Wikipedia

The Country Network

(Redirected from Zuus Country)

The Country Network is an American cable, streaming and broadcast television network that specializes in broadcasting country music videos and exclusive original music-based content; its playlist of videos extends from the 1990s through the present day. The network also airs occasional infomercials and traditional advertising.

The Country Network
TypeBroadcast television network
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersHaltom City, Texas
Ownership
OwnerTCN Country, LLC
History
LaunchedJanuary 7, 2009
Former namesArtists & Fans Network (2009)
American Music Video Network (2009–2010)
ZUUS Country (2013–2016)
Links
Websitetcncountry.com

The network is headquartered in Haltom City, Texas, with offices in Nashville, Tennessee, and New York.

History

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The network first launched on January 7, 2009, as the Artists & Fans Network; the music video that inaugurated the network was the Kid Rock video "All Summer Long". AFN was first carried on satellite through DirecTV on channel 236.

In August 2009, after suffering from financial problems, Southern Venture Capital Group sold all the assets of the company to one of the founders, Warren Hansen, who then changed its name to the American Music Video Network, and rolled out the programming with a new look and feel. On February 15, 2010, the company was renamed The Country Network to represent its focus on country music. Around this time, The Country Network began to transition into a digital multicast network, carried over-the-air on broadcast television stations across the United States as well as the first broadcast network to simulcast to Roku, iPhone, iPad, web, and other OTT outlets.

On May 20, 2013, Zuus Media announced its acquisition of The Country Network. On June 1, 2013, Zuus Media announced the rebranding as Zuus Country. Zuus Country was to be the first of several music video networks of various formats. Only one of these other formats, Zuus Latino, ever made it to air.[1]

In January 2016, the network was purchased by a Texas-based company, TCN Country LLC, with a 43,000-square-foot studio, production and broadcast facility. TCN Country changed the brand back to The Country Network, reviving its original name and logo for the revival of the network.[2][3]

In 2021, The Country Network, after having previously placed its online Web stream behind a paywall, launched TCN FAST (Free Advertising Supported Television), a free online feed of the channel that is distributed through advertiser-supported over-the-top streaming services.

Affiliates

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As of 2013, Zuus Country has television stations in over 41 television markets in 26 states, covering approximately 34 million over the air households an 18 million cable subscribers. ZUUS Country (at the time, still named The Country Network) signed a deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group in August 2010 to be carried on digital subchannels of Sinclair stations in most of its media markets;[4] the network began airing on Sinclair owned and/or operated stations on October 10, 2010. After Sinclair's original drop of several affiliates in late 2015, the network was down to 24 markets (The contract with Sinclair was expired in June 2017). When TCN Country LLC purchased the network, they immediately started growing the distribution and as of January 30, 2017 the network was up to 54 markets along with the launch of a Roku channel and a slot on smart TVs manufactured by Hitachi and Panasonic.

As of 2019, most of The Country Network's affiliates are low-powered stations controlled by HC2 Holdings or its subsidiary DTV America.

Current affiliates

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City Station Channel
TV[5] / RF 		Owner

California

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Bakersfield KCBT-LD 34.5 (34) Cocola Broadcasting
Fresno KMSG-LD 39.5 (29) Cocola Broadcasting
Los Angeles KFLA-LD 8.1 (8) Roy Mayhugh
Monterey KMBY-LD 27.6 (27) Cocola Broadcasting
Sacramento KSAO-LD 49.7 (49) Cocola Broadcasting
San Francisco KCNZ-CD 28.15 (3) Poquito Mas Communications

Florida

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Orlando WRCF-CD 29.4 (35) Univision Communications

Georgia

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Atlanta WDWW-LD 28.1 (28) DTV America

Idaho

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Boise KZAK-LD 49.3 (35) Cocola Broadcasting

Indiana

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Fort Wayne WLMO-LD 2.4 (2) Metro Video Production

Iowa

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Des Moines KCYM-LD 45.2 (26) DTV America

Kansas

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Topeka KSQA 12.1 (12) Barbara Wade (51%)
Cooper-Fowler Media (49%)
Sublette, Kansas KDGL-LD 23.4 (23) High Plains Broadcasting, LLC.

Kentucky

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Bowling Green WDNZ-LD 11.3 (11) Daily News Broadcasting Company

Missouri

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Joplin KPJO-LD 49.5 (31) DTV America
Kansas City KAJF-LD 21.1 (16) DTV America

North Carolina

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Charlotte WVEB-LD 40.2 (14) DTV America
Durham WUBX-CD 31.1 (24) L4 Media Group, LLC

Oklahoma

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Oklahoma City KTOU-LD 21.5 (21) HC2 Holdings

Puerto Rico

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Ceiba W18DZ-D 18.2 (18) TV Red de Puerto Rico, Inc.

Tennessee

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Nashville WJDE-CD 31.2 (23) Word Broadcasting Network

Texas

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Amarillo KAUO-LD 15.1 (14) DTV America
Austin KADF-LD 20.2 (20) Bridge Media Networks
Waco KZCZ-LD 34.1 (20) DTV America
Houston KBPX-LD 46.6 (27) Word Broadcasting Network
Dallas KJJM-LD 34.7 (34) HC2 Holdings

References

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  1. ^ ZUUS Media Announces The Launch Of Its Next Generation Music Video Network, PR Newswire, May 20, 2013.
  2. ^ "The Country Network Returns On-Air, Online". TVNewsCheck.com. May 2, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  3. ^ [ The Country Network returns onair & online]
  4. ^ "Sinclair links with The Country Network to fill digital TV tier". Television Business Report. August 23, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  5. ^ Rabbitears.info results on ZUUS Country
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