List of American television networks (original) (raw)

American analog over-the-air television channels are numbered 2 through 69, and occupy the following frequencies:

54-88 MHz (Channels 2-6)
174-216 MHz (Channels 7-13)
470-806 MHz (Channels 14-69)

See list of local television stations in North and Central America.

American commercial over-the-air television networks

American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (formerly NBC Blue)
National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (formerly NBC Red)
Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)
Fox Network (Fox)
Warner Brothers Network (WB)
United Paramount Network (UPN)
PAX Network (PAX)

National networks try, when possible, to own the same "channel space" in all cities where they broadcast. CBS lays claim to "channel 2", NBC has "channel 4", and ABC has "channel 7".

The WB, UPN and PAX are sometimes called "netlets" because they do not currently have the affiliate reach of the larger networks.

Nicknames of major American networks are as follows:

ABC: "Alphabet network"
NBC: "Peacock network"
CBS: "Tiffany network" or "Eye network"
WB: "Frog network"

American non-commercial television networks

Public Broadcasting System (PBS)

Extinct American television networks

DuMont Network - commercial network, 1946 - 1956
National Educational Television (NET) - Educational network, 1952 - 1969, predecessor to PBS