Same-day viewing of TV shows is an advancement

This may not seem like an important advancement in the media industry or television programming to most readers but if you live on an island the press release below is significant. A year ago, ABC 7 on Guam began airing same-day programming. Prior to this, Guam television viewers would receive week-delayed programs. We would watch games and shows and would already know the outcome because the newspapers or television news already released the details a week prior. How is this important ... parity. It is only fair that we are able to watch what our U.S. mainland counterparts can view within a reasonable amount of time and a week was not a reasonable amount of time. Am I making much-a-do about nothing? I really don't care. It firmly believe it is a big deal. I thank Rex Sorensen and Evan Cohen for their foresight into providing better service to viewers. The years of delayed programming is gone ... and thank goodness.

Sorensen Media Group provides historic same day programming for Guam viewers

ABC 7 , your ABC-Network Affiliate for Guam and Saipan, announced on May 8, 2006, that ABC 7 would be the first Guam broadcaster to offer same day "Soaps", as well as, other same day daytime and late night programming.
The ABC Network Primetime Programs seen on local affiliate ABC 7 also shows same day programming the day it is received. Same-day programming began July 31, 2006. Guam's most popular weekday "Soaps"; All My Children (12:00 p.m.); One Life To Live (1:00 p.m.); and General Hospital (2:00 p.m.) are now shown same day time delay basis only, and not the previous one-week delay as was the case in the past. Mainland Friday shows are aired on Guam on the following Monday.
ABC7 is able to do this according to ABC7 General Manager "Ed" Davis, "As a result of our investment in state of the art video compression equipment and the leasing of a direct video broadband circuit from the mainland USA from GTA. “Sorensen Media Group CEO Rex Sorensen said, “This investment was necessary to provide the best service available to our viewers.” He said, “If the technology exists we will try to acquire it to ensure our viewers our satisfied.”
Other ABC Network programming now broadcast on a same day basis include morning staples "Good Morning America" and the "View"; as well as late night favorite "Jimmy Kimmel Live". Primetime programming is still shown on a one-week delayed basis to allow proper "in pattern" play of the shows, i.e. Sunday shows on Sunday, etc .
Other ABC Network programs currently being aired either live or on a same day delayed basis by ABC7 includes ABC Sports, Nightline, World News Now, and World News Tonight.This increase in the number of programs being aired on a same day basis is a further indication of ABC7's continuing commitment to our viewers to improve their ABC7 television experience!
Since Guam is a day ahead of the U.S. mainland, programs will not be seen on the same day of the week as the mainland. Sunday Primetime shows on Monday ... Tuesday on Wednesday and so on. ABC7 will air programs within hours of the time it is received.
"This means our audience will no longer have to wait to see the latest episodes of our very popular shows such as 'Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Boston Legal, Extreme Home Makeover' and other prime time programs", Davis said. "We show all network programs on the same day we take them in via our digital streamlink to the West Coast ," he added.
Davis pointed out that the switch was made during the summer, when network programs are in re-runs. "We believe fans of our programs will appreciate the same day broadcast of their favorite shows, with the only delay being a few hours to allow for the time difference between Guam and the mainland."
Rex Sorensen is the Chairman and CEO of Sorensen Media Group which includes the stations of News Talk K57, Power 98, 105 The KAT, Fox 6 and ABC 7 on Guam. Rex Sorensen has been involved in building and creating media platforms in Asia and the United States for over 20 years.