Another country music channel rides into town

I was channel surfing Monday afternoon after work, and what did I find? A surprising change in digital subchannels.

Fox affiliate WXXA keeps changing its digital sub-station every couple of years or so. First, they had the Variety Channel, which lived up to its name by airing all sorts of public domain programming, including reruns of The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet (now on Retro) and Betty Boop shorts. Then, that was replaced by Untamed Sports, which was meant to be a more accessible complement to the Outdoor & Sportsman's Channels, which are premium channels where I am. Next came TheCoolTV, and while that was quickly a destination point, it didn't deliver music 24/7/365, pausing for TimeLife infomercials and a daily kids' program, the latter to meet FCC E/I guidelines.

Now, TheCoolTV quietly bids farewell, replaced by The Country Network, out of Boca Raton, Florida. They, too, will pause for kids' programming, but it's a 3-hour block on Saturdays of Gina D's Kids Club. The Country Network is linked mostly with Sinclair Broadcasting stations, and WXXA is one of the rare affiliates not linked with Sinclair (rivals WRGB & WCWN were bought by Sinclair a few months ago). The jury's out on The Country Channel, which has a playlist dating back to the 80's. As long as they don't deviate too far and start running repeats of, oh, I don't know, Desperate Housewives........