List of The WB affiliates
This is a list of stations which were affiliated with The WB in the United States at the time of the network's closure. The WB shut down September 17, 2006. Former affiliates of The WB became affiliates of The CW, MyNetworkTV, another network, reverted to independent status, or shut down entirely. Some WB affiliates dropped WB programming on September 5, 2006 in favor of MyNetworkTV.
The WB as a network, due to parent company Time Warner's heavy involvement in cable systems, could not have conventional owned-and-operated stations. Tribune Broadcasting was an initial investor in the network and owned many of its largest-market stations. In addition, the network backed a separately owned group seeking to improve the network's national reach.[1] This group materialized in January 1997 as ACME Television Holdings (in reference to Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner cartoons), owned by WB network president Jamie Kellner.[2]
In smaller markets, beginning in 1998, WB network service was provided by a group of cable-only "stations" known first as The WeB and from 1999 as The WB 100+ Station Group.[3] These cable channels, which utilized fictional call signs and were positioned like local stations, aired WB and syndicated programming and were established in partnership with local TV stations and cable systems in their respective markets.[4] They are listed with no channel assignment (as some were on different channels by cable system) and denoted by 100+. Further information on these services can be found at The WB 100+ Station Group.
Notes
- ^ Not a WB 100+ station. Provided on cable and, in later years, as a digital subchannel of WZDX.
- ^ Kids WB programs aired on WCIU-TV (channel 26) in Chicago.
- ^ WBSF was operated as a digital subchannel with cable carriage by WEYI-TV beginning in 2004 as WBBC (changed to WBSF in 2005). A construction permit for a full-power station of the same name on channel 46 had been obtained but was not activated until September 2006, in time for the launch of The CW.
- ^ WDBD was the WB affiliate at the announcement of The WB's closure. WDBD switched to Fox in July 2006, and WB programs aired on WUFX (channel 35) for the remainder of the network's run.
- ^ KOWH began very late in the network's life, in June 2006. Prior to then, KWBL100+ served this market. KOWH had already been designated for The CW and changed call signs to KCWL-TV on August 1, 2006.
- ^ Cable-only station outside of the WB 100+ Station Group.
- ^ a b c d Secondary affiliation
- ^ The WB had only just transitioned from a WB 100+ service on cable to over-the-air broadcast on January 1, 2006.
- ^ Operated by WCYB-TV but never used a fake call sign.
- ^ Not a WB 100+ station. Provided on cable and, in later years, as a digital subchannel of WFXR and WJPR.
References
- ^ "WB-backed buy". Broadcasting & Cable. January 6, 1997. p. 14. ProQuest 1040427839.
- ^ Rathbun, Elizabeth A. (March 24, 1997). "Acme making TV debut in Oregon". Broadcasting & Cable. p. 17. ProQuest 225348238.
- ^ Schlosser, Joe (March 8, 1999). "WB renames cable service". Broadcasting & Cable. p. 36. ProQuest 1014774724.
- ^ Schlosser, Joe (March 2, 1998). "Frog jumping to small towns". Broadcasting & Cable. pp. 24–26. ProQuest 225323907.