Operation Prime Time

Operation Prime Time
Typeoccasional television network
Country
United States
Founded1976 (1976)
by Al Masini
Key people
Al Masini
Launch date
1976 (1976)
Dissolved1987 (1987)

Operation Prime Time (OPT) was a consortium of American independent television stations to develop prime time programming for independent stations. OPT and its spin-off syndication company, Television Program Enterprises (TPE), were formed by Al Masini. During its existence, OPT was considered the de facto fourth television network. OPT was also called an occasional television network and occasional program alternative.

OPT inspired syndication and network models that arose in later years, such as The Disney Afternoon, Prime Time Entertainment Network, The CW Plus, and MyNetworkTV.