• by Wayne Friedman , November 16, 2016

Mark Burnett, Roma Downey and MGM are launching a locally based digital-TV network focusing on family entertainment.

Light TV -- led by Roma Downey, president of LightWorkers Media, a division of MGM, and Mark Burnett, president of MGM Television and Digital -- will launch next month on 14 Fox owned-and-operated stations.

The network will feature what it calls “wholesome family and faith-based entertainment programming” using MGM’s library of film and television content.

TV shows such as “Fox’s “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader” and theatrical movies including “Rocky,” “Hoosiers,” "All Dogs Go To Heaven,” "Pink Panther,” "Fame" and "Mr. Mom," are part of the inventory.

Light TV will also air acquired TV shows "Highway to Heaven” and “Heartland.”

Burnett stated that Light TV will look to reach an “underserved family audience.”

Fox TV stations for Light TV include: New York, NY (WNYW); Los Angeles, CA (KTTV); Chicago, IL (WFLD); Philadelphia, PA (WTXF); Dallas (KDFW) - Houston (KRIV), TX; San Francisco, CA (KTVU); Washington, D.C. (WTTG); Atlanta, GA (WAGA); Orlando (WOFL), FL; Phoenix (KSAZ), AZ; Minneapolis (KMSP), MN and Charlotte (WJZY), NC

MGM has started up other TV station-based digital networks that run on stations' digital subchannels.

This TV, in partnership with Tribune Broadcasting, launched in 2008, which feature movies, news, sports, as well as children’s programming. It has more than 130 affiliates and is in more than 85% of the U.S. TV homes.

Comet is another digital TV station-based network, focusing on science fiction programming. It started in October 2015. MGM’s partnership here is with Sinclair Broadcast Group. The network reaches 70% of U.S. TV homes.