Older generations of film fans can remember a time when The Wizard of Oz made an annual appearance on broadcast TV. Now the 1939 classic is more associated with the AI-enhanced version shown at the Sphere in Las Vegas—or the bedazzled revisionist take offered by the Wicked movies. But a seemingly lost tradition is being revived, thanks to the MeTV network; this fall, it’ll be broadcasting The Wizard of Oz for the first time in almost 30 years.
The Hollywood Reporter writes that it will be “the film’s first appearance on free broadcast television since its final CBS telecast nearly 30 years ago, on May 9, 1998. It began airing annually on broadcast in 1956, particularly around certain holidays.”
MeTV now has the exclusive broadcast rights and has made the somewhat perplexing decision to slot its new crown jewel into its Halloween programming. (We guess… because of the witches?)
“The movie will air multiple times in primetime and throughout October as part of MeTV’s Halloween BOO-Nanza, a monthlong celebration of classic horror, sci-fi, and family-friendly favorite films,” THR writes.
The trade also has a quote from Neal Sabin, vice chairman of Weigel Broadcasting, which owns MeTV, calling the Halloween celebration “hugely popular” with its audience. So maybe that explains it: spooky season is already peak time for MeTV viewers, and adding The Wizard of Oz only enhances the attraction.
You can head to MeTV’s website to see if it’s offered in your broadcast area if you want to have a nostalgic Wizard of Oz throwback moment in October.
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