WBGR move improves lineup of sports, classic TV shows

Say goodbye to “I Love Lucy” and old Western movie marathons on Bangor television station WBGR (Channel 33).

In an effort to further diversify their everyday programming lineup and provide niche TV programming to viewers who aren’t currently served by local stations in Greater Bangor, WBGR has affiliated itself with the America One television network, a move that will provide more sports programming as well as unique, syndicated offerings like the Jack Benny Show, the Andy Griffith Show, and Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures.

Fans of “Bonanza” (the Lorne Greene show, not the restaurant) can relax, however, as that Western staple will continue to air each weekday.

Sports fans can smile as the addition of America One’s programming brings with it Big East college football, Canadian Football League broadcasts, ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) coverage, various auto racing/motorsports highlights shows, and sport fishing programs.

Some of the more unique shows include “Jr Motorsports,” which features youths racing in go-karts and junior dragsters, which can reach 60 mph; “Freerider,” an extreme sports show focusing on snowboarding skateboarding and surfboarding; and “Horse TV,” a show featuring equestrian coverage as well as rodeo, polo and any other sport involving horses.

“It’s not heavy on sports, but it does offer some and that’s a direction we’re trying to head back to more,” said WBGR sales manager Bob Wilber. “What it has done is help us reach a part of the Bangor market that none of the other stations are.”

WBGR, which has been airing America One programming now since the first week of July, will still be a PAX Network affiliate as well. The arrangement is possible because America One’s programming primarily fills the morning and mid-afternoon portions of the weekend and weekday schedules while PAX’s is exclusively primetime (7-11 p.m.).

In addition, WBGR will continue to pick up network sports programming that becomes available when local CBS affiliate WABI (Channel 5) can’t clear it on its schedule. For example, WABI doesn’t usually air CBS’ late Saturday afternoon Southeastern Conference (SEC) football games because they tend to run over into the 6 p.m. local news half-hour. WABI began offering them to WBGR three years ago so Division I football fans wouldn’t be left on the sidelines.

Another such opportunity for WBGR comes next month when it takes two days’ worth of U.S. Open tennis coverage from CBS on Labor Day weekend. WABI, which is committed to its annual Labor Day Telethon, is unable to do both.

“We don’t run a lot of things cover-to-cover for 31/2 hours, but when we get a chance to do bigger network sporting events, we almost always take them,” Wilber said.

MSNBC focuses on Eastler

American Olympic team member and racewalker Kevin Eastler of Farmington could get some live TV exposure later this month when MSNBC provides both live coverage of the 20-kilometer racewalk gold medal-final from Athens,on Aug. 20. Eastler, who leaves for Athens on Aug. 10, must qualify for the final.

The coverage will last from 2 to 7 a.m. The exact time of the race is undetermined at this time. The race will be aired on a tape-delay basis on Telemundo sometime between 1 and 8 p.m. that same day.

FSNNE getting Can’ned

Former Boston Red Sox and Bangor Blue Ox pitcher Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd will appear as a guest on Friday’s edition of Fox Sports Net New England’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period.” Friday’s show airs at 8:30 and 11 p.m. It’s a safe bet the quotable Can will have a few interesting observations.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600 or at aneff@bangordailynews.net