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Should WGN America be rebranded soon?

C

CurtisNEPA

Do you think WGN America will be rebranded under a new identity given that the network has dropped all Chicago-based programming(such as Cubs, Bulls, White Sox and local news) and the transformation from a Superstation status to a general entertainment channel(similar to USA, E!, and others)? With new original programming like Salem and Manhattan having successful first-run seasons, I have a feeling that sooner or later Tribune will eventually drop the "WGN" branding altogether outside of Chicago and relaunch under a new name that will fit their new programming focus.

So, in the past few years, it went from WGN, WGN Superstation, Superstation WGN, to the current WGN America. This should set an example on other cable channels, like TruTV(Court TV), Pop(TV Guide Network, Prevue), Spike(TNN), and others I can't even think of. The rebranding is needed to further distance itself from its superstation identity and more focus on fresh original programming.

So what do you think here?
 
TBS already did it. No more Superstations. Too bad. It was like the old days of AM radio when you could pick up 50kw clear channel stations from around much of the country at night - hear local hosts, local shows, local spots, local teams. Of course, it's over in radio. All those stations now run the same one or two syndicated shows. And superstations haven't been really local for some time, either.

Those other names don't really mean anything but sound nice. I imagine Tribune will hire some consultant to give them a name that doesn't mean anything but sounds nice.
 
I think it's a matter of time of when, not if, WGN America re-brands with a new name. The new people in charge of the channel, Matt Cherniss and Peter Ligouri (the head of Tribune Media), have indicated that the re-branding process (which has already gradually started to happen when the Chicago-centric programming was dropped by the end of last year) will take a couple of years. A thing too to consider is that WGN America is still operating under current contracts with TV service providers, and any name change would essentially be looked as a new channel.

It's just a matter of coming up with a compelling new name for the channel.
 
I don't care what they do as long as it stays in the cheapest cable package. There's no longer a "digital tier" since on one of my TVs is all digital as of today.

I could have upgraded the other but the June 2 deadline isn't for me.
 
I think MTV and Cartoon Network need to rebrand themselves since they don't air music videos/cartoons all the time like they used to. Same goes to VH1.
 
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