Broadcast network realignments and switches

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

Has anyone on this site ever had this happen to you in the 1990s?

I remeber when one of my local bradcast stations, WLUK-TV 11 (of Green Bay/Appleton, Wisconsin), an NBC affiliate identifing as "News 11" swapped affiliations with WGBA-TV "Fox 26" of Appleton, Wisconsin in 1995. The switchover resulted in WLUK-TV going from being "News 11" to "Fox 11 News". Even the logo and news music themes were changed, with "News Series 2000 Plus/Stimulus" (used only on News 11 Today) and "News Series 2000" being replaced by "Fox '95" which was used until 2001 (WLUK used "Fox 95" longer than any Fox affiliate that used it) when it was replaced by "News Matrix". 1995 was the year Fox 11 of Green Bay, Wisconsin used the "Your Home Team" slogan, Fox 11 also had some of the best Green Bay Packers football coverage in the Green Bay/Appleton Area of Northeast Wisconsin and the Fox River Valley. NBC 26 had to start up a newscast, due to the fact that they did not have one in previous years when they were known "TV 26" and later "Fox 26". NBC 26 had to find a niche in its first few years with a newscast (1995 and 1996).

A more complicated "musical chairs"-type realignment happened in Denver, Colorado in 1995 between the ABC, NBC, and CBS affiliates.
KMGH-TV CBS 7 > ABC
KCNC-TV NBC 4 > CBS
KUSA-TV ABC 9 > NBC

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

San Diego/Tijuana's broadcast TV alignment of 2008.

In 2008, border blaster XETV-TV "Fox 6" of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, owned by Grupo Televisa swapped affiliations with KSWB-TV "CW 5" (channel 69/cable 5) of San Diego, California, USA, owned by Tribune. As a result, XETV-TV became a CW affiliate known as "San Diego 6-The CW", and KSWB-TV 69 became "Fox 5 San Diego". (5 is channel 69's cable position)

[ynkeesfn82]

In the 1990s there were a bunch of switches. Part of it had to do with a merger between Group W and CBS and some didn't.

BOSTON

WBZ 4 from NBC to CBS
WHDH 7 from CBS to NBC

Philly

KYW 3 from NBC to CBS
WCAU 10 from CBS to NBC

Maimi

WTVJ 4 NBC to CBS WFOR
WCIX 6 CBS to NBC WTVJ (this is the only market where the call letters changed)

Providence/New Bedford

6 WLNE from CBS to ABC
12 WPRI from ABC to CBS

Then in either 1999 or 2000 in Connecticut:

WTXX Channel 20 UPN to WB
WBNE Channel 59 WB to WCTX UPN

This swap happened because Tribune owned FOX 61 also ran and later bought WTXX Channel 20. Tribune owned a percentage of The WB Network. When UPN first launched WTXX was run by NBC 30, which at the time was owned by Viacom, which at the time was part of Paramount. (The P in UPN stood for Paramount).

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

New World TV stations
(these TV stations were affected by Fox's completion of the NFL football contract)

Existing stations
*WAGA-TV CBS 5 Atlanta, Georgia (now Fox) (Atlanta Falcons)
*WSBK-TV Independent 38 Boston, Massachusetts (became UPN, then Indendepent, then MyNetworkTV) (New England Patriots)
*WJW-TV CBS 8 Cleveland, Ohio (now Fox) (Cleveland Browns)
*WJBK-TV CBS 2 Detroit, Michigan (now Fox) (Detroit Lions)
*WITI-TV CBS 6 Milwaukee, Wisconsin (now Fox) (Green Bay Packers)
*KNSD-TV NBC 39 San Diego, California (still NBC; XETV-TV 6 was San Diego's Fox affiliate from 1986-2008; KSWB is San Diego's current Fox affiliate.) (San Diego Chargers)
*WTVT-TV CBS 13 Tampa, Florida (now Fox) (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Acquired from Argyle Television
*KTBC-TV CBS 7 Austin, Texas (now Fox) (Dallas Cowboys)
*WVTM-TV NBC 13 Birmingham, Alabama (still NBC)
*KDFW-TV CBS 4 Dallas, Texas (now Fox) (Dallas Cowboys)
*KTVI-TV ABC 2 St. Louis, Missouri (now Fox)

Citicasters Acquisitions
*WBRC-TV ABC 6 Birmingham, Alabama (now Fox)
*WGHP-TV ABC 8 High Point, North Carolina (now Fox)
*WDAF-TV NBC 4 Kansas City, Missouri (now Fox) (Kansas City Chiefs)
*KSAZ-TV CBS 10 Phoenix, Arizona (now Fox)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Burnham Broadcasting Stations affected by the Fox/NFL Deal

*WLUK-TV NBC 11 Green Bay, Wisconsin (now Fox) (Green Bay Packers)
*KHON-TV NBC 2 Honolulu, Hawaii (now Fox)
*WALA-TV NBC 10 Mobile, Alabama (now Fox)
*WVUE-TV ABC 8 New Orleans, Louisiana (now Fox) (New Orleans Saints)

...not affected by the deal:
*KBAK-TV ABC 29 (now 33) Bakersfield, California (now CBS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 1992 affiliation switch in Green Bay, Wisconsin

*WBAY-TV CBS 2 (now ABC), Green Bay/Appleton, Wisconsin
*WFRV-TV ABC 5 (now CBS), Green Bay/Appleton, Wisconsin
*WJMN-TV ABC 3 (now CBS), Escanaba/Marquette, Michigan, satellite station of WFRV-TV on Michigan's upper peninsula.

[Hudsons81]

New World TV stations
(these TV stations were affected by Fox's completion of the NFL football contract)

Existing stations
*WJBK-TV CBS 2 Detroit, Michigan (now Fox) (Detroit Lions)

I still somewhat remember that-originally, Fox's southeastern Michigan affiliate was WKBD (channel 50), but then the contract happened and it went to WJBK, which forced CBS to affiliate with WGPR (62) after failed attempts to persuade then-and still is today-ABC affiliate WXYZ (7) and then-and still is today-independent WADL (38). As a result, WKBD reverted briefly back into an independent before becoming a charter affiliate of UPN when that launched-and is now a charter CW affiliate.

However, CBS also inherited WGPR's junky transmitter, which damaged Detroit-area ratings for the hits CBS was airing then. However, these have since rebounded as the station, which was renamed WWJ-TV not long after, now broadcasts from the same transmitter as WKBD-it's located on 11 Mile Road in Southfield, MI.

[TheFugitive]

The Ohio Valley in the late 70's

Long-time NBC affiliate WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling, WV flipped and became a CBS affiliate.

Meanwhile just up the river in Steubenville, OH, WSTV-TV 9, long-time CBS affiliate, became
an NBC affiliate while changing call letters to WTOV.

Both stations maintained secondary affiliations with ABC.  WTOV would run ABC college football
on weekends, while WTRF would run pieces of ABC's prime-time lineup in odd time slots (like
4PM Saturday!)

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

This just in:  WISH-TV CBS 8 of Indianapolis, Indiana has swapped affiliations with WTTV-TV 4 (Independent) and WTTV-TV CW 4-2 as of January 2015.

The end result:

*WISH-TV 8 is now The CW.

*WTTV-TV 4-1 is now CBS.

*WTTV-TV 4-2 is now independent.

[Hudsons81]

This just in:  WISH-TV CBS 8 of Indianapolis, Indiana has swapped affiliations with WTTV-TV 4 (Independent) and WTTV-TV CW 4-2 as of January 2015.

The end result:

*WISH-TV 8 is now The CW.

*WTTV-TV 4-1 is now CBS.

*WTTV-TV 4-2 is now independent.

Hopefully WTTV-TV 4.2 will affiliate with Decades when that launches this year.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

Hopefully WTTV-TV 4.2 will affiliate with Decades when that launches this year.

I know WBAY-TV 2 of Green Bay, Wisconsin (owned by Media General/Young Broadcasting) is switching to DECADES when Live Well Network goes off the air on their 2nd subchannel WBAY 2.3. Right now, it is the only network to be affiliated with ABC and not CBS to be announced (I guess our CBS affiliate, WFRV-TV Local 5, owned by Nexstar turned it down) to carry the new network. It also marks the return of classic TV to that position on the dial (2.3 was once part of the Retro Television Network). I'm looking forward to this channel because Star Trek: The Next Generation will be on it.

[TheFugitive]

According to their Wikipedia article, DECADES (which is apparently part-owned by CBS) will be
coming to Pittsburgh on KDKA-TV 2.

This solves a mystery as to why the two local stations owned by CBS
(KDKA and WPCW) were the only two that never had any subchannels.

I guess CBS wanted to keep their powder dry until they could program one themselves.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

Phoenix, Arizona - The "domino effect" of the network affiliation realignment hit hardest here, having a big effect on these TV stations.

* KTVK-TV 3 - ABC (1955-1995) > The WB (January-September 1995) > Independent (September 1995-present)
** FOX Kids (secondary, 1994-1995)

* KPHO-TV 5 - CBS (1949-1953) > Independent (1955-1994) > CBS (1994-present)
** NBC (secondary, 1949-1953)
** ABC (secondary, 1949-1955)
** DuMont (secondary, 1949-1955)

* KSAZ-TV 10 - CBS (1953-1994) > Independent (September-December 1994) > FOX (December 1994-present)
** ABC (secondary, 1953-1955)

* KPNX-TV 12 - NBC (April 23, 1953-present)
** DuMont (1953-1956)

* KNXV-TV 15 - Independent (1979-1986) > FOX (1986-1995) > ABC (1995-present)
** ONTV (secondary, 1979-1985)
** FNN (secondary, 1981-1985)
** ABC (secondary, 1994-1995)

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

NBC 26 News - Green Bay, Wisconsin - first 6:00 PM newscast, July 19, 1996:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gPve6Qh38g

What's in the video:

NBC 26 News
Commercial: Hardee's
Commercial: Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman on NBC 26
NBC 26 News - Changing America segment
Commercial: Ford
Commercial: North Star Casino
NBC 26 News (continued)
Commercials (cut off)
NBC 26 News (continued)
Commercials (cut off)
NBC 26 Sports
Commercial: Menards
Commercial: Citizens First Credit Union
Commercial: Polaris ATVs
Commercial: Van Vreede's Furniture
NBC 26 News (continued)
Commercial: Hardee's
Commercial: Al Roker NBC 26 Olympic Games promo
NBC 26 News - Money Matters segment
Commercial: Fox Communities Credit Union
Commercial: Suess Electronics
NBC 26 News (continued)
Commercial: Oneida Bingo & Casino
Commercial: Total Floor Covering and Drapery
NBC 26 News - Boater's Forecast segment
Commercial: Silver Creek Specialty Meats
Commercial: West Side Garage car dealership
NBC 26 News (continued)
Commercial: F&M Bank
Commercial: Zoll Stone & Brick, Inc.
NBC 26 News - F.Y.I. segment
Commercial: Neenah-Menasha Ford
Commercial: Van Vreede's Furniture
NBC 26 Sports
Commercial: Polaris ATVs
Commercial: Mad About You on NBC 26
Commercial: Horn Ford of Brillion, Wisconsin
NBC 26 News (continued)

---------------------------------------------------------
News theme: "WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee News Package" with NBC signature
http://www.southernmedia-nmsa.com/#3,1,724
---------------------------------------------------------

Staff that worked for NBC 26 News in 1996:
News Director: Ted O'Connell
News anchorman/director: Ashley Webster (now at FOX Business Channel)
News Anchorwoman: Heather Hays
Reporter: Robyn Young
Reporter: Preston Rudie
Reporter: Steve Trainor
Reporter: Amy Freeman
Reporter: Jeff Conner
Reporter: David DeWitt
Reporter: Sara Welch
Reporter: Jessica Jallings
Reporter: Bonnie Kirschman
Meteorologist: George Caldes (now at WNYT in Albany, New York)
Sports Reporter: Bill Wixey
Sports Reporter: Derek Venckus

[Hudsons81]

Are there any videos out there of any newscast from WJBK's first day as a Fox affiliate in December 1994?

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

Are there any videos out there of any newscast from WJBK's first day as a Fox affiliate in December 1994?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehXgeeGX5Kc

[mvcg66b3r]

Potential shakeup in Boston:

Beantown Breakup - NBC Actually Leaving WHDH?

Speculation that NBC would yank its affiliation with WHDH has been going on for months, with a 2016 deadline looming. And NBC has made no secret that it would love an owned and operated NBC affiliate in Boston.

Sources have told New England One that preparations are being made to move the NBC affiliation away from an Ed Ansin-owned WHDH-TV. Additionally, a source inside WHDH has told New England One that NBC has decided not to renew its agreement with WHDH.

At this point, NBC holds all the cards in the affiliation switch. It already owns New England Cable News as well as WNEU-TV, Telemundo Boston. Of course the best outcome for NBC would be in forcing Ansin to sell WHDH, but that isn't very likely as the station already has a contingency plan in place to swap the CW affiliation over to WHDH if they lose NBC.

So what is likely?

While it is speculation at this point, and is not confirmed, NBC would move the NBC affiliation to WNEU-TV 60 which is now the home of Telemundo Boston, and could easily move Telemundo to a digital sub-channel. The downside of this is reception... the WNEU transmitter is located in Goffstown, NH and the signal is not strong in the entire Boston market. However, most people watch TV via cable, so this not might affect a lot of people.

NBC is already quietly building its news team for the new station.

Pete Bouchard, who resigned from WHDH-TV on Tuesday, would be a part of that new team.

Also unconfirmed, we've been told from various sources that Maria Stephanos has been hired to be the main anchor and face of NBC Boston. However, Maria's agent Lisa Hall tells New England One that she has not yet "made any decisions about where she is going next. For now, she is enjoying her time off with her family."

http://www.newenglandone.com/news/local-news/item/1284-beantown-breakup-nbc-actually-leaving-whdh.html

Here's WNEU's coverage map:
http://www.rabbitears.info/contour.php?appid=616149&map=Y

WNEU does have a translator in Boston, but it's analog only.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTMU-LP

[BillyGr]

WNEU does have a translator in Boston, but it's analog only.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTMU-LP

Although it says that they have a permit to operate a digital signal and just need to construct such, which it seems would be a likely option if it became NBC.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

A more complicated "musical chairs"-type realignment happened in Denver, Colorado in 1995 between the ABC, NBC, and CBS affiliates.
KMGH-TV CBS 7 > ABC
KCNC-TV NBC 4 > CBS
KUSA-TV ABC 9 > NBC

Here's it's effect on the Denver stations' logos/brands at the time:


KCNC 4 (NBC to CBS):

>


KMGH 7 (CBS to ABC):

>


KUSA 9 (ABC to NBC):

"9NEWS" branding
>

"9KUSA" branding
>

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

The 2008 San Diego, California, U.S.A./Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico broadcast network realignment's effect on XETV-TDT and KSWB-HD's logos/brands:


XETV-TDT 6 Fox to CW:

>


KSWB-HD 69 (cable 5) CW to Fox:
>

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

The January 2015 Indianapolis, Indiana broadcast realignment's effect on logos/branding:

WTTV 4-1 (CW, now CBS):
>

WISH-TV 8 (CBS, now CW):
>

[Hudsons81]

Here's how the 1994 switches affected the logos of the affected Detroit switches:

WJBK (remained unchanged after switching from CBS to Fox):


WKBD (Fox, now CW):
>>

WGPR (independent, now CBS station WWJ):
>

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

The broadcast TV network realignment of 1995 had a different effect on Miami, Florida's NBC and CBS affiliates (in this case, the networks traded equipment):

WTVJ, Channel 4 (now WTVJ, Channel 6), NBC:
>


WCIX, Channel 6 (now WFOR, Channel 4), CBS:
>

[mvcg66b3r]

Tri-Cities TN/VA: WJHL to take over ABC from WKPT
http://www.timesnews.net/Business/2016/01/04/WKPT-s-affiliation-with-ABC-coming-to-an-end.html?ci=stream&lp=3&p=1
http://wjhl.com/2016/01/04/media-general-announces-abc-affiliation-in-tri-cities-dma/

[Hudsons81]

This just in: at the end of February 2016, WRAL-TV CBS 5 in Raleigh, North Carolina will swap affiliations with WNCN-TV NBC 17.

This, in effect, allows WRAL to air both Super Bowl 50 and the 2016 Summer Olympics in the same year.

[Hudsons81]

The effects of the 1995 Flint/Saginaw/Bay City and Toledo affiliation switches on their then-logos/brands:

Flint/Saginaw/Bay City, Michigan
WNEM-TV 5 (NBC to CBS, remained unchanged):


WEYI-TV 25 (CBS to NBC):
>

Toledo, Ohio
WTVG 13 (NBC to ABC, remained unchanged):


WNWO-TV 24 (ABC to NBC):
>

[mvcg66b3r]

From the Virgin Islands: WSVI lost its ABC affiliation on Dec. 31; it's now airing ION Television.

In a separate press release also issued on Wednesday, Innovative apologized for the recent abrupt switch that occurred when WSVI-Channel 8, the local ABC affiliate, was replaced with ION TV. Innovative said it did not receive timely notification of the switch and was unable to provide the mandated 30-day notification to its customers. The company was not officially apprised of the changes to WSVI-Channel 8 until December 31, 2015, according to the release.

“The company has worked closely with Lilly Broadcasting to acquire an ABC affiliate and that was achieved on January 5, 2016. ABC is currently on Channel 56 on St. Croix and Channel 4 in St. Thomas-St John until the channel realignment takes place on January 15, 2016 when ABC will air on Channel 14 in both districts,” said Graciela Rivera, vice president of Cable TV Services. “I want to thank our technical team for working quickly to resolve this matter. Once again, we sincerely apologize for any confusion this may have caused our valued customers.”

http://viconsortium.com/business/innovative-tv-announces-realignment-to-channel-lineup-wsvi-channel-8-permanent-realignment-coming-jan-15/

DAVID LAMPEL-RUN WSVI-TV CHANNEL LOSES ITS ABC AFFILIATION, JUST IN TIME FOR THE BOWL GAME

Speculation that ABC would yank its affiliation with WSVI-TV Channel 8 has been rife since at least 2011.

And confirmation that it has finally happened came in the form of the programming that is being scrolled on Innovative Cable TV â€" there is no ABC programming scheduled for today.

For football fans, that includes the 2016 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl between Michigan and Florida scheduled to kick off this afternoon at 2 p.m. local time.

WSVI-TV Channel 8 CEO David Lampel, a New York City resident, did not immediately return a request for information about the loss of affiliation with ABC.

Sources said that the current affiliation agreement between ABC and WSVI-TV officially ended at midnight on December 31, 2015 â€" which was last night.

Sources have also told the Virgin Islands Free Press that corporate ABC headquarters in New York had determined to move the ABC affiliation away from the Lampel-owned WSVI-TV at least two months ago if certain specific obligations were not fulfilled.

A source inside WSVI-TV said that the ABC affiliation for the Virgin Islands has been given to a company with staff in Richmond, Virginia and San Juan, Puerto Rico but that the transition to the new, more community-dedicated ownership would not take place in time for viewers to see their favorite bowl games on ABC/ESPN today.

Lampel is a radio disc jockey legend in New York. But his critics have argued that he had no previous experience running a television station prior to a heading up a group that took over the management of WSVI-TV about 20 years ago under the name Alpha Broadcasting.

Viewers of WSVI-TV have complained that the quality of the programming, including the production quality of its commercials and news programs, have greatly diminished under the stewardship of Lampel, especially in the last 10 years. Channel 8 has the lowest-rated news program in the territory.

But if you’re really desperate to see the 2016 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl, Channel 124/ESPN-U on Innovative Cable TV will be running the big football game at 1 a.m. Virgin Islands time on Jan. 2, 2016.

http://vifreepress.com/2016/01/david-lampel-run-wsvi-tv-channel-loses-its-abc-affiliation-just-in-time-for-the-bowl-game/

[mvcg66b3r]

Official: NBC affiliation ending with WHAG-TV

After more than four decades together, WHAG-TV and NBC will part.

Details of the break have not been made public, but Lauren Skowronski, vice president of corporate communications for NBC, said in a one-sentence email Thursday: "I can confirm that the affiliation is ending this summer."

Hugh Breslin, general manager of WHAG-TV, said Thursday night that "we have plans to make a major announcement about exciting changes to our service and programming next week."

NBC also owns and operates WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. Hagerstown and the nation's capital are considered to be in the same market, known as a "Designated Market Area," according to the Nielsen ratings maps.

http://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/local/official-nbc-affiliation-ending-with-whag-tv/article_77461d4a-d6a9-11e5-88eb-0fedba025d11.html

[TheFugitive]

Here's WNEU's coverage map:
http://www.rabbitears.info/contour.php?appid=616149&map=Y

WNEU does have a translator in Boston, but it's analog only.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTMU-LP

The WNEU call letters were used by low-power UHF Channel 63 in Pittsburgh from the late
80's. till the mid-00's.  The station is now dark.  Their application to move to a digital channel
was rejected due to clerical errors.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

XETV-TDT 6:

New XETV logos:

CW 6:


CW 6 News:

[mvcg66b3r]

CBS to Make North Carolina Affiliate Change

CBS will switch its affiliation in Wilmington, N.C. to Morris Network-owned WWAY, the broadcaster announced Wednesday.

The change is part of a broader agreement that extends the network’s affiliation with Morris-owned stations in Chattanooga, Tenn. and Columbus, Miss. CBS will end its affiliation in Wilmington with Capitol Broadcasting’s low-power station WILM.

The network will begin broadcasting on a subchannel of high-power WWAY Jan. 1. The core channel will remain the ABC affiliate in the Wilmington market. In 2013, WWAY launched a digital subchannel affiliated with the CW, which is co-owned by CBS with Time Warner.

https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/cbs-to-make-north-carolina-change-1201742103/

[mvcg66b3r]

Nine and Southern Cross in multi-year affiliation deal

Nine Entertainment Co and Southern Cross have announced a five-year affiliation deal worth almost $500 million in a dramatic switch from their respective affiliates, billionaire Bruce Gordon's WIN Corp and Ten Network Holdings.

In the landmark deal, revealed by Fairfax Media on Friday afternoon, Southern Cross will pay Nine 50 per cent of the advertising revenue it generates as a result of broadcasting Nine's signal to regional Queensland, Southern NSW and regional Victoria.

Under the deal, which begins on July 1, the Southern Cross television brand will disappear and Nine's brand will appear on its channels in regional Australia for the first time in its history.

http://www.theage.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/nine-and-southern-cross-in-multiyear-affiliation-deal-20160428-goha3w.html