RFD-TV
Encyclopedia
RFD-TV, or Rural Free Delivery TV, is a United States
satellite and cable television channel devoted to rural issues, concerns, and interests. The channel's name is a reference to Rural Free Delivery
, the name for the United States Postal Service
's system of delivering mail directly to rural patrons. Production and uplinking occurs at Northstar Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
, while the corporate and national sales office is in Omaha, Nebraska
.
The station was launched in December 2000 and is currently distributed via the Dish Network
and DirecTV
satellite systems, as well as through the Mediacom
, Charter Communications
, Cox Communications
, Comcast
, Verizon FiOS
and Time Warner
cable systems.
The network has begun to extend its brand further, opening a theater in Branson, Missouri
called RFD-TV The Theater (housed in the former venue of comedian Ray Stevens
) in early 2007, and launched an HDTV version of the channel in the fall.
It is marketed as "Rural America's Most Important Network" and its programming is similar to the now-defunct The Nashville Network
(which was eventually replaced by Spike). A U.K. version called Rural TV
launched on March 2nd, 2009.
Much of the programming of RFD-TV is concerned with the culture of farming and agriculture, as well as the culture of the Great Plains
of North America
and the agriculture associated with that area. The network does not air infomercial
s, instead supplementing its advertising revenue with the sales of a company magazine and other merchandise. The network also restricts its advertising and programming to products, advertisements, and shows fit to be seen by a family audience; products such as erectile dysfunction
medications and male enhancement products are not shown on RFD-TV. The network does feature traditional 30-second advertising commercials and holds special phone-in forums from time to time sponsored by organizations such as Monsanto
(for their RoundUp
product line), John Deere
, and the Medicare
program, though the sponsorship of each program is clearly disclaimed in programming listings and disclaimers and hosts do not have interests in the products.
At least two stations broadcast RFD-TV over the air: Selective TV, Inc.
broadcasts RFD-TV in the Alexandria, Minnesota
area as part of a slate of cable-to-air channels, on channel 34. K22CU in Cortez, Colorado
, part of a similar slate of channels, broadcasts RFD-TV on its digital subchannel
, 22.3. RFD-TV also offers its programming via subscription Internet television
.
returned to radio in late 2007, he had also struck a deal to simulcast Imus in the Morning
on RFD-TV. The program broadcast from 6am to 9am on weekdays, along with a primetime play of the program on RFD-HD (which features a different programming schedule from RFD-TV's SD slate). During much of the show's run, a news ticker was shown with the day's news, much like Imus' days on MSNBC
. The program left RFD-TV on August 28, 2009, and moved to Fox Business Network
several weeks later.
The show was replaced by "The RFD-TV Polka Fest" on 05 January 2011, and airs during the same time schedule.
and Bluegrass & Backroads
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
satellite and cable television channel devoted to rural issues, concerns, and interests. The channel's name is a reference to Rural Free Delivery
Rural delivery service
Rural delivery service refers to the delivery of mail in what are traditionally considered rural areas. In the United States, rural letter carriers began service with the experiments with Rural Free Delivery in 1891...
, the name for the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
's system of delivering mail directly to rural patrons. Production and uplinking occurs at Northstar Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, while the corporate and national sales office is in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
.
The station was launched in December 2000 and is currently distributed via the Dish Network
Dish Network
Dish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
and DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
satellite systems, as well as through the Mediacom
Mediacom
Mediacom is a cable television and communications provider in the United States. Founded in July 1995, it serves primarily smaller markets in the Midwest and Southern United States. Formerly a publicly traded firm, it went private in a $600.0 million transaction in March 2011 and is, as of 2011,...
, Charter Communications
Charter Communications
Charter Communications is an American company providing cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephone services to more than 4.7 million customers in 25 states. By revenues, it is the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, behind Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Cox Communications...
, Cox Communications
Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television, telecommunications and wireless services in the United States...
, Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
, Verizon FiOS
Verizon FiOS
Verizon FiOS is a bundled Internet access, telephone, and television service which operates over a fiber-optic communications network. It is offered in some areas of the United States by Verizon Communications. Verizon was one of the first major U.S...
and Time Warner
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
cable systems.
The network has begun to extend its brand further, opening a theater in Branson, Missouri
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
called RFD-TV The Theater (housed in the former venue of comedian Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens is an American country music, pop singer-songwriter who has become known for his novelty songs.-Early career:...
) in early 2007, and launched an HDTV version of the channel in the fall.
It is marketed as "Rural America's Most Important Network" and its programming is similar to the now-defunct The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network, usually referred to as TNN, was an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming included music videos, taped concerts, movies, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows...
(which was eventually replaced by Spike). A U.K. version called Rural TV
Rural TV
RURAL TV is the Rural lifestyle and culture television channel and brand, broadcast in the United Kingdom. In addition, the channel broadcast free-to-air throughout Europe on the Eurobird 1 satellite...
launched on March 2nd, 2009.
Much of the programming of RFD-TV is concerned with the culture of farming and agriculture, as well as the culture of the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and the agriculture associated with that area. The network does not air infomercial
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
s, instead supplementing its advertising revenue with the sales of a company magazine and other merchandise. The network also restricts its advertising and programming to products, advertisements, and shows fit to be seen by a family audience; products such as erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
medications and male enhancement products are not shown on RFD-TV. The network does feature traditional 30-second advertising commercials and holds special phone-in forums from time to time sponsored by organizations such as Monsanto
Monsanto
The Monsanto Company is a US-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is the world's leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed in the "Roundup" brand of herbicides, and in other brands...
(for their RoundUp
Roundup
Roundup is the brand name of a systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide produced by the U.S. company Monsanto, and contains the active ingredient glyphosate. Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the USA, and Roundup has been the number one selling herbicide worldwide since at least 1980...
product line), John Deere
John Deere
John Deere was an American blacksmith and manufacturer who founded Deere & Company, one of the largest and leading agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers in the world...
, and the Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
program, though the sponsorship of each program is clearly disclaimed in programming listings and disclaimers and hosts do not have interests in the products.
At least two stations broadcast RFD-TV over the air: Selective TV, Inc.
Selective TV, Inc.
Selective TV, Inc. is an over-the-air broadcasting company in Alexandria, Minnesota. It is notable for retransmitting several pay television channels for free over the air, one of only a few known broadcasters to have such an arrangement Selective TV, Inc. is an over-the-air broadcasting company in...
broadcasts RFD-TV in the Alexandria, Minnesota
Alexandria, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,820 people, however the most recent count suggests a population upwards of 10,000, which is displayed on Alexandria's city limits signs. The census lists 4,047 households, and 2,011 families residing in the city. The population density was 992.5 people per...
area as part of a slate of cable-to-air channels, on channel 34. K22CU in Cortez, Colorado
Cortez, Colorado
The city of Cortez is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Montezuma County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 8,482 at the 2010 census...
, part of a similar slate of channels, broadcasts RFD-TV on its digital subchannel
Digital subchannel
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual...
, 22.3. RFD-TV also offers its programming via subscription Internet television
Internet television
Internet television is the digital distribution of television content via the Internet...
.
Imus in the Morning
When Don ImusDon Imus
John Donald "Don" Imus, Jr. is an American radio host, humorist, philanthropist and writer. His nationally-syndicated talk show, Imus in the Morning, is broadcast throughout the United States by Citadel Media and relayed on television by the Fox Business Network.-Personal life:Imus was born in...
returned to radio in late 2007, he had also struck a deal to simulcast Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
on RFD-TV. The program broadcast from 6am to 9am on weekdays, along with a primetime play of the program on RFD-HD (which features a different programming schedule from RFD-TV's SD slate). During much of the show's run, a news ticker was shown with the day's news, much like Imus' days on MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
. The program left RFD-TV on August 28, 2009, and moved to Fox Business Network
Fox Business Network
Fox Business Network is an American cable news and satellite news television channel that began broadcasting on October 15, 2007. It is owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation...
several weeks later.
The Big Joe Polka Show
One of the very first programs to be aired on RFD-TV was "The Big Joe Polka Show", a Polka and dance variety program hosted by Omaha resident Joseph "Big Joe" Siedlik, which continued to be popular among the network's estimated (approximately) 40-plus million available households until its final RFD-TV airing on 01 January 2011. In 2010, litigation commenced between RFD-TV and Polka Cassettes of Nebraska, the creators/producers of "The Big Joe Polka Show" involving several lawsuits and counter suits (mostly over a contractual dispute). RFD-TV contends they had an option to air the program until December 31, 2010, while Polka Cassettes of Nebraska contends that the show was being aired against their wishes, and after cessation of the effectiveness of the previous contract, which expired on December 31, 2009. In August 2010, a multi-million dollar "slander and defamation" suit was brought against Polka Cassettes of Nebraska by RFD-TV.The show was replaced by "The RFD-TV Polka Fest" on 05 January 2011, and airs during the same time schedule.
Programs
Other programs added in Winter 2007-08 included a revival of Crook & ChaseCrook & Chase
Crook & Chase is an American television talk show hosted by Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase, focusing primarily but not exclusively on country music....
and Bluegrass & Backroads
Bluegrass & Backroads
Kentucky Farm Bureau's Bluegrass & Backroads is a television program produced by and based in Louisville, Kentucky. The half hour program focuses on interesting cultural, historical, and artistic aspects of the Bluegrass State. The program is currently hosted and produced by Robert Shrader and...
.
Agriculture
- Ag PhD
- America's Heartland
- Prairie Farm Report
- Georgia Farm Monitor
- California Country
- Successful Farming Machinery Show
- Superior Livestock Video Auctions
- Making it Grow
- Virginia Farming
- Farmweek
- Today’s Ag
- Louisiana Ag
- The Cattle Show
- Down Home Virginia
- Oklahoma Horizon
- Machinery of the Past
- FFA Convention
- FFA “LIVE”
- RFD-TV “LIVE”
- National Tractor Pull
- This week in Agribusiness (hosted by Orion SamuelsonOrion SamuelsonOrion "The Big O" Samuelson is an American broadcaster, most widely known for hosting U.S. Farm Report. He was inducted in to the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2003.-Biography:...
and Max ArmstrongMax ArmstrongMax Armstrong is an American agriculture broadcaster from Chicago, Illinois.He is almost universally associated with being the associate of Orion Samuelson, and co-hosts with Samuelson the Morning Show and Noon Show on WGN radio in Chicago, and This Week in Agribusiness on RFD-TV and in television...
) - Brazil Ag Report (formerly listed as Brazil Extension)
- U.S. Farm ReportU.S. Farm ReportThe U.S. Farm Report is a weekly syndicated United States television news program, presented in magazine format, which has a focus on agriculture and agribusiness....
Equine
- All Around Performance Horse WeeklyAll Around Performance Horse WeeklyAll Around Performance Horse Weekly is a show about performance horses and the Cowboys/Cowgirls that ride them. AAPHW is truly All-Around! Come Ride With Us! This weekly RFD-TV show is hosted by team ropers Sean Koehler, John Klam and Scott Cobb,...
- Wide World of Horses
- Dennis Reis
- Clinton Anderson
- Chris Cox
- Horse Sense
- Parelli Natural Horsemanship
- HorseCity.com TV
- Meredith Hodges
- Horse Babies
- Horseman's Edge
- Charles Wilhelm
- Paso Fino
- Dressage UnLtd.
- Ken McNabb
- Craig Cameron
- Linda Tellington-Jones
- The Roping Show
- Best Of America By Horseback
- Inside Eventing
- Extreme Cowboy Race
- Horse Master
- Equestrian Nation
- Women's Pro Rodeo Today
Music and Entertainment
- Hee HawHee HawHee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...
- The Porter Wagoner Show
- The Wilburn BrothersThe Wilburn BrothersThe Wilburn Brothers were a popular American country music duo from the 1950s to the 1970s consisting of brothers Doyle Wilburn and Teddy Wilburn .-Biography:...
Show - Polka America With Jimmy Sturr
- Cumberland Highlanders
- Midwest Country
- Pop! Goes the CountryPop! Goes the CountryPop! Goes the Country was a weekly half-hour syndicated variety country music television series between September 7, 1974 and January 1, 1982 for a total of 234 episodes...
- Gaither Gospel Hour
- 'Out There' With Baxter Black
- The Penny Gilley Show
- RFD-TV The Theatre (Branson, MissouriBranson, MissouriBranson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
) - Texas Country ReporterTexas Country ReporterTexas Country Reporter is a weekly syndicated television program hosted and produced by Bob Phillips. It airs in all 22 Texas media markets, generally on weekends, and reruns are broadcast nationally on the satellite/cable channel RFD-TV...
- Ralph EmeryRalph EmeryWalter Ralph Emery is a country music disc jockey and television host from Nashville, Tennessee. He gained national fame hosting the syndicated television music series, Pop! Goes the Country, from 1974 to 1980 and the nightly Nashville Network television program, Nashville Now, from 1983 to 1993...
- Crook & ChaseCrook & ChaseCrook & Chase is an American television talk show hosted by Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase, focusing primarily but not exclusively on country music....
- The Marty Stuart ShowMarty StuartJohn Martin "Marty" Stuart is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for both his traditional style, and eclectic merging of rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music...
- PBR Now
- The Roy RogersRoy RogersRoy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
Happy Trails Theatre/The Roy Rogers Show
Rural Lifestyle
- Southern Fresh
- Classic Tractor Fever
- Talk’n Tractors
- Texas Country ReporterTexas Country ReporterTexas Country Reporter is a weekly syndicated television program hosted and produced by Bob Phillips. It airs in all 22 Texas media markets, generally on weekends, and reruns are broadcast nationally on the satellite/cable channel RFD-TV...
- Dakota Life
- Trains & Locomotives
- Campfire CafeCampfire CaféCampfire Café is a American cooking show on RFD-TV produced by EMG Productions. It premiered on August 2, 2002 and was hosted by Johnny Nix at the time. A new season of the series is set to premiere in Fall 2011....
- Rural Heritage
- Michigan Magazine
- Quilt in a DayQuilt in a DayQuilt in a Day is both a book and a television series. Eleanor Burns self-published her first book Make a Quilt in a Day: Log Cabin Pattern in 1978. She is considered one of the most well known quilters in America today. Her shows air on PBS, Quilters TV, QNN TV, and RFD-TV....
- The American Rancher
- 20X Rodeo High
- Bluegrass & BackroadsBluegrass & BackroadsKentucky Farm Bureau's Bluegrass & Backroads is a television program produced by and based in Louisville, Kentucky. The half hour program focuses on interesting cultural, historical, and artistic aspects of the Bluegrass State. The program is currently hosted and produced by Robert Shrader and...
- Dutch Oven Cooking
- I Love Toy Trains
- Ms. Lucy’s Cajun Cooking
- Justin Wilson Lookin' Back
- Living The Country Life
- Heartland Highways
- Carolina Explorer
- Alaska TV Magazine
- Cowboy Flavor
Former programs
The following programs were aired on RFD-TV at one point, but are no longer listed on the official website.- UK Extension (Agriculture)
- Richard Winters (Equine)
- Lynn Palm (Equine)
- Richard Shrake (Equine)
- Monty Roberts (Equine)
- RV Today (Rural Lifestyle)
- Turnin' To Country (Travel / Lifestyle)
- Country Carnival
- Showcase Jubilee
- Imus in the MorningImus in the MorningImus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
(Entertainment)