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Overmyer Network
Type	Broadcast television network
Country	United States
Availability	Defunct
Founder	Daniel H. Overmyer
Launch date	May 1, 1967
Closure date	June 1, 1967

The Overmyer Network was the product of a failed attempt to create a fourth national television network in the United States. Self-made millionaire Daniel H. Overmyer built five UHF stations from 1965-67, including Toledo's WDHO (now WNWO-TV), which signed on the air on May 3, 1966. A social conservative ("I'm against smut," he declared), Overmyer began to produce his own programs, and decided to create a nationwide hookup, enticing existing stations with a 50-50 profit split with potential affiliates. The ON was scheduled to debut in the fall of 1967 with anywhere from 75 to 125 affiliates with an 8 hour broadcasting day.^[1]

Before the network even went on the air, Overmyer was forced to sell a majority share to investors, although he remained the largest shareholder. Rechristened The United Network, which used a cartoon speaking balloon with an upper-case U as the network's logo, the network hit the air on May 1, 1967 with The Las Vegas Show on 106 stations.^[2] Hosted by Bill Dana from the Hotel Hacienda in Las Vegas, the two-hour late-night show featured regulars Ann Elder, Pete Barbutti, Danny Meahan, Joanne Worley, Cully Richards and Jack Sheldon.^[3] Despite the hype, initially good reviews and high-caliber guest stars, the network quickly started to bleed money; the transmission lines leased from the Bell System, which was the main carrier for television network transmissions at the time, proved to be too expensive, and both show and network disappeared after the June 1 (some sources say June 3 or June 5) broadcast.^[4] At the time of their bankruptcy declaration, they had accrued a nearly $700,000 debt.^[2] The average viewership for The Las Vegas Show was 2.6 million^[4]

The network itself, except for a few independent stations in the larger markets, was mostly made up of CBS stations who aired The Las Vegas Show at 11:30 local time, tape delayed from the 11:00 start seen on United-only east coast stations. The network called WPIX-New York City and KHJ-Los Angeles their flagship stations, even though neither were owned by Overmyer/United. Additionally, the WPIX broadcast was often delayed until the weekend due to their commitment to New York Yankees baseball.^[5] The network also lacked clearance in some large cities, including San Francisco (which was waiting for KEMO to be approved by the FCC) and Cleveland.

Additional programming announced but never aired included Tales from the Great Book, an animated Bible series, plus regional coverage of the Continental Football League.^[6]

No new national commercial networks would be created until October 9, 1986, when FOX began transmissions and Channel America began putting together its slate of low-power television (LPTV) stations.

• CBS-affiliated stations that aired The Las Vegas Show: WHDH-Boston,^[8] WISN-Milwaukee,^[9] KAUZ-Wichita Falls,^[10] WBAY-Green Bay,^[9] KOLO-Reno,^[11] KSL-Salt Lake,^[12] WSEE-Erie,^[13] WBEN-Buffalo,^[13] WHEC-Rochester (NY),^[14] WHEN-Syracuse,^[15] KXLF-Butte,^[16] WSPA-Spartanburg,^[17] WDBJ-Roanoke,^[18] KFDM-Beaumont,^[19] KZTV-Corpus Christi,^[19] KCMO-Kansas City, WTVR-Richmond (VA),^[20] KODE-Joplin,^[21] WAGA-Atlanta,^[22] WKRG-Mobile,^[23] KDAL-Duluth,^[24] KENS-San Antonio^[25]
• NBC-affiliated stations that aired The Las Vegas Show: KPRC-Houston,^[26] KOB-Albuquerque,^[27] WIIC-Pittsburgh^[28]
• ABC-affiliated stations that aired The Las Vegas Show: WLWI-Indianapolis^[29]
• Markets that did not air The Las Vegas Show: San Francisco, Lincoln, Omaha, Cleveland, Fort Wayne,^[30] Columbus (OH),^[30] Dayton^[30]