Could any of the remaining Ernest Angley programming disappear once Nexstar takes over WBNX? I'm interested in seeing which shows will stay or go after the takeover, not to mention if any of the syndicated shows on WJW will move to 55?
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WBNX to be acquired by Nexstar & re-affiliate with the CW in Fall 2025 creating a duopoly with FOX affiliate WJW
- Thread starter NYAZSporty
- Start date
One thought is that 8 moves their syndie stuff over to 55 and becomes a full bore news channel.
Most likely. If Winston Broadcasting still exists after the sale, their produced content may probably live on as a 24/7 streaming channel, or for posting various YouTube videos, reaching just about anyone around the world. This makes me think that Winston Broadcasting has for quite some time been wanting to exit the broadcast with the massive reach of streaming. Remember, back in 1985 when streaming didn't exist, the TV station was their way of airing Ernest Angley's programming and other content that would reach the local audience, and then use the revenue generated from the station to purchase time in other markets to air that programming. Once they realized the success of streaming, the station became less relevant. Note that the Ernest Angley programming is now buried in the early morning hours during the weekend. I'm sure that the majority of their audience has dwindled over the last couple of decades, also leading to the irrelevancy of the station.
Not sure about syndicated shows. Perhaps they may shuffle shows to and from WJW to better promote WBNX. For one thing, the movies will likely be a thing of the past.
Recycling the same news stories over and over again. And weather segments every 5 minutes. Noooo!
Maybe they can bring back Franz the Toymaker, Jim Doney Adventure Road and Ghoulardi. OK, they are all gone now, but can't they do some local programming other than news?
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Are we thinking about a show like Bay Area Backroads a Nexstar show produced at KRON San Francisco. Also I'm not sure how local programming outside of news and sports would attract the target demo today like it did in the past.
I wouldn't mind seeing Seinfeld and The Big Bang Theory on WBNX. Those two alone would be an improvement over the station's current comedy lineup.
Both will likely remain on WJW for the foreseeable future.
I, for one, would like to see The Simpsons moved off of WUAB, as they only air them once a week, and that's during the late night hours. Other stations air the show 5 times a week during the afternoon/evening.
Wow didn't know Bay Area Backroads is coming back. Hopefully they don't screw with the format too much. That show and California's Gold were great. I don't know how you could remake California's Gold without Huell Howser though, the show was pretty much him with different locations every episode.
WUAB seems to treat sitcoms as an afterthought, though so does WJW. WBNX does a better job right now with comedies, though a lot on its roster is fairly weak.
True too.
Also if one is really suggesting Local Programming outside of News and Sports. Are we also talking about New Years specials like New Years eve and New Years Day Parades like the Rose Parade KTLA Los Angeles produces for Nexstar owned stations nationwide. If one is looking for WJW and WBNX to do the same but specific specials for the Cleveland area.
Same with Family Guy, which is on WUAB during the overnights. I have a feeling WBNX is going to be a lot different under Nexstar. However, I will miss the local charm the station has had since day one of its operation.
Family Guy is no longer available in syndication, having left this summer.
Even if it were still in the mix, no way would the Ernest Angley owned TV 55 ever air anything from hardcore atheist/religion mocker Seth MacFarlane.
But under Nexstar, every thing and any thing is possible.
Including going all in on news on WJW (News Nation 8?) and making WBNX the entertainment channel.
I'm surprised that they air Young Sheldon, as Sheldon doesn't believe in Christianity or any kind of religion.
That's what I'm afraid of. Unfortunately WBNX is the last independently owned and operated TV station in the Cleveland/Akron market. The big name corporations pretty much ruined the locally owned TV stations that most of us grew up with. One can only hope that there's some sort of condition in the sale that states that Nexstar must continue to operate the WBNX per Winston Broadcasting standards for X amount of years.
I can see Nexstar eventually offloading WBNX's existing subchannels, converting WJW to ATSC 3.0, and moving all of WJW's subchannels over to WBNX. This would fix the reception issues plagued by WJW's VHF 8. If anything, this maybe why Nexstar was interested in buying WBNX. I bet there were no immediate plans on selling WBNX, but then Nexstar knocked on their door and made a hard to resist offer. It wouldn't surprise me if any of this actually happens. WJW wants off of problematic RF 8. Cleveland is still waiting for an ATSC 3.0 lighthouse. WBNX is seen as the opportunity to accomplish both.
I guess those family shows and censoring the profanity were not bringing in viewership. Plus it depends on what's available to purchase in syndication. Yes, it's surprising that Family Feud even airs on WBNX, given its content.
I still think WBNX dropped The CW when they found out that the network was going to air Jerry Springer. If I owned a TV station, I sure wouldn't want that trash airing on it. Makes me wonder if Nosey tried to contract them into carrying their network, and WBNX told them to get lost.
55 started loosening things up back in 1994 when they picked up a bunch of more contemporary programming stemming from the big network swap between 8 and 19, and even more so in 1997 when they became the WB affiliate (they contractually had to air the modern syndie and WB stuff "as is").
In the station's early years they were ultra strict, but when they became a more major player in the market after picking up Fox Kids and the WB, they backed away from that a good bit.
There was still instances of censorship during the WB years. I remember seeing "damn" muted repeatedly on "Martin" reruns on 55.
Glad they have eased up.
Fox Kids and the WB, later the CW, was a blessing to 55. It allowed them to become a bigger player in the Cleveland market.
Ironically, WBNX and WJW have history with each other long before Nexstar came into the picture. 55 rebroadcasted 8's 10pm newscast in 1996 at 11pm almost two years after the network switch. (Of course, 55 picked up Fox Kids after 8 said no and WUAB was contracted to Disney for children's programming)
It seemed that 8 and 55 have been destined to be together and could end up being a more powerful duo than 19 and 43.
Glad they have eased up.
Fox Kids and the WB, later the CW, was a blessing to 55. It allowed them to become a bigger player in the Cleveland market.
Ironically, WBNX and WJW have history with each other long before Nexstar came into the picture. 55 rebroadcasted 8's 10pm newscast in 1996 at 11pm almost two years after the network switch. (Of course, 55 picked up Fox Kids after 8 said no and WUAB was contracted to Disney for children's programming)
It seemed that 8 and 55 have been destined to be together and could end up being a more powerful duo than 19 and 43.
One thing I didn't like throughout the late 90s and into the 2010s was how annoying their onscreen bug was...
Prior to The WB affiliation, an opaque color bug would block out a good portion of the picture. Prior to that, it was a simple "55" outline.
Growing up and watching Kids WB, they'd often had their bug on the opposite side of the screen. I'm not sure about prime time programming, but before 1998(?), the Kids WB bug would be on the screen for about a minute after returning from a commercial break, which would then allow the affiliate to place their bug in the same corner until the next commercial break. None of this was automated, and it was obvious that someone at the station was at master control constantly watching and activating/deactivating the bug.
During prime time network programming, WBNX would slap "Cleveland's" above the WB bug, and later, "WBNX" or "WBNX-TV" above the CW bug. This was done in a non-automated way, and was never intended as such by the network (compared to a network like MeTV). There were times when the bug(s) were misaligned, and were sometimes adjusted live on the air.
In 2004, the bug was updated and took up a good chunk of the screen, and it wasn't even transparent. This was fixed the following year, but after a minute or so, the bug would transition from opaque to clear/transparent. Not sure if that was suppose to happen sooner, like several seconds after it appeared on the screen.
When the dumb E/I bug became mandatory in 2005, they would often slap their own giant opaque WBNX E/I combo bug over the syndicated/network one, so I guess that viewers wouldn't have to see two bugs on the screen at the same time?
During The CW affiliation and throughout the holiday season, WBNX would slap their logo on a giant tree ornament and use that as their bug, blocking out a good portion of the picture.
Fortunately in recent years, the bug has become less distracting, simple and semi-transparent. The current bug is a bit busy, and really doesn't need to state "Akron/Cleveland" or "We're Better Together". The only thing they do with it now, is put that reindeer's head behind the "B" of WBNX during the holiday season, something that they've been doing since they dropped the CW affiliation. Although minor, this still gives the station its independent charm, and will likely be something that Nexstar will throw out the window.
What do you think of branding under Nexstar? I just see a simple "CW 55"
Prior to The WB affiliation, an opaque color bug would block out a good portion of the picture. Prior to that, it was a simple "55" outline.
Growing up and watching Kids WB, they'd often had their bug on the opposite side of the screen. I'm not sure about prime time programming, but before 1998(?), the Kids WB bug would be on the screen for about a minute after returning from a commercial break, which would then allow the affiliate to place their bug in the same corner until the next commercial break. None of this was automated, and it was obvious that someone at the station was at master control constantly watching and activating/deactivating the bug.
During prime time network programming, WBNX would slap "Cleveland's" above the WB bug, and later, "WBNX" or "WBNX-TV" above the CW bug. This was done in a non-automated way, and was never intended as such by the network (compared to a network like MeTV). There were times when the bug(s) were misaligned, and were sometimes adjusted live on the air.
In 2004, the bug was updated and took up a good chunk of the screen, and it wasn't even transparent. This was fixed the following year, but after a minute or so, the bug would transition from opaque to clear/transparent. Not sure if that was suppose to happen sooner, like several seconds after it appeared on the screen.
When the dumb E/I bug became mandatory in 2005, they would often slap their own giant opaque WBNX E/I combo bug over the syndicated/network one, so I guess that viewers wouldn't have to see two bugs on the screen at the same time?
During The CW affiliation and throughout the holiday season, WBNX would slap their logo on a giant tree ornament and use that as their bug, blocking out a good portion of the picture.
Fortunately in recent years, the bug has become less distracting, simple and semi-transparent. The current bug is a bit busy, and really doesn't need to state "Akron/Cleveland" or "We're Better Together". The only thing they do with it now, is put that reindeer's head behind the "B" of WBNX during the holiday season, something that they've been doing since they dropped the CW affiliation. Although minor, this still gives the station its independent charm, and will likely be something that Nexstar will throw out the window.
What do you think of branding under Nexstar? I just see a simple "CW 55"