Since I brought up the likelihood of Raycom doing a group deal with the new "CW Network", bringing that UPN/WB replacement network to WUAB/43 here, I went through the list of Raycom's existing affiliates of either UPN or WB.
One thing I found out - nearly all of them are low-power stations. In fact, WUAB/43 is their only full-power UPN affiliate, and the only other full-power Raycom affiliate in the list is in Hawaii.
Now, this is not necessarily a death knell for the "CW" folks. For one, Cleveland is by far their largest UPN market...all the other UPN/WB Raycom stations are in markets below the top 50...where non-"Big Four" stations are more likely to be on lower-powered stations anyway. Raycom has 7 full-power CBS affiliates.
Cleveland is, as far as I can tell, by far Raycom's largest market to begin with.
Here's the list and my analysis:
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Raycom UPN/WB markets:
Colorado Springs - KXTU-LP 57 "UPN 57" (sister to FOX full power KXRM/21). No in-market WB. (Likely, KWGN/2 Denver is carried on local cable.) 135KW power. With no other affiliate, "UPN 57" would be an automatic CW flip.
Baton Rouge - WBXH-CA 39 "UPN The Block" (sister to CBS full power WAFB/9). WB on LPTV/Class A WBRL-CA. A wash as far as full vs. low-power goes. WBRL would appear to have no leverage against a Raycom flip.
Syracuse - WSTQ-LP 14 "UPN 6" (sister to NBC full power WSTM/3). WB on full-power WNYS/43 (Sinclair LMA). Could be a problem for Raycom, as Sinclair's already reeling from losing UPN/WB affiliates in other markets.
Cape Girardeau, MO - WQWQ-LP 9 "UPN The Beat" Paducah KY/WQTV-LP 24 Murray KY (two LPTV sisters to CBS full power KFVS/12). WB on full-power WDKA/49 Paducah KY (Sinclair LMA), which runs full power FOX KBSI/23. See Syracuse.
Honolulu - KFVE/5 "K5 The Home Team" (full-power sister to NBC KHNL/8). UPN on full-power KIKU/20 part-time, with much multicultural programming, mostly Japanese language....runs UPN out of pattern mostly in late afternoon (A/HT), 4-6 PM. No question here, KFVE gets CW.
Cleveland - WUAB/43 (WB on WBNX/55), discussed here at length.
Raycom CBS markets (all full-power)
Cape Girardeau, MO - KFVS/12 (paired with UPN LPTV combo)
Tuscon, AZ - KOLD/13
Shreveport, LA - KSLA/12
Baton Rouge, LA - KAFB/9 (paired with UPN LPTVer/CA)
Cleveland - WOIO/19 (paired with UPN full power)
Savannah, GA - WTOC/11
Richmond, VA - WTVR/6
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The scorecard for the Future of CW?
* 2 automatics for Raycom - Colorado Springs, Honolulu.
* 2 in question - Cleveland, Baton Rouge
* 2 in danger - Syracuse, Cape Girardeau MO
("In danger" assumes that CW is looking for full-power stations whenever possible.)
The full-power CBS presence could save this for 'em, particularly here...if, as many seem to believe, CBS is more of a driving force behind this. They could well affiliate the four stations that aren't competing against full-power Sinclair stations at a disadvantage.
-OA<P ID="signature">______________
Ohio Media Watch - <a target="_blank" href=http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com>http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com</a></P>
One thing I found out - nearly all of them are low-power stations. In fact, WUAB/43 is their only full-power UPN affiliate, and the only other full-power Raycom affiliate in the list is in Hawaii.
Now, this is not necessarily a death knell for the "CW" folks. For one, Cleveland is by far their largest UPN market...all the other UPN/WB Raycom stations are in markets below the top 50...where non-"Big Four" stations are more likely to be on lower-powered stations anyway. Raycom has 7 full-power CBS affiliates.
Cleveland is, as far as I can tell, by far Raycom's largest market to begin with.
Here's the list and my analysis:
------------
Raycom UPN/WB markets:
Colorado Springs - KXTU-LP 57 "UPN 57" (sister to FOX full power KXRM/21). No in-market WB. (Likely, KWGN/2 Denver is carried on local cable.) 135KW power. With no other affiliate, "UPN 57" would be an automatic CW flip.
Baton Rouge - WBXH-CA 39 "UPN The Block" (sister to CBS full power WAFB/9). WB on LPTV/Class A WBRL-CA. A wash as far as full vs. low-power goes. WBRL would appear to have no leverage against a Raycom flip.
Syracuse - WSTQ-LP 14 "UPN 6" (sister to NBC full power WSTM/3). WB on full-power WNYS/43 (Sinclair LMA). Could be a problem for Raycom, as Sinclair's already reeling from losing UPN/WB affiliates in other markets.
Cape Girardeau, MO - WQWQ-LP 9 "UPN The Beat" Paducah KY/WQTV-LP 24 Murray KY (two LPTV sisters to CBS full power KFVS/12). WB on full-power WDKA/49 Paducah KY (Sinclair LMA), which runs full power FOX KBSI/23. See Syracuse.
Honolulu - KFVE/5 "K5 The Home Team" (full-power sister to NBC KHNL/8). UPN on full-power KIKU/20 part-time, with much multicultural programming, mostly Japanese language....runs UPN out of pattern mostly in late afternoon (A/HT), 4-6 PM. No question here, KFVE gets CW.
Cleveland - WUAB/43 (WB on WBNX/55), discussed here at length.
Raycom CBS markets (all full-power)
Cape Girardeau, MO - KFVS/12 (paired with UPN LPTV combo)
Tuscon, AZ - KOLD/13
Shreveport, LA - KSLA/12
Baton Rouge, LA - KAFB/9 (paired with UPN LPTVer/CA)
Cleveland - WOIO/19 (paired with UPN full power)
Savannah, GA - WTOC/11
Richmond, VA - WTVR/6
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The scorecard for the Future of CW?
* 2 automatics for Raycom - Colorado Springs, Honolulu.
* 2 in question - Cleveland, Baton Rouge
* 2 in danger - Syracuse, Cape Girardeau MO
("In danger" assumes that CW is looking for full-power stations whenever possible.)
The full-power CBS presence could save this for 'em, particularly here...if, as many seem to believe, CBS is more of a driving force behind this. They could well affiliate the four stations that aren't competing against full-power Sinclair stations at a disadvantage.
-OA<P ID="signature">______________
Ohio Media Watch - <a target="_blank" href=http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com>http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com</a></P>