THE CW ANNOUNCES 11 NEW LONG-TERM AFFILIATION AGREEMENTS
America's Fifth Broadcast Network Is Now Cleared In 50 Of The Top 50 Markets
Harrisburg, Memphis, Springfield (MO), Macon, Eugene, Erie, Lubbock, Bangor,
Elmira, Watertown and Fairbanks Are The Latest Markets To Be Served By The CW
The CW announced today that it has signed exclusive, long-term affiliation agreements with 11 stations in Harrisburg, Memphis, Springfield (MO), Macon, Eugene, Erie, Lubbock, Bangor, Elmira, Watertown and Fairbanks.
The CW�s national coverage tops more than 90% of the country, including 20 of the Top 20 markets and now 50 of the Top 50.
The newly signed affiliates are:
* WLYH Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York, PA, owned by Television Station Group
Pennsylvania License Subsidiary, LLC and operated by Clear Channel Television under a Local Marketing Agreement (DMA rank 41).
* WLMT Memphis, TN, owned by Clear Channel Television (DMA Rank 44).
* KCZ Springfield, MO, owned by Schurz Communications, Inc. (DMA rank 77).
* WBMN Macon, GA, owned by Cox Communications (DMA rank 120).
* KMTR Eugene, OR, owned by Clear Channel Television (DMA rank 121).
* WSEE Erie, PA, owned by Lilly Broadcasting (DMA rank 142).
* KWBZ Lubbock, TX, owned by Woods Communications Corporation (DMA rank 146).
* WABI Bangor, ME, owned by Diversified Communications (DMA rank 151).
* WENY Elmira-Corning, NY, owned by Lilly Broadcasting (DMA rank 173).
* WWTI Watertown, NY, owned by Clear Channel Television (DMA rank 178).
* KATN Fairbanks, AK, owned by Smith Media LLC (DMA rank 203).
WLYH-TV, WLMT-TV and KCZ-TV are currently UPN affiliates. KWBZ-TV, which is currently an affiliate of The WB, will have both an analog and digital broadcast. The DT stations in Eugene, Erie, Elmira, Watertown and Fairbanks are also currently WB affiliates, as is WBMN, which is a cable station. WABI-DT is the digital channel of the CBS affiliate in Bangor.
�It�s another significant milestone to secure coverage in every Top 50 market as we continue to strengthen The CW�s national distribution,� said John Maatta, Chief Operating Officer, The CW. �It�s a great pleasure to add these newly signed affiliates to our solid line-up of station partners throughout the U.S. and we�re looking forward to working with them to maximize the full potential of their CW affiliation.�
On January 24, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment announced their intent to form a new 5th network, The CW, to be launched in the fall of 2006. The new broadcasting network will be a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation, with each company owning 50%.
In an important strategic move that secures major market distribution for The CW, it was also announced on January 24th that Tribune Broadcasting and the CBS Corporation's UPN affiliates have agreed separately to sign 10-year affiliation agreements with the new network. The combination of Tribune's 16 major market stations (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Houston, Miami, Denver, St. Louis, Portland, Indianapolis, San Diego, Hartford, New Orleans and Albany) and the 11 CBS-owned UPN major market affiliates (Philadelphia, San Francisco, Atlanta, Detroit, Tampa, Seattle, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, West Palm Beach, Norfolk and Providence) cover the top 13 television markets, 20 of the top 25 television markets and have a total coverage area of more than 47% of the country.
The CW will incorporate The WB's current scheduling model, which consists of a 6 night-13 hour primetime lineup including Monday through Friday nights from 8-10 (EST/PST); Sundays from 7-10 (EST/PST); Sunday from 5-7 (EST/PST) outside of primetime as well as a Monday thru Friday afternoon block from 3-5 (EST/PST) and a 5-hour Saturday morning animation block. Together, the network will program 30 hours a week over seven days for its affiliated stations.
CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and UPN), cable television (Showtime and CSTV Networks), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Paramount Television and King World), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), theme parks (Paramount Parks), digital media (CBS Digital Media Group and CSTV Networks) and consumer products (CBS Consumer Products). In Fall 2006, UPN will cease operations and The CW, a new fifth broadcast television network, will launch as a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation. For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, a fully-integrated, broad-based entertainment company, is a global leader in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of all forms of entertainment and their related businesses. Warner Bros. Entertainment, a Time Warner Company, stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry, from feature films to television, home video/DVD, animation, comic books, interactive entertainment and games, product and brand licensing, international cinemas and broadcasting.
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