Weekend Adventure
Networksyndicated to ABC owned-and-operated stations and affiliates[1]
American Forces Network[2]
LaunchedSeptember 3, 2011 (2011-09-03)
Country of originUnited States
OwnerHearst Media Production Group
Formerly known asABC Weekend Adventure (pre-launch)
Litton's Weekend Adventure (2011–2022)
FormatSaturday morning educational program block
Running time3 hours
Original language(s)English

Weekend Adventure (originally known as ABC Weekend Adventure and Litton's Weekend Adventure) is an American syndicated programming block that is produced by Hearst Media Production Group, and airs weekend mornings on the owned-and-operated stations and affiliates of ABC. The block features live-action documentary and lifestyle series aimed at a family audience that meet educational programming requirements defined by the Children's Television Act.[3][4] Announced on May 24, 2011, Litton's Weekend Adventure premiered on September 3, 2011, replacing the ABC Kids block.[5][6][7][8]

The block is syndicated to ABC stations directly rather than being part of the network's official schedule. This was the result of a compromise between the network and its stations after ABC management decided in 2010 that it no longer wanted to provide educational programming. Thus, Weekend Adventure does not contain any ABC branding or promotions, and likewise is not promoted directly by ABC on-air or mentioned on the network's website.

Background

The block came as a result of ABC's decision in March 2010 to no longer provide E/I programming as part of its Saturday morning network lineup to its affiliates;[5] the network had not introduced any new E/I programs for its ABC Kids block since 2007, and those that had been airing on the network at the time of the decision consisted of reruns of Disney Channel sitcoms that had first aired on the block between September 2005 and May 2007, all of which were out of production by the time ABC Kids ended its run. In addition, before Haim Saban and Saban Brands repurchased the rights to the Power Rangers franchise from The Walt Disney Company in 2010,[9] several station groups that owned ABC affiliates (such as Hearst Television, which would later acquire a majority stake in Litton Entertainment in 2017[10] and Allbritton Communications) refused to carry any series from that franchise (or any other non-E/I-compliant shows within the block such as Kim Possible) or chose to run them only in low-rated early morning timeslots, and had demanded any lineup be fully educational so the stations would not have to purchase E/I programming from syndication distributors.

Most of the major commercial networks began restructuring their Saturday morning children's program blocks (with Fox dropping its outright) to comply to tightened educational content and advertising regulations in the Children's Television Act; cultural shifts and changes in viewing habits through the migration of younger viewers to cable channels, recordable and streaming media were also affecting viewership of children's lineups carried by broadcast television networks.

Original logo, used from September 3, 2011 to September 28, 2013.

As a compromise, the network's affiliate board agreed to instead look for a syndication package that would air exclusively on ABC owned-and-operated and affiliate stations. Litton Entertainment was eventually selected by the ABC affiliate board to program the block, beating out two other competitors[5] as a part of the winning presentation in which Litton suggested counterprogramming the then-usual Saturday morning fare by featuring unscripted and "pro-social programming" aimed at children and teenagers ages 7–17.

History

ABC and Litton Entertainment announced the block on May 24, 2011, for a fall 2011 launch,[5] under the working title "ABC Weekend Adventure." ABC initially signed deals with its owned-and-operated station group ABC Owned Television Stations, as well as affiliates owned by Cox Broadcasting, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Newport Television, and Post-Newsweek Stations to carry the block; these were followed by May 2011 with distribution agreements involving ABC stations owned by Belo, Bonten Media Group, Chambers Communications Corporation, Fisher Communications, Gannett Company, Hubbard Broadcasting, The E. W. Scripps Company, LIN TV Corporation, News-Press & Gazette Company, Young Broadcasting, and Weigel Broadcasting.[11]

The renamed Litton's Weekend Adventure launched on September 3, 2011, with six series: Jack Hanna's Wild Countdown, Ocean Mysteries with Jeff Corwin, Born to Explore with Richard Wiese, Culture Click, Everyday Health, and Food for Thought with Claire Thomas (originally titled The Delicious Adventures of Claire Thomas prior to its debut).[5] Two other series were also initially announced to be in development: the environment-focused Agents of Change (from producer Mark Koops)[5] and Earth: Angry Planet;[11] however, neither show was picked up to series. When the block debuted, Litton's Weekend Adventure became the first Saturday morning block to present all of its programs in high definition. On May 2, 2012, ABC and Litton reached an agreement to broadcast Weekend Adventure worldwide on the American Forces Network, beginning that June.[2]

On September 24, 2012, Litton announced that a television version of Everyday Health's YouTube series Recipe Rehab (one of several web series directly funded by the video sharing website as a part of a premium content initiative) would premiere on the block beginning on October 6, 2012[12] replacing the Everyday Health series.[13][14]

On September 28, 2013, Litton launched a competing Saturday morning block for CBS, the CBS Dream Team (which replaced the Cookie Jar TV block).[15] The following week on October 5, 2013, the Weekend Adventure block's "Health and Wellness Hour" (consisting of health and culinary programs that filled the third hour of the block) was discontinued as part of a refocusing towards exclusively wildlife-focused programs, with the move, Recipe Rehab migrated to CBS's Dream Team block.[16]

Subsequently, on October 4, 2014, Expedition Wild moved from Weekend Adventure to another Saturday morning block produced by Litton that launched on that date, One Magnificent Morning on The CW.[17]

In 2016, two stations disaffiliated from ABC due to varied issues; WKPT-TV in the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee and Virginia, and WSVI in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but as the Litton syndication contract for Weekend Adventure is separate from their expired ABC affiliation agreements, were able to continue to air Weekend Adventure for the time being. The new Tri-Cities ABC affiliate, WJHL-DT2, used programming from the Fox-associated Xploration Station block (which was turned down by WEMT) and other syndicated programming for their E/I contributions instead. In April 2017, Weekend Adventure moved to WJHL-DT2 after WKPT voided all of their syndication contracts to become a full-time carrier of Cozi TV.[18][19][20]

Programming

Programs featured on Litton's Weekend Adventure are designed to meet federally mandated educational programming guidelines, allowing ABC stations to comply with the three-hour weekly minimum for E/I content defined by the Federal Communications Commission.[4][5][6][7][8] However, some ABC stations may carry syndicated educational programs to provide additional E/I content supplementary to the block. Programs aired within the block may be deferred to Sunday daytime slots, or (in the case of affiliates in the Western United States) Saturday afternoons due to breaking news or severe weather coverage or, more commonly, regional or select national sports broadcasts (especially in the case of college football tournaments) scheduled in earlier Saturday timeslots as makegoods to comply with the E/I regulations. Some stations may air the entirety of the Weekend Adventure block on tape delay to accommodate local news or other programs of local interest (such as public affairs shows, real estate or lifestyle programs).

Current programming

Program Premiere date Replaced Notes References
Outback Adventures with Tim Faulkner October 4, 2014 Left on September 30, 2017 in favor of Vacation Creation and returned on October 3, 2020
Hearts of Heroes, formerly Rescue Heroes January 5, 2019 hosted by Ginger Zee [21][22]
Oh Baby! with Anji Corley October 5, 2019 The Great Dr. Scott

Vacation Creation
The Great Dr. Scott October 6, 2018 The Wildlife Docs

Free Enterprise

 Removed from the lineup on September 28, 2019, returned on October 7, 2023
Wildlife Nation with Jeff Corwin October 2, 2021 Sea Rescue

Ocean Treks

 Partnered with Defenders of Wildlife [23]
Vets Saving Pets October 1, 2022 Originally aired on NBC after a 2 year hiatus

Former programming

Program Premiere date End date Replaced Replaced by Notes Reference
Jack Hanna's Wild Countdown September 3, 2011 September 26, 2020 ABC Kids programming Outback Adventures longest running program on the block, flagship series

Replaced by Outback Adventures in 2020, which came back after 3 years
Born to Explore with Richard Wiese September 24, 2016 Ocean Treks [23]
Culture Click February 11, 2012 pop culture/satirical series, hosted by Nzinga Blake [5]
Everyday Health September 29, 2012 Recipe Rehab lifestyle series, hosted by Laila Ali, Jenna Morasca and Ethan Zohn
Food for Thought with Claire Thomas September 28, 2013 The Wildlife Docs cooking series, produced by Basil Street media

Reruns later aired on Laff

 [5]
Ocean Mysteries with Jeff Corwin September 24, 2016 Ocean Treks [5][23]
Sea Rescue April 7, 2012 September 25, 2021 Wildlife Nation
Recipe Rehab October 6, 2012 September 28, 2013 Everyday Health Expedition Wild Aired on the CBS Dream Team from 2013 to 2015 and again since 2023 [16]
Expedition Wild October 5, 2013 September 27, 2014 Recipe Rehab Outback Adventures wildlife series, hosted by Casey Anderson

Originally aired on Nat Geo Wild from 2010 to 2011, and then revived for the Weekend Adventure block, and then moved to One Magnificent Morning from 2014 to 2015[17][24]

 [17][24]
The Wildlife Docs September 29, 2018 Food For Thought The Great Dr. Scott Moved to One Magnificent Morning
Rock the Park October 3, 2015 March 27, 2021 Free Enterprise Originally part of One Magnificent Morning
Ocean Treks with Jeff Corwin October 1, 2016 September 25, 2021 Born to ExploreOcean Mysteries Wildlife Nation
Vacation Creation October 7, 2017 September 28, 2019 Outback Adventures Oh Baby! Previously aired on The CW's One Magnificent Morning from 2016 to 2017 [25]
The Great Dr. Scott October 6, 2018 September 28, 2019 The Wildlife Docs Oh Baby! [26]
Free Enterprise April 3, 2021 September 30, 2023 Rock The Park The Great Dr. Scott


Awards and nominations

In 2014, Ocean Mysteries with Jeff Corwin won two Creative Arts Daytime Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Travel Program".[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "'Sesame Street', 'Ellen DeGeneres' Lead Daytime Emmy Creative Arts Winners (FULL LIST)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. June 21, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Paige Albiniak (May 2, 2012). "American Forces Network Adds Litton's Weekend Adventure". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Litton's Weekend Adventure". Litton Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 27, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Everyday Health, Inc. and Litton Entertainment Announce New Television Series, "Everyday Health," to Premiere on ABC Affiliates". KFVS-TV. Raycom Media. July 8, 2011. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "ABC Orders Saturday Kids Block From Litton". TVNewsCheck.com. NewsCheck Media. May 24, 2011. Archived from the original on December 4, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  6. 1 2 Paige Albiniak (May 24, 2011). "ABC to Premiere ABC Weekend Adventure on Sept. 3". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Litton Announces "ABC Weekend Adventure"". Business Wire. May 24, 2011. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Cynopsis: Kids! 05/26/11". Cynopsis. May 26, 2011. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  9. ↑ Paul Bond (August 10, 2010). "Disney's Q3 boosted by TV operations profit; Power Rangers sale added $43 million to coffers". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Hearst Agrees to Acquire Majority Ownership of TV Program Producer and Distributor Litton Entertainment". Hearst Corporation.
  11. 1 2 "Litton Entertainment's ABC Station E / I Package Adds New Station Groups" (PDF). Litton Entertainment. May 17, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 13, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  12. ↑ Mike Shields (September 24, 2012). "YouTube Hit Jumps to TV—Albeit Saturday A.M." AdWeek. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  13. ↑ Amir Efrati. "From YouTube to TV". The Wall Street Journal. News Corporation. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Everyday Health's New TV Series, "Recipe Rehab," Is First Show From A YouTube Original Channel To Air On Network TV". Reuters. New York City: Everyday Health, Inc. September 28, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014 – via PR Newswire.
  15. ↑ Meg James (July 24, 2013). "CBS partners with Litton Entertainment for Saturday teen block". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  16. 1 2 "Former Greenbrier chef now stars in 'Recipe Rehab'". Associated Press. September 7, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  17. 1 2 3 Kevin Downey (June 5, 2014). "CW Joins with Litton for Sat. Morning E/I Block". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  18. ↑ "WSVI 3rd Quarter 2016 Children's Television Programming Report" (PDF). WSVI via Federal Communications Commission. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  19. ↑ "WJHL 3rd Quarter 2016 Children's Television Programming Report" (PDF). WJHL via Federal Communications Commission. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  20. ↑ "WKPT 3rd Quarter 2016 Children's Television Programming Report" (PDF). WKPT via Federal Communications Commission. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  21. ↑ Zee, Ginger (8 April 2019). "Making sure everyone saw – @HeartsofHeroes_ is the new show title for my Saturday show honoring heroes (mostly first responders) on @ABC". Ginger_Zee. Twitter. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  22. ↑ Gonzalez, John (January 4, 2019). "Ginger Zee debuts new weekend show, 'Rescue Heroes'". mlive Life. Mlive Media Group. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  23. 1 2 3 "07/27/16: TURN: Washington's Spies renewed for fourth and final season; Spike orders karaoke game show; Virginia Madsen joins ABC's Designated Survivor". Cynopsis. July 27, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  24. 1 2 "Litton's Weekend Adventure Launches into Third Season on October 5th with Two Brand New Series, The Wildlife Docs™ and Expedition Wild" (Press release). Burbank, California: Litton Entertainment. August 13, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Feczko and Davidson to Co-Host ABC's Vacation Creation". Cruise Industry News. September 24, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  26. ↑ "The Great Dr. Scott | Litton's Weekend Adventures". www.littonweekendadventure.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-06.
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