Background
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Weigel Broadcasting announced the formation of This TV on July 28, 2008, with a planned launch that autumn. The network had a formal on-air launch date of November 1, 2008, though some stations may have “soft launched” the network one day earlier – October 31, 2008 – to carry some Halloween-themed programming that the network provided.
The "This TV" name was chosen as a branding and marketing avenue for the network and its stations, with proposed slogans such as "THIS is the place for movies", "THIS is what you’re watching" and "It doesn't get any better than THIS!". This TV officially launched on November 1, 2008 at 9 p.m. Eastern Time with the 1986 Spike Lee film She’s Gotta Have It as the network’s first telecast.
This TV’s operations are overseen by Neal Sabin, who in his role as Weigel Broadcasting’s executive vice president launched Me-TV, a classic television network similar to This TV. Jim Marketti, president/CEO of Marketti Creative Group was hired in August 2008 as This TV’s creative director, focusing on the network's marketing and promotion. MGM handles sales for the network through its offices in New York City.
On May 13, 2013, Weigel Broadcasting announced that it would be parting ways with This TV in order to concentrate on Me-TV and a new digital network similar in format to This TV called Movies!. Tribune Broadcasting (which like Weigel, is headquartered in Chicago, and is the owner of rival digital network Antenna TV) will take over Weigel's share of This TV beginning in fall 2013.
Read more about this topic: This TV
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