Screen Gems Network
The Screen Gems Network (SGN) was an American afternoon TV block that aired in syndication from September 20, 1999 to September 9, 2002. It was produced by Evolution Media, with Columbia TriStar Television Distribution handling distribution from 1999–2001 and Columbia TriStar Domestic Television from 2001–2002. The concept was announced on January 11, 1999, and the block began airing on September 20, 1999. In its first season, SGN showed half-hour sitcoms; in the second season, it added hour-long drama shows.
SGN was the first broadcast service to air classic shows from the Columbia Pictures Television vault, drawing from about 58,000 episodes across 350 series from the 1950s to the 1980s, including programs from Columbia Pictures Television, Tandem Productions, and ELP Communications. The announcer for the block was Billy West, announced on August 11, 1999.
Programming was grouped into weekly themes such as “Love is in the Air,” “Pilots,” “Best Music Videos,” and “Before They Were Stars,” with additional holiday-themed weeks for Halloween, Christmas, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. The block was designed for daytime slots, for example airing at 2 p.m. on WNYW in New York and 11 a.m. on WUAB in Cleveland.
By March 1999, SGN covered 62% of the country, rising to 80% of stations by January 2000. The block continued to be advertised through May 2001.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 05:43 (CET).