In the summer of 1985, Constance Wodlinger, head of Wodlinger Broadcasting, Inc., set up a low power television station on the 35th floor of the Allied Bank Plaza/First Interstate Plaza (now Wells Fargo Plaza) in Houston, Texas. On July 12, 1985, K05HU signed on the air as "Houston Hit Video TV 5," and debuted a MTV-like format with VJs (Video Jockeys) and music videos. The first video was Bruce Springstein's "Born in The USA."
Within a matter of months, TV 5 went nationwide as a 24-hour music television music network called "Hit Video USA." |
|
|
Joe Donalson, at the time a teenager, fondly recalls both the station along with a talented VJ (Video Jockey) named Robin Craig. At AstroWorld, where TV 5 was conducting a promotion, Robin gave Joe a T-shirt (above pic) that he has kept and treasured for over 30 years.
As HIt Video USA grew in popularity, independent TV stations across the nation -- along with numerous cable television systems -- decided to become affiliates. Viacom, the owner of MTV and VH1, grew concerned about possible loss of viewership. To stifle competition, Viacom started paying record companies for "exclusive rights" to new videos. This effectively blocked Hit Video USA from broadcasting the "hits." Thus, Wodlinger filed a federal lawsuit alleging Viacom violated various antitrust statutes. Although lawyer protracted the litigation for many years, in 1993 the controversy was finally resolved in an out of court settlement. Viacom paid millions to buy out TV 5/Hit Video USA, and quietly shut the network down. The license for K05HU was cancelled by the FCC on October 1, 1993. [LINK]
As HIt Video USA grew in popularity, independent TV stations across the nation -- along with numerous cable television systems -- decided to become affiliates. Viacom, the owner of MTV and VH1, grew concerned about possible loss of viewership. To stifle competition, Viacom started paying record companies for "exclusive rights" to new videos. This effectively blocked Hit Video USA from broadcasting the "hits." Thus, Wodlinger filed a federal lawsuit alleging Viacom violated various antitrust statutes. Although lawyer protracted the litigation for many years, in 1993 the controversy was finally resolved in an out of court settlement. Viacom paid millions to buy out TV 5/Hit Video USA, and quietly shut the network down. The license for K05HU was cancelled by the FCC on October 1, 1993. [LINK]
In recent years, MTV and VH1 have moved away from programming music videos, instead force-feeding "reality" shows on a not-so-willing public. Folks fondly recall the old commercial where they were prompted to call their cable TV provider demanding "I Want My MTV!" People still want it, but they're not getting it.
...at least not until now.
Technology has brought about many changes in the telecommunications industry. It used to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to set up a TV station; now, its possible for one man, using with a laptop computer, to program and remotely control a TV station from anywhere. Given the nature of the internet, it's also possible to stream the station to every corner of planet Earth!
...at least not until now.
Technology has brought about many changes in the telecommunications industry. It used to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to set up a TV station; now, its possible for one man, using with a laptop computer, to program and remotely control a TV station from anywhere. Given the nature of the internet, it's also possible to stream the station to every corner of planet Earth!
|
The spirit of Hit Video USA lives on, resurrected and reincarnated as JoeTV.
Enjoy. |
|
