In American television in 1996, notable events included television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel initiations, closures and rebrandings, as well as information about controversies and disputes.
Notable events
January
February
Date |
Event
|
8–9
|
Peter Argyropolous and Deborah Cohen win a combined total of $146,529 cash prizes from two episodes (including the $10,000 wedge played with the Double Play token and two Ford Mustangs), making the couple the biggest winner in the history of Wheel of Fortune; They remain the biggest winners for a team, and will hold the record until Michelle Lowenstein wins $1,026,080 on October 14, 2008.
|
17
|
Fred Rogers makes a guest appearance on the CBS Western drama Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. This is notably, the only time that Rogers portrayed a fictional character on television.
|
28
|
Paxson Communications completes their $40 million purchase of ABC affiliate WAKC-TV in Akron, Ohio, from ValueVision.[1] Hours after the sale closed, Paxon president Dean Goodman arrives at WAKC-TV's studios and tells the staff, "news ceases at this moment", firing the entire news department and all station management.[2] This makes Akron (a part of the larger Cleveland–Akron–Canton television market) the largest city in the United States without a commercial television newscast.[3]
|
29
|
ABC affiliate KBAK-TV and CBS affiliate KERO-TV swap affiliations in Bakersfield.
|
March
April
May
June
Date |
Event
|
1
|
Major League Baseball broadcasts debut on Fox.
|
3
|
Zenith introduces the first HDTV-compatible front projection TV in the U.S.
|
CBS affiliate WCPO-TV and ABC affiliate WKRC-TV, both in Cincinnati, Ohio, switch network affiliations.
|
19
|
CBS affiliate WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina is awarded the first experimental high-definition television license in the United States.
|
23
|
At the World Wrestling Federation's pay-per-view event King of the Ring, wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin wins the King of the Ring tournament by defeating Jake Roberts. After the match, Austin makes a certain victory speech in what would famously become as the "Austin 3:16" catchphrase.
|
30
|
New York PBS member station WNYC-TV, owned by the city of New York, signs off for the final time; sold to a joint venture between Dow Jones & Co. and ITT Corp., it relaunches as commercial sports-oriented independent station WBIS-TV (while operating as a non-commercial educational station, WNYC-TV had been licensed with a commercial classification).
|
July
August
September
Date |
Event
|
7
|
Paula Zahn is named a Saturday anchor of CBS Evening News.
|
Fox Kids airs for the final time on St. Louis affiliate KNLC, which is dropped due to KNLC owner Larry Rice's decision on putting ministry messages instead of ads. KTVI picks up the program block the following Monday.
|
8
|
The 48th Primetime Emmy Awards are presented on ABC.
|
WBRC-TV in Birmingham, Alabama, becomes a Fox-owned station, a year after Fox had acquired it and WGHP-TV in High Point, North Carolina. This ended WBRC-TV's 47 year affiliation with ABC; in turn, ABC links up with low-power station WBMA-LP (supplemented with two full-power satellites, WCFT-TV in Tuscaloosa and WJSU-TV in Anniston). Former Fox affiliate WTTO-TV becomes an independent before affiliating with The WB the next year, while former WTTO-TV satellite WNAL in Gadsden switches to CBS.
|
15
|
USA Network ends its USA Cartoon Express block, expanding its newer USA Action Extreme Team block to weekdays.
|
16
|
Wheel of Fortune introduced a gameplay round called Jackpot which contestants can win an accumulated pot based on the value spun throughout the round. The round would remain intact until 2013.
|
17
|
The O. J. Simpson civil trial begins.
|
30
|
A revival of the game show Shop 'til You Drop premieres on the Family Channel along with a new game show called Shopping Spree. Both shows would last on the channel until August 14th 1998, the final day of the Family Channel branding. Shop would get revived in 2000 on PAX.
|
October
November
December
Date |
Event
|
1
|
The long-running 25 Days of Christmas event begins on The Family Channel.
|
8
|
Paramount Television and Viacom purchased a 50% stake in UPN from Chris-Craft and United Television for approximately $160 million. It made UPN a joint partnership between Chris-Craft and Viacom (and later a Viacom property as a whole) at this point.
|
17
|
6 years after dropping the title, TBS resumes using the term Superstation.
|
31
|
ABC affiliate WAKC-TV in Akron, Ohio, disaffiliates from the network after 53 years and drops all remaining entertainment programming to carry Paxson Communications' inTV infomercial network. The station's studios had previously relocated from Akron to the Cleveland suburb of Warrensville Heights.[8][9]
|
Television programs
Debuts
Returning this year
Ending this year
Made for TV movies
Miniseries
Entering syndication this year
Changes of network affiliation
Networks and services
Launches
Conversions and rebrandings
Closures
Television stations
Station launches
Date |
Market |
Station |
Channel |
Affiliation
|
January
|
Las Vegas, NV |
KZIR |
15 |
Univision
|
January 1
|
Reno, NV |
KRXI-TV |
11 |
Fox
|
February 22
|
Denver, CO |
KTVJ |
14 |
Independent
|
March 1
|
Louisville, KY |
W62BM |
62 |
Independent
|
West Milford, NJ |
WFME-TV |
66
|
Independent
|
Ogden, UT |
K21ET |
21 |
Univision
|
March 16
|
Oklahoma City, OK |
KOPX-TV |
62 |
inTV
|
March 22
|
Merced–Fresno, CA |
KNSO |
51 |
Religious independent
|
March 30
|
Albion, NE |
KLKE |
24 |
ABC (satellite of KLKN)
|
April 14
|
Ceres–Sacramento, CA |
KBSV-TV |
23 |
Independent
|
April 25
|
Binghamton, NY |
W08DL |
8 |
Independent
|
May 5
|
Grand Junction, CO |
KKCO |
11 |
NBC
|
May 26
|
Key West, FL |
WWFD |
8 |
Multicultural independent
|
May 28
|
Lima, OH |
W18BP |
18 |
Fox (via WOHL-LP)
|
May 31
|
Killeen–Waco, TX |
KAKW |
62 |
UPN/The WB
|
June
|
El Centro, CA–Yuma, AZ |
KVYE |
7 |
Univision
|
June 23
|
Fayetteville, NC |
WUNU |
31 |
PBS (UNC-TV)
|
July 2
|
Fairbanks, AK |
K22EY |
22 |
Wireless cable
|
August 7
|
Fairbanks, AK |
K13XD |
13 |
CBS
|
August 28
|
Ellensburg, WA |
K25FP |
25 |
3ABN
|
September 1
|
Hagerstown, MD |
WSHE-TV |
60 |
inTV
|
September 14
|
Kansas City, MO |
KCWB |
29 |
The WB
|
September 27
|
Butte, MT |
KWYB |
18 |
ABC
|
October 7
|
Flint, MI |
W61DB |
61 |
Independent
|
Kalamazoo, MI |
WUHO-LP |
38 |
Independent
|
October 11
|
Grand Rapids, MI |
WJUE |
43 |
inTV
|
October 30
|
Marquette, MI |
WBKP |
5 |
ABC
|
October 31
|
Bozeman, MT |
KCTZ |
7 |
Fox
|
November 7
|
Nashville, TN |
W59AW |
59 |
America One
|
December 3
|
Oklahoma City, OK |
News Now 53 |
53 (cable-only) |
Independent (24/7 news)
|
December 12
|
Traverse City, MI |
W51CS |
51 |
America One
|
December 21
|
Arlington–Dallas–Fort Worth, TX |
KPXD-TV |
68 |
InTV
|
December 24
|
Bluefield, West Virginia |
WVSX |
59 |
Fox
|
Unknown date
|
Missoula, Montana |
KUFM-TV |
11 |
PBS (Montana PBS)
|
Stations changing network affiliation
Date
|
Market |
Station |
Channel |
Prior affiliation |
New affiliation
|
January 1
|
Honolulu, HI
|
KHON-TV
|
2
|
NBC
|
Fox
|
KHNL
|
13
|
Fox
|
NBC
|
Idaho Falls–Pocatello, ID
|
KPVI
|
6
|
ABC
|
NBC
|
KIFI-TV
|
8
|
NBC
|
ABC
|
Macon, GA
|
WGXA
|
24
|
ABC
|
Fox
|
WPGA-TV
|
58
|
Fox
|
ABC
|
Mobile, AL–Pensacola, FL
|
WALA-TV
|
10
|
NBC
|
Fox
|
WPMI
|
15
|
Fox
|
NBC
|
New Orleans, LA
|
WVUE-TV
|
8
|
ABC
|
Fox
|
WGNO
|
26
|
The WB
|
ABC
|
WNOL-TV
|
38
|
Fox
|
The WB
|
Twin Falls, ID
|
KKVI
|
35
|
ABC
|
Fox
|
Reno, NV
|
KAME-TV
|
21
|
Fox
|
UPN
|
March 1
|
Bakersfield, CA
|
KERO-TV
|
23
|
CBS
|
ABC
|
KBAK-TV
|
29
|
ABC
|
CBS
|
March 14
|
Greensboro, NC |
WBFX |
20 |
CTN |
The WB
|
April 1
|
Fairbanks, AK
|
KTVF
|
11
|
CBS
|
NBC
|
April 4
|
Binghamton, NY
|
WICZ-TV |
40 |
NBC |
Fox
|
May 26
|
South Bend, IN
|
W12BK |
12 |
Independent |
ABC
|
June 3
|
Cincinnati, OH |
WCPO-TV |
9 |
CBS |
ABC
|
WKRC-TV |
12 |
ABC |
CBS
|
June 19
|
Greensboro, NC |
WGGT-TV |
48 |
ABC |
UPN
|
July 1
|
New York, NY |
WNYC-TV/WBIS |
31 |
PBS |
Independent
|
August 19
|
Charleston, SC
|
WCBD-TV |
2 |
ABC |
NBC
|
WCIV |
4 |
NBC |
ABC
|
September 1
|
Birmingham–Tuscaloosa, AL |
WBRC |
6 |
ABC |
Fox
|
WDBB/WTTO |
17/21 |
Fox |
Independent
|
WCFT-TV |
33 |
CBS |
ABC
|
WJSU-TV
|
40
|
CBS
|
ABC
|
WNAL-TV |
44 |
Fox |
CBS
|
W58CK |
58 |
Independent |
ABC
|
Lincoln, NE |
KSNB-TV |
4 |
ABC |
Fox
|
September 29
|
Mobile, AL–Pensacola, FL
|
WFGX |
35 |
Independent |
The WB
|
December 31
|
Akron–Cleveland, OH
|
WAKC-TV |
23 |
ABC |
inTV
|
Station closures
Births
Date |
Name |
Notability
|
January 3
|
Florence Pugh
|
Actress
|
January 9
|
Oana Gregory
|
Actress (Crash and Bernstein)
|
January 15
|
Dove Cameron
|
Actress (Liv and Maddie, Descendants, Descendants: Wicked World, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and singer
|
January 17
|
Caitlin Sanchez
|
Voice actress (Dora on Dora the Explorer (2008–11))
|
January 18
|
Sarah Gilman
|
Actress (I Didn't Do It)
|
January 22
|
Sami Gayle
|
Actress (Blue Bloods, Milo Murphy's Law)
|
January 27
|
Braeden Lemasters
|
Actor (Men of a Certain Age, Betrayal)
|
February 1
|
Rahart Adams
|
Actor (Every Witch Way)
|
February 6
|
Dalton Rapattoni
|
Singer (American Idol)
|
February 7
|
David Castro
|
Actor (Shadowhunters)
|
Jake Goldberg
|
Voice actor (Pablo on The Backyardigans (2006–10))
|
February 9
|
Jimmy Bennett
|
Actor (No Ordinary Family)
|
Kelli Berglund
|
Actress (Lab Rats, Lab Rats: Elite Force)
|
February 17
|
Sasha Pieterse
|
Actress (Pretty Little Liars) and singer
|
February 19
|
Allen Alvarado
|
Actor (Flight 29 Down)
|
February 21
|
Sophie Turner
|
English actress (Game of Thrones)
|
February 28
|
Bobb'e J. Thompson
|
Actor (That's So Raven, Tyler Perry's House of Payne)
|
March 22
|
Maxwell Jacob Friedman
|
Pro wrestler[15]
|
March 22
|
Gig Morton
|
Canadian actor (Mr. Young)
|
March 30
|
Madeleine Peters
|
Canadian voice actress (Martha Speaks, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic)
|
March 31
|
Liza Koshy
|
Actress
|
April 3
|
Sarah Jeffery
|
Canadian actress (Descendants: Wicked World)
|
April 4
|
Austin Mahone
|
American singer
|
April 6
|
Miranda May
|
Actress (Bunk'd)
|
April 10
|
Audrey Whitby
|
Actress (The Thundermans)
|
April 14
|
Abigail Breslin
|
Actress (Scream Queens)
|
April 17
|
Dee Dee Davis
|
Actress (The Bernie Mac Show)
|
April 18
|
Roy Woods
|
Singer
|
April 25
|
Allisyn Ashley Arm
|
Actress (Sonny with a Chance, So Random!)
|
May 3
|
Noah Munck
|
Actor (iCarly, The Goldbergs)
|
May 8
|
Noah Centineo
|
Actor (The Fosters)
|
May 9
|
Mary Mouser
|
Actress (Body of Proof, Scandal, Cobra Kai)
|
May 14
|
McKaley Miller
|
Actress
|
May 17
|
Ryan Ochoa
|
Actor (iCarly, Pair of Kings)
|
May 18
|
Violett Beane
|
Actress
|
May 24
|
Frank Dolce
|
Actor (Sons of Tucson)
|
June 2
|
Jacy Jayne
|
Pro wrestler[16]
|
June 16
|
Cody Lohan
|
Actor (Living Lohan)
|
June 20
|
Claudia Lee
|
Actress
|
June 25
|
Lele Pons
|
Actress and youtuber[17]
|
July 16
|
Nicky Jones
|
Voice actor (Chowder)
|
July 13
|
Jena Irene
|
Singer (American Idol)[18]
|
July 16
|
Chayce Beckham
|
Singer (American Idol)[19]
|
July 17
|
Jermaine Harris
|
Actor (Saturdays)
|
July 21
|
Joey Bragg
|
Actor (Liv and Maddie)
|
July 22
|
Skyler Gisondo
|
Actor
|
July 23
|
Rachel G. Fox
|
Actress
|
July 24
|
Herizen F. Guardiola
|
Actress
|
July 30
|
Austin North
|
Actor (I Didn't Do It)
|
July 31
|
Blake Michael
|
Actor (Dog With a Blog)
|
August 1
|
Cymphonique Miller
|
Actress (How to Rock) and singer
|
August 7
|
Liam James
|
Actor
|
August 12
|
Torri Webster
|
Canadian actress (Life with Boys)
|
August 13
|
Tessa Albertson
|
Actress
|
August 21
|
Jamia Simone Nash
|
Actress (The Backyardigans, The Young and the Restless)
|
August 22
|
Mickey Graue
|
Actor (Lost)
|
August 25
|
Naelee Rae
|
Actress (The Backyardigans, The Guiding Light)
|
September 1
|
Zendaya
|
Actress (Shake It Up, K.C. Undercover, Euphoria) and singer
|
September 2
|
Austin Abrams
|
Actor (Dash & Lily, Euphoria)
|
September 4
|
Victoria Moroles
|
Actress (Liv and Maddie, Teen Wolf)
|
September 6
|
Alex Christian Jones
|
Actor (Kickin' It)
|
September 10
|
Kamil McFadden
|
Actor (K.C. Undercover)
|
September 12
|
Colin Ford
|
Actor (Under the Dome, Jake on Jake and the Never Land Pirates)
|
September 13
|
Lili Reinhart
|
Actress (Riverdale)
|
September 15
|
Jake Cherry
|
Actor
|
September 18
|
Kurt Doss
|
Actor (Ruby & the Rockits)
|
October 9
|
Bella Hadid
|
American model and sister of Gigi Hadid
|
October 10
|
Sarah Carpenter
|
Actress (Girl Meets World)
|
October 16
|
Tyler Perez
|
Actor (WITS Academy)
|
October 28
|
Sarah Carpenter
|
Actress (Girl Meets World)
|
November 2
|
Liam Obergfoll
|
Actress (Talia in the Kitchen)
|
November 6
|
Chelsea Zhang
|
Actress (Titans, Daybreak, Andi Mack)
|
November 14
|
Mason Gooding
|
Actor (Love, Victor)
|
November 18
|
Noah Ringer
|
Actor
|
November 19
|
Gabrielle Elyse
|
Actress (Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, The Thundermans)
|
November 21
|
Grace Van Patten
|
Actress
|
November 22
|
Hailey Bieber
|
American fashion model and daughter of Stephen Baldwin
|
Mackenzie Lintz
|
Actress (Under the Dome)
|
Madison Davenport
|
Actress (Shameless, From Dusk till Dawn: The Series) and singer
|
December 6
|
Stefanie Scott
|
Actress (A.N.T. Farm)
|
December 8
|
Teala Dunn
|
Actress (Wonder Pets, The Naked Brothers Band, Are We There Yet?, The Thundermans)
|
December 11
|
Hailee Steinfeld
|
Actress and singer
|
Jack Griffo
|
Actor (The Thundermans) and singer
|
December 20
|
Timothy McCartney
|
Actor
|
December 21
|
Kaitlyn Dever
|
Actress (Justified, Last Man Standing)
|
December 29
|
Dylan Minnette
|
Actor (Lost, Awake, 13 Reasons Why)
|
December 30
|
Raymond Cham
|
Actor (Mech-X4)
|
Deaths
See also
References
- ^ "Briefs: ValueVision International Inc". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. March 1, 1996. p. D3. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Heldenfels, R.D.; Hoffman, Steve; Quinn, Jim; Hoiles, Robert (February 29, 1996). "WAKC Kills News: New owner pulls plug, fires at least 15, decision on resuming show is months away, ABC affiliation under review". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. A1. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via NewsBank.
- ^ "Our opinion: And now, the news (Editorial)". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. March 30, 2001. p. A14. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ The Adventures of Elmer & Friends, Episode 1, with Bob Ross: A Magical Musical
- ^ Nagourney, Adam (October 6, 1996). "Dole Concludes Debate Preparation by Asking Bush for Advice". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ Gray, Jerry (October 9, 1996). "Gore and Kemp Practice Jabs for Tonight's Encounter". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ Nagourney, Adam (October 16, 1996). "Dole Accuses Clinton of Devaluing Presidency". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ Feran, Tom (November 14, 1996). "Channel 23 will cancel affiliation with ABC-TV". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio. p. 11B. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022 – via NewsBank.
- ^ Heldenfels, R.D. (November 14, 1996). "WAKC to change format, drop ABC shows: Infomercials, religious programs likely to replace network lineup at end of year. Florida firm's decision surprises Channel 23 manager, pleases Cleveland station". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. D4. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022 – via NewsBank.
- ^ Watson, Charles S. (2003). Horton Foote: A Literary Biography. Austin, TX: The University of Texas Press. p. 170. ISBN 0-292-79160-7. "Lily Dale is one of the Cycle plays that has been filmed. It appeared on Showtime on June 9, 1996, sponsored by Hallmark Entertainment. "
- ^ [1] from Broadcasting & Cable
- ^ [2] from Broadcasting & Cable
- ^ [3] from Broadcasting & Cable
- ^ [4] from Broadcasting & Cable
- ^ "Inside the mind of AEW's Maxwell Jacob Friedman and why he is the most hated pro wrestler today | Sporting News". www.sportingnews.com. May 24, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ "Jacy Jayne WWE: Latest news and updates @ Sportskeeda". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ Berg, Madeline. "Meet Lele Pons: The Latina Star Taking Over The Digital World". Forbes. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ^ Bronson, Fred (March 20, 2014). "'American Idol' Season 13: Jena Irene Stays Thankful for Middle School Breakups". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ Cruz, Rene Ray De La. "'I'm here and I'm doing this': An interview with 'American Idol' hopeful Chayce Beckham". Victorville Daily Press. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
External links