Circle (TV network)
Circle is an American digital multicast television network that is owned by Circle Media, a joint venture of Gray Television and Ryman Hospitality Properties subsidiary Opry Entertainment Group. The network's programming consists of country music and lifestyle programs—much of it made up of original productions—as well as other programming with a country music or rural living focus.
The network—which broadcasts in 480i standard definition—is available primarily through the digital subchannels of broadcast television stations, as well as on Dish Network, select cable television and IPTV providers through a local affiliate of the network. Circle Media is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.
Background
Circle is Ryman Hospitality Properties' fourth entry into television network ownership. From its founding in 1983 until 1997, the company—known then as the Gaylord Entertainment Company—was owner of The Nashville Network. Gaylord later bought a second country music-oriented cable network, Country Music Television, in 1991. Gaylord Entertainment sold both networks to the CBS Cable unit of CBS Corporation in 1997 for $1.55 billion feeling that the two then-country networks could grow faster as part of a larger media company. Gaylord, however, retained CMT International. Gaylord Cable Networks took its stakes in TV Argentina and CMT International to launch the MusicCountry channel in Mexico and Argentine in 2000. Then on September 1, 2000, the company launched the MusicCountry service in Europe. Gaylord would subsequently rebrand CMT channels in Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Asia-Pacific region's areas to the MusicCountry brand.History
Towards the end of the 2010s, Ryman Hospitality was looking to venture back into television. Its Opry Entertainment unit also co-produced Nashville. In 2018, Ryman had settled on a broadcast television network and began pursuing starting one as they felt country music fans are underserved. Ryman tested nine potential shows via a sizzle reel with excellent responses from focus group sessions.Ryman and Gray Television announced a joint venture between Gray and Ryman's subsidiary, Opry Entertainment Group on April 24, 2019 to launch a broadcast television network in early 2020 and an online streaming service later. The unnamed network was planned to feature the Grand Opry archives and performances from the Opry and its other music venues. The joint venture partners announced the name of the network, Circle, on October 17, 2019 with Gray stations as charter affiliates. On December 16, 2019, the January 1, 2020 launch date and 16 new programs for the network were announced. Additional, CBS Television Stations was also on board in major markets bring the network to 56 markets and 50% of the country.
Programming
Circle features programming geared toward both fans of the country music genre and rural audiences, a similar demographic targeted by competing country music-oriented multicast networks Heartland and The Country Network. Circle's programming primarily features a mix of original and acquired series with a country music or Southern lifestyle-centric format.As the network was under development, Circle Media developed several original productions for the network's inaugural programming slate—aiming to make it one of a handful of digital multicast services that carry original programming, and one of the few to offer a large original content slate. On December 11, 2019, Circle Media announced that it had greenlit 16 original programs slated to debut on the network in Circle's first five months of operation, including a simulcast of WSM Radio's Coffee, Country & Cody, and the music and interview series The Dailey and Vincent Show which moved from the show's prior four-year home, RFD-TV. and several docu-series.
Among the initial offerings were all surviving episodes of Hee Haw.
Current programming
Original programming
Music/interview programming
- Backstage at the Opry – Docu-series following artists preparing for performances at the Grand Ole Opry.
- Bluebird Café Sessions – Music series featuring performances from popular and up-and-coming country artists, recorded at the iconic Bluebird Café in Nashville.
- Coffee, Country & Cody – Three-hour television simulcast of the WSM Radio morning program; hosted by Bill Cody with co-host Charlie Mattos and entertainment correspondent Jo Smith.
- The Dailey & Vincent Show – Music series hosted by the bluegrass/country/gospel duo of Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent featuring solo and collaborative performances with popular country music artists.
- Fandom – Docu-series exploring the relationship between country artists and their fans from each's perspective.
- Opry Live – Music showcase of performances from legendary, modern chart-topping and up-and-coming artists at the Grand Ole Opry each week.
- My Opry Debut – Docu-series chronicling up-and-coming country artists making their debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry.
- Opry Anniversary – Docu-series chronicling country artists looking back at their debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry.
- Opry Docs – Docu-series hosted by contemporary artists chronicling the life and careers of legendary country musicians.
- Phil Vassar’s Songs from the Cellar – Music and interview series hosted by Phil Vassar, featuring interviews with artists, songwriters, entertainers, athletes and wine enthusiasts at his personal wine cellar.
- The Write Stuff – Docu-series chronicling the composition steps of country music's greatest songs.
Lifestyle/entertainment programming
- Authentic America – Hosted by veteran television host Nan Kelley and country artist Charlie Kelley, in which the married couple spotlight lesser-known attractions and eateries, and interesting people around the U.S.
- Bellamy Brothers' Honky Tonk Ranch – Reality series chronicling country duo David and Howard Bellamy's music career, and home and ranch life.
- Better Half – Reality docu-series chronicling the lives of the spouses of country and NASCAR stars.
- Craig's World – Docu-series featuring Craig Morgan dealing with the music world, his businesses and his family.
- Family Traditions – Docu-series profiling the descendants of legendary country music artists.
- Southern Weekend – Travel series highlighting attractions of note across the Southern U.S.; hosted by Natalie Stovall.
- Stand Up Nashville! – Stand-up comedy showcase recorded at Zanies Comedy Club in downtown Nashville.
Upcoming programming
Original programming
Lifestyle/entertainment programming
- Upstream – A fishing program featuring host Elizabeth Cook conducting conversations with country artists at various fishing locations.
Affiliates
Before its launch, Circle Media actively sought affiliation agreements with various television station owners to make the Circle network widely available throughout the United States. The network launched with clearance rate of, at minimum, 50% of overall American television households, in part due to affiliation agreements with stations owned by network co-parent Gray Television and CBS Television Stations, which provided Circle broad clearance in the 25 largest U.S. markets through the group's CW, MyNetworkTV and independent stations.
Ironically at the network's launch, Circle was not available over-the-air in the network's headquarters of Nashville, despite its status as the hub of the country music industry. Gray Television does not own any television stations in the Nashville television market and did not secure a local affiliate prior the network's debut. The network gained an affiliate in that market on January 31, 2020, via the DT5 subchannel of Meredith Local Media-owned NBC affiliate WSMV-TV, which was formerly owned alongside Ryman's Opry properties from 1950 until 1982.
In a few markets, the network is not available at all due to a lack of room to offer the network in full, but local stations such as Milwaukee's WVTV-DT2 carry the Opry telecast on a tape delay direct from Circle and air it on their primary channel as a Saturday night offering.