Living Well HD is doing... um, well

ABC's new high-definition subchannel network titled Live Well HD is certainly doing well in this tough economy (believe it or not, it's already profitable.) So much so, it has expanded its programming lineup effective yesterday.

In addition to the six health-and-beauty related programs to its lineup, the nine-month old channel adds Mary Talks Money, a show produced by ABC-owned WPVI in Philadelphia, a CNET-like program, Gotta Know from WABC-TV in New York City, and Everyday Living from KGO-TV in San Francisco, among others.

The programs are currently available on ABC's ten owned-and-operated stations' digital tiers. In Chicago (where the network is based), Live Well airs on WLS-TV's digital channel 7.2 and Comcast channel 217. The network is available in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Houston, and five other markets where ABC owns stations (if you live in an non-ABC O&O market, don't sweat it - you can view it online.)

According to WLS General manager Emily Barr (who created and developed the channel), the concept is receiving some interest from other station groups, as ABC is looking to expand the channel into markets outside the O&Os. Certainly, the availability of the channel online is perhaps the best selling tool. Response to Live Well has been overwhelmingly positive from viewers and advertisers, according to Ms. Barr in an interview with Vocalo's Robert Feder.

And following in the spirit of The Oprah Winfrey Show - which started off as a local show here in Chicago in 1984, one of these programs could possibly be considered to take over her time slot on those O&Os when her show ends in 2011.

In addition to the new show listed above, two shows from outside sources also premiered Monday on Live Well: Canadian import My Green House, which is a Extreme Makeover: Home Edition clone; and off-PBS episodes of Mexico: One Plate At A Time, hosted by legendary Chicago chef Rick Bayless.

Thought: Now this is a way to make use of your extra spectrum allocated to you. Live Well HD - as well as Weigel's trio of tiers (MeTV, MeToo, and This TV) prove there is an audience available if you put on the right programming.