable kid I am proud to be one too!) and I love your enthusiasm and love for the medium of Television.

Also thank you kat! That's what I wanted to know and is the best answer. I always wondered, "Oh what did kids watch with no Nickelodeon or CN?"

I appreciate anyone just posting. I love this place and I want it to be buzzing with activity.