MeTV Lineup 2026: Complete Daily Schedule, Classic Shows, And Viewing Guide

Memorable Entertainment Television (MeTV) remains America's premier over-the-air classic television network, serving millions of households with a curated collection of iconic sitcoms, timeless westerns, legal dramas, and vintage sci-fi. Managed by Weigel Broadcasting Co., the network maintains a consistent national base grid while allowing local broadcast affiliates flexibility for regional news and syndication mandates.

Understanding the 2026 MeTV schedule requires looking at both the national weekday daypart structure and the specialized weekend programming blocks. Whether receiving the signal through a digital HD antenna, a traditional cable carrier, or a virtual MVPD provider, this guide details current show air times, regional reception tips, and platform availability.

Weekly Daypart Schedule Breakdown: Classic Sitcoms, Dramas, and Westerns

MeTV structures its Monday-through-Friday broadcast into distinct dayparts. This programming strategy aligns specific television genres with traditional daily routines, creating predictable blocks for loyal viewers.

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Early Morning Western Block (6:00 AM – 10:00 AM Eastern)

The weekday lineup opens with high-action, classic American western series that defined mid-century television. These programs are broadcast in restored digital formats, preserving original film grain and audio clarity.

• 6:00 AM ET – Dawn Westerns: Rotating classic entries including The Virginian and Wagon Train, highlighting extended 90-minute storytelling frames.
• 7:00 AM ET – Bonanza: The Cartwright family adventures on the Ponderosa Ranch, featuring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, and Dan Blocker.
• 8:00 AM ET – Rawhide: Starring Eric Fleming and Clint Eastwood, delivering classic trail-boss drama and featuring iconic musical themes.
• 9:00 AM ET – Gunsmoke: Two back-to-back episodes featuring Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) keeping order in Dodge City.

Midday Legal and Crime Dramas (10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Eastern)

As the morning transitions to midday, the network switches focus from the open frontier to courtroom suspense and police investigation.

• 10:00 AM ET – Perry Mason: Raymond Burr stars as the legendary defense attorney who consistently uncovers the real culprit during high-stakes cross-examinations.
• 12:00 PM ET – Matlock: Andy Griffith takes the lead as Ben Matlock, the folksy southern defense attorney with a sharp legal mind.
• 1:00 PM ET – In the Heat of the Night: Chief Bill Gillespie (Carroll O'Connor) and Detective Virgil Tibbs (Howard E. Rollins Jr.) solve crime in fictional Sparta, Mississippi.
• 2:00 PM ET – Murder, She Wrote: Angela Lansbury portrays mystery novelist Jessica Fletcher, investigating homicides across Cabot Cove and worldwide destinations.

Afternoon Action and Procedural Block (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Eastern)

Late afternoon programming emphasizes fast-paced emergency response and law enforcement procedurals created by Jack Webb's Mark VII Limited productions.

• 3:00 PM ET – Adam-12: Officers Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) and Jim Reed (Kent McCord) patrol the streets of Los Angeles in their iconic 1970s LAPD cruiser.
• 4:00 PM ET – Emergency!: Paramedics Roy DeSoto (Kevin Tighe) and John Gage (Randolph Mantooth) respond to medical crises alongside the staff of Rampart General Hospital.

Evening Sitcom Block (5:00 PM – 11:00 PM Eastern)

Prime-time on MeTV features back-to-back blocks of beloved family comedies and landmark television series, providing reliable early evening entertainment.

• 5:00 PM ET – The Addams Family / The Munsters: Alternating double-features of mid-century macabre comedy.
• 6:00 PM ET – The Andy Griffith Show: Double episodes featuring Sheriff Andy Taylor, Deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts), and the eccentric residents of Mayberry.
• 7:00 PM ET – MAS*H: Double episodes of the groundbreaking dramedy following the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War, featuring Alan Alda as Hawkeye Pierce.
• 8:00 PM ET – The Carol Burnett Show: Masterclass sketch comedy featuring Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, and Vicki Lawrence.
• 9:00 PM ET – Hogan's Heroes: The comedic exploits of Allied prisoners of war in a German Stalag, led by Colonel Robert Hogan (Bob Crane).
• 10:00 PM ET – The Perry Mason Hour (Encore): Evening broadcast of classic mystery files for late-day viewers.

Late Night Anthology and Sci-Fi (11:00 PM – 6:00 AM Eastern)

Overnight programming on MeTV features classic mystery, suspense, and speculative fiction anthologies.

• 11:00 PM ET – The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's legendary sci-fi and speculative mystery anthology exploring human nature through moral twists.
• 11:30 PM ET – Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock introduces half-hour tales of murder, deceit, and unexpected irony.
• 12:00 AM ET – Mannix / Barnaby Jones: Alternating hardboiled detective dramas of the late 1960s and 1970s.
• 2:00 AM ET – Highway Patrol / Dragnet: Early television police procedurals highlighting historical broadcast production styles.

Weekend Highlights: Svengoolie, Classic Animation, and Sunday Marathons

Weekend programming on MeTV deviates from the structured daily schedule to deliver specialized, event-driven blocks, fan-favorite marathons, and iconic horror hosting.

Weekend Broadcast NoteLocal network affiliates occasionally preempt early weekend morning hours for mandated educational programming (E/I) or regional public affairs broadcasts. Always verify local subchannel schedules via your station guide.

Saturday Morning Cartoons and Western Traditions

Saturday mornings recapture the feel of classic weekend television with a mix of vintage animation and extended western features.

• MeTV Saturday Morning Cartoons (7:00 AM – 10:00 AM ET): A three-hour block of classic theatrical animated shorts, including restored prints of Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, Tom and Jerry, Popeye the Sailor, and Betty Boop.
• The Wild Wild West (10:00 AM ET): Secret Service agents James West (Robert Conrad) and Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) blend western intrigue with Victorian-era steampunk gadgets.
• Super Sci-Fi Saturday Night (6:00 PM – 1:00 AM ET): The flagship weekend block, anchored by original sci-fi and fantasy series.

Svengoolie and the Horror Block

The focal point of Saturday night is host Rich Koz as Svengoolie. Airing at 8:00 PM Eastern / 7:00 PM Central, the show delivers classic Universal monster movies, 1950s creature features, and vintage sci-fi thrillers.

The broadcast includes comedy sketches, character bits (such as Tombstone, Kerwyn, and Body Sorrell), song parodies, movie trivia, and the signature rubber chicken throw during the film's climax.

Following the core movie broadcast, Svengoolie's Double Feature or companion series like SCTV and The Outer Limits round out late-night viewing.

Sunday Comedy Marathons

Sundays on MeTV feature extended blocks of family-friendly sitcoms that dominate afternoon viewing hours:

• The Brady Bunch (12:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET): Consecutive episodes following the blended Brady household.
• Leave It to Beaver (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET): Classic suburban domestic comedy starring Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow.
• Gilligan's Island (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET): The comedic misadventures of seven castaways stranded on an uncharted Pacific island.

How to Watch MeTV in 2026: OTA Antenna, Cable, and Live TV Streaming

Accessing MeTV depends on your local broadcast market and viewing equipment. Because Weigel Broadcasting operates MeTV primarily as a digital subchannel network, over-the-air distribution remains widely available nationwide without a monthly subscription.

Over-The-Air (OTA) Digital Television

MeTV is available free in over 98% of US television markets via digital broadcast subchannels (e.g., channel 5.2, 12.3, or 20.2 depending on the city).

To receive MeTV via an antenna:

1. Connect an indoor or outdoor digital TV antenna to the Antenna/Cable In coaxial port on your television.
2. Access your TV’s settings menu and select Channel Scan or Auto-Tuning.
3. Choose Air or Antenna as the signal source (do not select Cable).
4. Allow the tuner to scan available ATSC 1.0 and NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) frequencies.

Virtual MVPDs and Paid Streaming Services

For viewers without broadcast antennas or those living outside strong over-the-air signal ranges, MeTV is carried on select live television streaming services:

• Frndly TV: Includes MeTV, MeTV Toons, Heroes & Icons, Catchy Comedy, and Story Television in its budget live channel lineups, complete with cloud DVR options.
• Philo: Offers MeTV alongside a broad package of entertainment channels, including unlimited cloud DVR storage.
• DirecTV Stream: Carries local MeTV broadcast affiliates in select metropolitan markets within its standard channel packages.

Cable and Satellite Distribution

Most major pay-TV distributors carry local MeTV affiliates on standard basic channel tiers.

• Dish Network: Carries MeTV on Channel 247 nationally, as well as on local subchannel retransmissions in specific zip codes.
• DirecTV (Satellite): Features local MeTV affiliate retransmissions in major broadcast markets.
• Xfinity / Spectrum / Cox: Channel positions vary significantly by zip code; check local electronic program guides (EPG) under channel listings for Weigel Broadcasting channels.

MeTV Viewing Options and Network Availability Matrix

The following verified comparison outlines the technical standards, hardware requirements, and financial costs of accessing the national MeTV lineup across major platforms in 2026.

Optimizing Your Antenna for Crisp Local MeTV Reception

Because MeTV broadcasts primary signals across local digital subchannels, receiving a clear picture requires proper antenna selection and signal alignment.

Identifying Signal Frequency (VHF vs. UHF)

Broadcast networks transmit on either Ultra High Frequency (UHF) or Very High Frequency (VHF) bands. While many digital subchannels operate on UHF frequencies, several local MeTV affiliates are broadcast on High-VHF bands (channels 7 through 13).

• Antenna Selection: Ensure your TV antenna explicitly lists support for both VHF and UHF frequencies. Compact flat indoor antennas often struggle with High-VHF signals unless equipped with adjustable dipole elements ("rabbit ears").
• Line of Sight: Position the antenna near a window facing the broadcast towers in your metropolitan area.
• Amplification: Avoid over-amplification. Using an active powered amplifier when living close to broadcast towers can saturate the TV tuner, causing channel dropouts or pixelation on subchannels like MeTV.

Resolving Signal Dropouts and Rescanning

When local TV stations adjust broadcast frequencies or transition to ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV standards, your television tuner may lose track of the local MeTV signal.

1. Perform a Double Rescan: Unplug the antenna cable from the television back panel. Run a channel auto-scan with no antenna connected to clear stored channel memory. Reconnect the antenna coaxial cable and execute a full channel scan.
2. Check Interferences: Keep indoor antennas away from potential interference sources like Wi-Fi routers, LED light transformers, microwave ovens, and computer power supplies.
3. Elevate Antenna Placement: Moving an antenna higher on a wall or mounting an outdoor antenna on a roof line significantly improves signal stability for subchannel streams.

Frequently Asked Questions About the MeTV Lineup

What time does Svengoolie air on MeTV in 2026?

Svengoolie airs every Saturday night at 8:00 PM Eastern / 7:00 PM Central time. The broadcast features classic horror and sci-fi films accompanied by comedy sketches, trivia, and host segments.

Is MeTV available to stream free on apps like Pluto TV, Roku Channel, or Tubi?

No, MeTV does not broadcast a free 24/7 live network stream on ad-supported platforms like Pluto TV, Tubi, or The Roku Channel. Viewing the live network stream requires an over-the-air antenna, a subscription to supported virtual MVPDs (like Frndly TV or Philo), or a traditional pay-TV provider.

How do I find the exact MeTV channel number in my local market?

Because MeTV operates via local station affiliates, its channel number varies by city. Visit the official MeTV website's "Where to Watch" section and enter your zip code, or run an automatic channel scan on your TV to detect your local broadcast subchannel.

Why does my local MeTV schedule sometimes differ from the national lineup?

Local affiliate stations occasionally preempt parts of the national MeTV feed to broadcast required educational programming (E/I), local news updates, urgent weather alerts, or regional athletic events.

Can I watch MeTV live through the official MeTV website or mobile app?

No, the official MeTV website and mobile application provide program listings, show histories, quizzes, and store merchandise, but they do not host a live 24/7 streaming feed of the network signal.

Stay Connected with Classic Television

Whether tuning in over the air for morning westerns, catching evening sitcoms, or gathering for Saturday night creature features with Svengoolie, MeTV delivers reliable classic programming across America. Confirm your local affiliate station details, rescanning your TV tuner regularly to keep your digital subchannels up to date.