2002 in American television – Wikipedia

Date Event 1 Clear Channel reverts the KMOL-TV branding in San Antonio back to the WOAI-TV branding, since Clear Channel traded WFTC to Fox in return for two network-based affiliates originally by Chris Craft, KTVX, and KMOL. 2 Disney Channel stops broadcasting its afternoon and late night programming blocks “Zoog Disney” and “Vault Disney”. In Portland, Oregon, the Meredith Corporation’s duopoly of UPN affiliate KPTV and Fox affiliate KPDX (which Fox had sold to Meredith on June 17 in exchange for WOFL in Orlando, Florida and its semi-satellite in Gainesville, WOGX) swap affiliations. KPSP-LP in Palm Springs, California signs-on the air, giving the Coachella Valley its first-ever CBS affiliate. 4 Kelly Clarkson wins the first season of Fox’s reality series American Idol. 7 The Fox Network’s Fox Kids block (which had been on the air since 1990) airs for the final time. It was replaced the following week (on September 14) by the 4Kids-programmed FoxBox.^[3] 8 In Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, Fox O&O WFTC swaps affiliations with sister station and UPN affiliate KMSP-TV, due to Fox’s desire to place their programming on a stronger station (in addition to being on VHF, KMSP-TV has higher ratings, a stronger signal, and a well-established news department).^[4] 9 John Madden officially makes his debut as the new color commentator for Monday Night Football on ABC. Madden’s first regular season broadcast was a game in New England between the Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Working alongside Al Michaels, Madden would later that season, be in the booth for ABC’s broadcast of Super Bowl XXXVII from San Diego. Madden would become the first person to do televised color commentary for two consecutive Super Bowls on two different networks (having previously called Super Bowl XXXVI for Fox). 14 Major upheavals take place on Saturday mornings, as the four major networks change their programming on this day. Fox, having sold Fox Kids Worldwide to The Walt Disney Company the previous year, ends Fox Kids and sells its airtime to 4Kids Entertainment, who begin programming a new children’s programming block as the Fox Box. Disney, meanwhile, having acquired the Fox Kids brand, ends Disney’s One Saturday Morning on ABC and renames Fox Kids to ABC Kids. CBS, whose then and now-corporate sibling Nickelodeon programs its lineup, rebrands its Nick Jr. on CBS block as Nick on CBS and refocuses it on children 2–11 years old, while NBC signs a contract with Discovery Networks to air a programming strand called Discovery Kids on NBC (a spinoff of digital cable channel Discovery Kids), which replaces the teen-oriented block TNBC.^[3][5] 16 Sony Pictures Entertainment rebranded the television unit of Columbia TriStar Domestic Television into its proper name, Sony Pictures Television (which could bring Sony’s upcoming future series, as well as Sony distributed shows, and classic shows from the Screen Gems Television/Columbia Pictures Television library to be under the Sony Television unit as a whole). The new Sony Pictures Television unit would produced the remaining Columbia TriStar programs under the Sony name that we’re renewed for the 2002-2003 TV season (which includes well-known series, Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, etc.). 17 Release date of Kelly Clarkson’s debut single, the double-A side CD “A Moment Like This”/”Before Your Love”. 22 Two NBC programs, Friends and The West Wing, respectively win Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Drama Series at the 54th Primetime Emmy Awards, which, by coincidence, airs on NBC. 25 Lisa Donahue is the winner of CBS’s contest Big Brother 3 and wins the $500,000 prize; runner-up Danielle Reyes wins $50,000. 28 After being on the air for over ten years, NBC’s Saturday morning block TNBC airs for the final time. TNBC would be replaced by Discovery Kids on NBC. 30 American Movie Classics is revamped to become a commercial general movie channel. Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney unveil their new logo and graphics. Toon Disney also launches their new graphics, but still keeps their same logo.