2023–24 CW affiliation realignment: Difference between revisions
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#REDIRECT [[The CW#Paramount's withdrawal and affiliation realignment]] |
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{{Short description|2023 television network affiliation changes}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} |
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{{Improve lead|date=September 2023}} |
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On September 1, 2023, a series of [[Network affiliate|network affiliation]] changes took place in nine television markets throughout the United States involving [[The CW|The CW Television Network]]. These changes were initiated after [[Nexstar Media Group]], which owned multiple key affiliates in the network, acquired a 75 percent stake in the network on October 3, 2022. The CW's co-founders, [[Warner Bros. Discovery]] and [[Paramount Global]], held ownership of the remaining 25 percent, split evenly between the two companies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |title=New Day Dawns For Broadcast TV As Nexstar Closes Deal For Control Of The CW |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/nexstar-closes-deal-for-control-of-the-cw-mark-pedowitz-exits-top-job-1235133428/ |access-date=September 1, 2023 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |date=October 3, 2022}}</ref> |
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== Background == |
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Under Nexstar, The CW agreed to a three-year broadcast deal in January 2023 with [[LIV Golf]], a professional golf tour financed by [[Saudi Arabia]]'s [[Public Investment Fund]], marking the first-ever national sports broadcasting contract for both the network and the tour.<ref name="wp-liv">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/01/19/liv-golf-cw-tv-deal/|title=After a year of streaming, LIV Golf finds a television partner|first1=Ben|last1=Strauss|first2=Matt|last2=Bonesteel|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=January 19, 2023|access-date=January 19, 2023|archive-date=January 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119162637/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/01/19/liv-golf-cw-tv-deal/|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 14, 2023, the network said their LIV Golf coverage would be available in 100 percent of [[media market]]s in the United States, but encountered numerous affiliates that declined carriage of the tour, including all owned by Paramount Global's [[CBS News and Stations]] subsidiary. Consequently, LIV coverage in those affected markets aired on Nexstar-owned stations or [[Digital subchannel|subchannel]]s, or on other stations via secondary affiliation agreements.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/liv-golf-tour-clears-100-percent-of-cw-stations-1235259435/|title=LIV Golf Tour Clears 100 Percent Of US Markets (But Not All CW Stations)|first=Lynette|last=Rice|work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|date=February 14, 2023|access-date=February 15, 2023|archive-date=February 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214182515/https://deadline.com/2023/02/liv-golf-tour-clears-100-percent-of-cw-stations-1235259435/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Rice |first1=Lynette |last2=Hayes |first2=Dade |date=February 24, 2023 |title=LIV On CW: Behind Nexstar's Drive To Secure TV Stations For Controversial Golf League |language=en-US |website=Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/liv-cw-nexstar-mexico-tourney-ad-buys-stations-expectations-1235268778/ |access-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225000150/https://deadline.com/2023/02/liv-cw-nexstar-mexico-tourney-ad-buys-stations-expectations-1235268778/ |archive-date=February 25, 2023}}</ref> |
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As part of the sale, Paramount Global was granted the right to withdraw their eight affiliates from the network—in [[Atlanta]], [[Detroit]], [[Philadelphia]], [[Pittsburgh]], [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], [[San Francisco]], [[Seattle]] and the [[Tampa Bay]] area—which was exercised on May 5, 2023, effective September 1.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rice |first1=Lynette |title=Eight CBS Stations To Ditch CW And Go Independent This Fall |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/cbs-stations-eight-drop-cw-go-independent-this-fall-1235357388/ |access-date=September 1, 2023 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |date=May 5, 2023}}</ref> In the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Tampa Bay markets, Nexstar-owned [[MyNetworkTV]] stations ([[WPHL-TV]], [[KRON-TV]] and [[WTTA]], respectively) were announced as replacements for [[WPSG]], [[KPYX|KBCW]] and [[WTOG]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Nexstar Television Stations in Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Tampa to Become Affiliated with the CW Network on September 1|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar-television-stations-in-philadelphia-san-francisco-and-tampa-to-become-affiliated-with-the-cw-network-on-september-1/|publisher=Nexstar Media Group|date=June 14, 2023|access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> Adell Broadcasting-owned [[WADL (TV)|WADL]], Detroit's existing MyNetworkTV affiliate, replaced [[WKBD-TV]]; [[Mission Broadcasting]], a closely related company to Nexstar, also filed to buy WADL, with Nexstar to provide services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://missionbroadcastinginc.com/2023/05/18/mission-broadcasting-to-acquire-wadl-tv-detroit-from-adell-broadcasting/|title= |
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Mission Broadcasting To Acquire WADL-TV Detroit From Adell Broadcasting |
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|website=Mission Broadcasting, Inc.|date=May 18, 2023|access-date=September 1, 2023|publisher=broadcastone}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/assignmentDraftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076ff387de8c4a0187e7ea3d64032c&id=25076ff387de8c4a0187e7ea3d64032c&goBack=N|title=Assignments|website=Licensing and Management System|date=May 17, 2023|access-date=September 1, 2023|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref> The acquisition remained pending {{as of|2024|1|lc=y}}.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/television/2023/10/30/cw-network-yanked-from-detroit-airwaves-over-business-spat/71380700007/|title=CW Network yanked from Detroit airwaves over business spat|first=Adam|last=Graham|newspaper=[[The Detroit News]]|date=October 30, 2023|accessdate=October 30, 2023}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2023 |title=KEVIN ADELL REMOVES CW NETWORK IN DETROIT |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kevin-adell-removes-cw-network-in-detroit-301971471.html |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=PR Newswire}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Cheng |first=Roger |date=October 30, 2023 |title=Detroit TV Station Boots CW Off its Lineup Over Pay Dispute |url=https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/detroit-tv-station-boots-cw-off-its-lineup-over-pay-dispute/ |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=Cord Cutters News}}</ref> |
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The remainder of the affected markets were addressed through new affiliation agreements with group owners [[Hearst Television]], [[Gray Television]] and [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], each of which already owned multiple CW affiliates. Hearst's renewal included [[KQCA]] as the new CW Sacramento affiliate in place of [[KMAX-TV]],<ref>{{cite news|title=The CW Network And Hearst Television Expand And Extend Affiliation Partnership|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/the-cw-network-and-hearst-television-expand-and-extend-affiliation-partnership/|publisher=Nexstar Media Group|date=August 1, 2023|access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> while the Gray Television renewal included [[WPCH-TV]] in Atlanta, replacing [[WUPA]].<ref>{{cite news|title=The CW Network and Gray Television Expand and Extend Affiliation Partnership|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/the-cw-and-gray-expand-extend-affiliation-partnership/|publisher=Nexstar Media Group|date=August 30, 2023|access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> Sinclair included [[WPNT]] in Pittsburgh and a subchannel of Seattle's [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[KOMO-TV]] as replacements for [[WPKD-TV|WPCW]] and [[KSTW]], respectively. As part of the Sinclair agreement, The CW moved from Sinclair's [[KOCB]] to Nexstar's [[KAUT-TV]] in Oklahoma City.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2023 |title=The CW Network and Sinclair Expand and Extend Affiliation Partnership |url=https://www.nexstar.tv/the-cw-and-sinclair-expand-and-extend-affiliation-partnership/ |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=Nexstar Media Group, Inc. |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2023 |title=Nexstar's KAUT-TV in Oklahoma City To Become CW Network Affiliate on September 1 |url=https://www.nexstar.tv/kaut-tv-in-oklahoma-city-to-become-cw-affiliate-sept-1/ |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=Nexstar Media Group, Inc. |language=en-US}}</ref> Additionally, Nexstar took back the CW affiliation in [[Billings, Montana]], when the statewide [[Montana Television Network]] ceased airing The CW on a subchannel of its stations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCollum |first=Cheryl |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Programming Changes in Billings, Montana |url=https://blog.tdstelecom.com/news/programming-changes-in-billings-montana/ |access-date=September 25, 2023 |website=TDS Telecommunications |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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WADL dropped The CW on October 30, 2023, due to a dispute with Nexstar over payment;<ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> on November 6, [[WMYD]] (owned by the [[E. W. Scripps Company]]) was announced as the network's new Detroit affiliate effective November 13.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 6, 2023 |title=Detroit's WMYD-TV To Become CW Affiliate On Monday, Nov. 13 |url=https://www.nexstar.tv/detroit-wmyd-to-become-cw-affiliate-nov-13/ |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=Nexstar Media Group}}</ref> On November 7, WADL owner Kevin Adell hand delivered a "cease-and-desist" letter to WMYD in an effort to prevent another move of the CW affiliation in the Detroit market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cheng |first=Roger |date=November 7, 2023 |title=The Detroit CW Feud With Nexstar Gets Ugly With Cease and Desist Letter |url=https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/the-detroit-cw-feud-with-nexstar-gets-ugly-with-cease-and-desist-letter/ |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=Cord Cutters News}}</ref> |
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On November 13, 2023, ''[[The Seattle Times]]'' reported that Sinclair Broadcast Group will move The CW's Seattle affiliation to [[KUNS-TV]] on January 1, 2024, replacing [[Univision]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 13, 2023|first=Nina|last=Shapiro|title=Sinclair nixes Univision affiliation, ending local Spanish broadcasts|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/sinclair-nixes-univision-affiliation-ending-local-spanish-broadcasts/|access-date=November 20, 2023|website=The Seattle Times}}</ref> |
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On November 20, 2023, [[KASW]] became an [[independent station]] known as Arizona 61, airing the Coyotes and using local news and entertainment programming as well as content from [[Scripps News]], while programming from The CW will move to a subchannel of Phoenix's [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[KNXV-TV]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 15, 2023 |title=Arizona Coyotes Moving to New Home with Scripps Sports |url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-moving-to-new-home-with-scripps |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Arizona Coyotes |language=en}}</ref> |
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On December 18, 2023, Nexstar announced that [[WOTV]], [[KELO-TV]] and [[WMBB]] will become CW affiliates via their digital subchannels on January 1, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malonepublished |first=Michael |date=2023-12-18 |title=Nexstar Stations Take Over CW Affiliations in 3 Markets |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/nexstar-stations-take-over-cw-affiliations-in-three-markets |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Broadcasting Cable |language=en}}</ref> |
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On January 8, 2024, it was announced that [[KAZT-TV]] would become the new Phoenix-area affiliate for [[The CW]], effective February 1, 2024, as part of a time brokerage deal with the network's majority owner, [[Nexstar Media Group]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alex |date=January 8, 2024 |title=Nexstar Media Enters Into Time Brokerage Agreement with KAZT-TV in Phoenix, Arizona |url=https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar-enters-into-time-brokerage-agreement-with-kazt-tv-in-phoenix/ |access-date=January 8, 2024 |publisher=Nexstar Media Group|language=en-US}}</ref> |
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== Stations == |
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{| class="wikitable sortable" |
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|- |
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! scope="col" | [[Media market|Market]] |
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! scope="col" | New affiliate |
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! scope="col" | Old affiliation |
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! scope="col" | Prior affiliate |
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! scope="col" | New affiliation |
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|- |
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| [[Atlanta|Atlanta, GA]] |
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! [[WPCH-TV]] |
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| [[Independent station|Independent]] |
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! [[WUPA]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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| [[Battle Creek]]–[[Kalamazoo]]–[[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids, MI]] |
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! [[WOTV|WOTV-DT2]] |
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| [[Dabl]] |
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! [[WWMT|WWMT-DT2]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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| [[Billings, Montana|Billings]]–[[Hardin, Montana|Hardin, MT]] |
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! [[KSVI|KSVI-DT2]] |
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| [[Ion Mystery]] |
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! [[KTVQ|KTVQ-DT2]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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| rowspan="2" | [[Butte, Montana|Butte]]–[[Bozeman, Montana|Bozeman, MT]] |
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| {{n/a}} |
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| {{n/a}} |
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! [[KXLF-TV|KXLF-DT2]] |
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| rowspan="2" | Independent |
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|- |
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! [[KSVI|K23LW-D2]] |
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| [[Ion Mystery]] |
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! [[KBZK|KBZK-DT2]] |
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|- |
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| rowspan="2" | [[Detroit|Detroit, MI]]–[[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor, ON]] |
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! [[WADL (TV)|WADL]]<br>(September 1, 2023 to October 30, 2023) |
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| [[MyNetworkTV]]{{Efn|Retained as a secondary affiliation.|name=Secondary}} |
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! [[WKBD-TV]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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! [[WMYD]] <br>(Since November 13, 2023) |
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| Independent |
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! [[WADL (TV)|WADL]] |
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| [[MyNetworkTV]]{{Efn|WADL already carried MyNetworkTV before joining The CW and had retained it as a secondary affiliation.}} |
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|- |
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| [[Great Falls, Montana|Great Falls, MT]] |
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| {{n/a}} |
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| {{n/a}} |
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! [[KRTV|KRTV-DT2]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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| [[Helena, Montana|Helena, MT]] |
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| {{n/a}} |
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| {{n/a}} |
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! [[KTVH-DT|KTVH-DT2]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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| [[Missoula, Montana|Missoula, MT]] |
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| {{n/a}} |
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| {{n/a}} |
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! [[KPAX-TV|KPAX-DT2]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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| [[Oklahoma City|Oklahoma City, OK]] |
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! [[KAUT-TV]] |
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| Independent |
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! [[KOCB]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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| [[Panama City, Florida|Panama City, FL]] |
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! [[WMBB|WMBB-DT2]] |
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| [[Antenna TV]] |
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! [[WJHG-TV|WJHG-DT2]] |
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| [[MeTV]] |
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|- |
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| [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, PA]] |
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! [[WPHL-TV]] |
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| [[MyNetworkTV]]{{Efn|name=Secondary}} |
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! [[WPSG]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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| rowspan="2"| [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix, AZ]] |
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! [[KNXV-TV|KNXV-DT2]] (November 20, 2023 to January 31, 2024) |
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| [[Antenna TV]]{{Efn|Retained as a primary affiliation.|name=Primary}} |
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! [[KASW]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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! [[KAZT-TV]] (Effective February 1, 2024) |
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| Independent |
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! [[KNXV-TV|KNXV-DT2]] |
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| [[Antenna TV]]{{Efn|KNXV-DT2 already carried Antenna TV before joining The CW and had retained it as a primary affiliation.}} |
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|- |
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| [[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, PA]] |
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! [[WPNT]] |
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| [[MyNetworkTV]]{{Efn|name=Secondary}} |
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! [[WPKD-TV]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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| [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]]–[[Stockton, California|Stockton]]–[[Modesto, California|Modesto, CA]] |
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! [[KQCA]] |
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| [[MyNetworkTV]]{{Efn|name=Secondary}} |
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! [[KMAX-TV]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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| [[San Francisco]]–[[Oakland, California|Oakland]]–[[San Jose, California|San Jose, CA]] |
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! [[KRON-TV]] |
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| [[MyNetworkTV]]{{Efn|name=Secondary}} |
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! [[KPYX]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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| rowspan="2" | [[Seattle]]–[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma, WA]] |
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! [[KOMO-TV|KOMO-DT2]] <br>(September 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023) |
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| [[Comet (TV network)|Comet]]{{Efn|name=Primary}} |
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! [[KSTW]] |
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| Independent |
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|- |
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! [[KUNS-TV]] <br>(Since January 1, 2024) |
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| [[Univision]] |
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! [[KOMO-TV|KOMO-DT2]] |
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| [[Comet (TV network)|Comet]]{{Efn|KOMO-DT2 already carried Comet before joining The CW and had retained it as a primary affiliation.}} |
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|- |
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| rowspan="2" | [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota|Sioux Falls]]–[[Pierre, South Dakota|Pierre, SD]] |
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! [[KELO-TV|KELO-DT4]] |
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| rowspan="2" | Ion Mystery |
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! [[KSFY-TV|KSFY-DT2]] |
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| rowspan="2" | [[Outlaw (TV network)|Outlaw]] |
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|- |
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! [[KELO-TV|KPLO-DT4]] |
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! [[KSFY-TV|KPRY-DT2]] |
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|- |
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| [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]]–[[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg, FL]] |
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! [[WTTA]] |
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| [[MyNetworkTV]]{{Efn|name=Secondary}} |
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! [[WTOG]] |
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| Independent |
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|} |
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{{notelist}} |
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== See also == |
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* [[1989 South Florida television affiliation switch]] |
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* [[1994–1996 United States broadcast television realignment]] |
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* [[2001 Vancouver TV realignment]] |
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* [[2006 United States broadcast television realignment]] |
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* [[2007 Canada broadcast TV realignment]] |
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== References == |
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{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Nexstar Media Group|C]] |
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[[Category:Warner Bros. Discovery|C]] |
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[[Category:CBS News and Stations|C]] |
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[[Category:2023 in American television|C]] |
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[[Category:2024 in American television|C]] |
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