Today is Friday, September 1, 2023 and some more changes have happened at the CW. The network has been changing under its new ownership of Nexstar Media Group. So far, that had been programming, leadership, and behind the scenes stuff. Today marks another change to the network and that's how it's supplied in some areas of the country.
Back in May, CBS (the old C in the CW) announced that their 8 stations that had been part of the network since the 2006 launch would be dropping the network and going non-affiliated, from September 1st.
The stations affected in this were WUPA-TV Atlanta, KBCW-TV Bay Area, WKBD-TV Detroit, WPCW-TV Pittsburgh, WPSG-TV Philadelphia, KMAX-TV Sacramento, KSTW-TV Seattle, and WTOG-TV Tampa. This meant in those markets that Nexstar would have to find new affiliates for the CW network as CBS' plans were for non-affiliated stations. Here's a look at those changes by market.
Atlanta
The CW will be finding a new home on Channel 17, PeachTree TV ,WPCH. This station is owned by Gray. For the historical note, WPCH was the station that Ted Turner bought and used later to launch TBS. This station will be affiliated with its first network ever. It was also later owned by Warner as their only OTA station , but didn't join the CW (W being Warner) in 2006.
On WUPA, the station will replace the CW programming with 8pm local news (probably produced outside the market as before) and 48 Hours at 9pm. Peach Tree TV is replacing local programming at 8pm and the local news at 9pm with the CW.
BayArea (Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose)
In the Bay Area, the station KBCW TV will also be changing it's call letters to KPYX, and on air going from KBCW to KPIX+ after sister station KPIX-TV. In speaking of KPIX-TV, the hours on KPYX-TV that held the CW will be replaced by 2 hours of news from KPIX at 8 and 9pm. Giving the area its only 8pm and 9pm newscasts. Though, not CW leaving related the station will also be adding a morning newscast from 7-9pm: The Morning Edition from CBS NEWS Bay Area.
Nexstar didn't have to go far to find a CW replacement, they own local station KRON-TV "KRON 4" which airs My Network TV programming. They are switching to the CW , still branded as KRON 4. They have replaced their 8pm and 9pm local news with CW programming. They are adding an 11pm newscast back to their line up along with 2pm news.
Detroit
In the Detroit area, CBS owned WKBD is leaving the CW. They've changed their branding from CW50 to Detroit. Their primetime line up will include Family Feud at 8, and 48 Hours at 9. The CW will be moving to WADL-TV channel 38. This station is currently in a sale to Mission Broadcasting to be run by Nexstar in the future, if approved.
Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, WPSG is going back to a branding they had pre-UPN days and had been using on their CW logo "Philly 57". They are replacing the CW with local news from sister station KYW-TV at 8pm and 48 Hours at 9pm.
Nexstar owns WPHL-TV "PHL 17" and CW programming is moved there. The station, like KRON-TV ran My Network TV after hours so they are replacing off network sitcoms at 8 and 9pm.
Pittsburgh
Like San Francisco/ Bay Area, WPCW will be changing their call letters to be WPKD , in homage to sister station KDKA. Also they will be rebranded on air as KDKA+ . They will continue to air High School Football on Fridays, and will be adding an 8pm newscast in November, The 10pm news continues. 48 Hours will air at 9pm.
Nexstar doesn't own a station in Pittsburgh, but made a deal with Sinclair Broadcasting to have WPNT-22 - 22 The Point! air CW programming. The station was airing My Network TV on normal timing (8-10pm) so the CW programming is replacing that.
Sacramento
In Sacramento, KMAX-TV is changing from CW31 to KMAX 31. The station is adding an 8pm newscast from sister station CBS 13 and 48 Hours at 9pm.
Nexstar owns a station in the area, but they are dropping FOX programming from KTXL, instead, Hearst owned KQCA-TV channel 58 (MY 58) will be airing CW programming. The station aired My Network TV in the late hours and will continue to do that.
Seattle
Like Atlanta, this is a market where CBS owns only a CW station, KSTW will be now Seattle 11 and airing Family Feud at 8 and 48 Hours at 9pm.
Nexstar, doesn't own a station here and they've made a deal with Sinclair to air CW programming on KOMO-TV's digital sub channel.
Tampa Bay
Last, of the CW stations , but not least. WTOG-TV is going to be Tampa Bay 44 . They are replacing CW programming with The Simpsons reruns at 8 and 48 Hours at 9pm.
Nexstar-owned WTTA , Great 38, will be now called CW Tampa Bay. Also with the CW programming being added, the hour long 8pm news from their sister station WFLA 8 will be moving to a half hour at 10pm, and Spanish language newscast Noticias Tampa Hoy will be moving from 9pm to 10:30pm. Todo Tampa Bay moves to 11pm. My Network TV programming will still air after hours.
But, wait, There's More!
Non CBS related, but Sinclair station KOCB-TV Channel 34 in Oklahoma City will be leaving the CW network and instead Nexstar station KAUT-TV Channel 43 "Freedom 43" will be airing programming instead.
The next age of the CW continues and interesting to see what else CBS will do with their independent stations. There is a chance that as regional sports cable networks seem to be getting hit hard, that they could pick up local teams
Sources:
No comments:
Post a Comment