De-Branding CW On KDAF/33 and other Tribune CW Affils

[txchipk]

Tribune has been working on removing the CW-branding from its stations. KDAF is still using the "CW33" logo on-air tonight, but its anchors and reporters on the newscasts have been saying "KDAF 33 News" rather than "CW33 News" for several weeks. A few promos say "KDAF 33" rather than "CW33."

The CW33 website now redirects to http://www.the33tv.com/, which seems to show what will be the new CW-less logo. Looks like they will be branding as "The 33."


Poking around the other CW Tribune stations...it looks like WTTV 4 Indianapolis "CW4" will become "Indiana's 4" as the logo shows up on current site; WDCW 50 "CW Washington"'s page now goes to a new "DC50" site. Looks like WNOL 38 New Orleans will become "NOLA 38" (www.nola38.com). Of course, they already changed the calls of KHCW 39 Houston to KIAH.

 

[bhayes1016]

KIAH is still branding as CW39, though that may change in the fall.

 

[arnoldevns]

I brought this up over a month ago on the national board: http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,104424.0.html
A TV website is reporting that CW execs are now talking about ways to gracefully shut down the network.
Tribune has apparently told them to either boost the ratings significantly or all of their stations will leave the network in early 2009.
I suspect they've already decided to leave regardless of what CW does. Without Tribune, CW will have a hard time surviving.

Meanwhile, My Network TV seems to be rolling along just fine (as in - no threatened affiliate defections) and looking forward to a ratings boost when the WWE joins the schedule in a few weeks. I've said since the outset of this battle that Fox would find a way to make My Network work since they really had no other choice for their former UPN stations. Losing their chief competitor would only solidify this network's place in the TV landscape.

 

[Markxxx]

Well by 2009 everyone will have DTV so subchannels will be available and station strength won't be as big an issue.

Tribune would make it easier but I wonder if the Trib is big enough to cause the network to fold if they left.

 

[arnoldevns]

Well by 2009 everyone will have DTV so subchannels will be available and station strength won't be as big an issue.

Tribune would make it easier but I wonder if the Trib is big enough to cause the network to fold if they left.

Subchannels in big markets for CW? No. That won't happen. If CW loses Tribune, they're in deep trouble. CBS would have to decide (for example) whether to ditch the 7-9 news on TXA 21 in favor of the CW. Would they do that? I'm not sure. Even if they did, the Mavs games would repeatedly delay the CW schedule during the heart of the TV season. Would CBS want to lose those games to someone else - particularly when they draw 2-3 times the ratings of any CW show? I don't think so. No matter how is shakes out, the CW would wind up in a shaky position here. Other markets where CBS doesn't have a second station would be even worse.

 

[purpledevil]

KIAH is still branding as CW39, though that may change in the fall.

Well...yes and no. The 9 O'clock news is now touted as the "39 News at 9", even though all the logos still say "CW39". When a show such as "Friends" is advertised in a time slot after the end of the current show, it is announced, "On the next 'Friends', tonight at 10:30, on Channel 39." Slowly but surely the CW is being removed.

 

[arnoldevns]

It appears from looking at some online TV listings that channel 33 will change their branding on September 1st.
Their news will be called "The 33 News at 9"

 

[TroyG]

I saw a billboard touting the new CW show "90210" while I was driving down I-10, and the ad reveal's KIAH's new logo-with no mention of "The CW" anywhere. In fact, I think KPLR-A Tribune-owned station in St. Louis might ponder on thinking about switching their affilliations from The CW to ABC. The current afilliate does'nt carry a local newscast, and most of their programming they primarily shows are Infomercials.

 

[War Of Attrition]

I saw a billboard touting the new CW show "90210" while I was driving down I-10, and the ad reveal's KIAH's new logo-with no mention of "The CW" anywhere.

What did it look like? Was it by chance branded as "Houston's 39"? Houstons39.com was recently register to a one Keith Monahan, who, surprise, is KIAH's Chief Meteorologist.

 

[hifidistortion]

Here is the 39 logo and the new website:
www.39online.com

 

[Mediafrog+]

If Tribune was to dump The CW from KIAH, I would think either KNWS or KTBU would quickly snap it up.

 

[KERCAlum]

And as a side note, the network that preceded The CW has relaunched itself online, according to Fox News: The WB.com is back, showing Warner Bros. TV shows online.

Wonder if it would be possible for The CW to re-re-brand itself as The WB again? Or even WBN (the Warner Bros. Network)? They'd fit more nicely with all the other three-letter acronyms (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, PAX/ION, TNT, HBO, etc.). Not like anybody really knows what "The CW" stands for, anyway. I've always thought it sounded like a country singer that sang truckin' songs (a la C. W. McCall in the late '70s).

 

[Slambang]

I Have a feeling the WB moniker is coming back to TV...CW has been a total disaster when it comes to programming and name recognition, plus seeing that CBS(Viacom) has had a rocky history with the WWE franchise(Remember Raw on Spike?), which is the networks biggest draw being lost to My Network, I can forsee a sooner than later change for the network as a whole.

 

[arnoldevns]

Bringing back the WB would be better than what they've got now. However, I'm not sure they can fix all their problems with a simple name change. If Tribune backs out of this network (whatever it's called) I wouldn't look for it to survive for too long.

 

[TroyG]

I like to see Warner Bros. change their identity-once again to WBTV, or just WBT. Right Now, Their Current Monkier Network-The CW-just lost The WWE to My Network TV, and it's also dropping their Sunday line-up as well. WBTV and WBT happens to be Charlotte, N.C.'s very popular TV & Radio stations. WBTV is not related to neither Warner Bros. nor The CW, but it is affiliated by CBS, which is The "C" in CW.

 

[KERCAlum]

I don't think you could give a TV network an acronym that is the same as the current call letters of a TV station.

WBN might work better - The Warner Bros. Network

Or just The WB.

 

[compubit]

39 News has dropped all of their CW references (except in a 39-2-39 text messaging promo) and are using their new logo...

No change of set, graphics or theme, though...

Jim

 

[arnoldevns]

From what I hear at KDAF, you can expect a LOT of changes in their news over the coming months. They hired a former channel 8 news director to be their new news director. He is already shaking things up. The rebranding hits monday, but the real changes in the news will take months. There will be a lot of new faces and some that you see now will be leaving. Tribune wants to win. They don't want 33's news to be a joke anymore.

 

[purpledevil]

39 News has dropped all of their CW references (except in a 39-2-39 text messaging promo) and are using their new logo...

No change of set, graphics or theme, though...

Jim

Watched the 39 news last night, and the set has been changed. Now all graphics simply say "39". As far as KTBU picking up The CW, it's not likely. They are rolling out an entire new line-up next week, and are trying to compete on the level of 39, 20, and to a lesser extent 26. Pickingup the CW would seemingly be a step backwards. With regards to KNWS, anything would help their cause.

 

[Slambang]

From what I hear at KDAF, you can expect a LOT of changes in their news over the coming months. They hired a former channel 8 news director to be their new news director. He is already shaking things up. The rebranding hits monday, but the real changes in the news will take months. There will be a lot of new faces and some that you see now will be leaving. Tribune wants to win. They don't want 33's news to be a joke anymore.

Along those lines, ive heard somewhere (Uncle Barky I think) he wants a morning show for this market, which isnt that bad of an idea. Now, if they could just get some decent studio space to do it in, as well as decent talent.Im hoping they take a KTLA approach to their product, as their newscast isnt half shabby and goes from 5a-10a.