The CW Adds 11 More Affiliates (Now Has 50 of Top 50 Markets)

From Futon:

Thursday, May 18, 2006
THE CW ANNOUNCES 11 NEW LONG-TERM AFFILIATION AGREEMENTS
Released by The CW

America's Fifth Broadcast Network Is Now Cleared In 50 Of The Top 50
Markets

Harrisburg, Memphis, Springfield (MO), Macon, Eugene, Erie, Lubbock,
Bangor, Elmira, Watertown and Fairbanks Are The Latest Markets To Be
Served By The CW

The CW announced today that it has signed exclusive, long-term
affiliation agreements with 11 stations in Harrisburg, Memphis,
Springfield (MO), Macon, Eugene, Erie, Lubbock, Bangor, Elmira,
Watertown and Fairbanks.

The CWs national coverage tops more than 90% of the country, including
20 of the Top 20 markets and now 50 of the Top 50.

[OK, how *much* more than 90%?! The last round of additions already put
them up over 90%! So are they at 92%? 93% now?!... - IJB]

David Levy...

If my calculations are correct, they're up to almost 95% coverage
(94.989%, to be precise). I arrived at this figure by adding the
coverage percentages of the 40 unserved markets and subtracting the

David Levy...

Correction:

I accidentally counted Butte-Bozeman, MT as unserved. The actual
number of outstanding markets (according to my list, which differs
from William's) is 39. That brings the total coverage to 95.043%.

sum from 100%.

Just Me...

The AP states that they have 92% clearance, a percentage that, I assume, was
mentioned by the CW suits at the upfront presentation.

William George Ferguson...

I physically (okay, used a calculator) added up the percentages for all the
covered markets, and got 95.043%. They were over 92%, and said so, when
they signed the Sinclair stations.

I've noticed that some of the new affiliates mentioned already have primary
affiliation with one of the big 4, so the CW product would most likely air
out of pattern in late night or weekends or on a digital channel. That
might affect the coverage calculation.

William George Ferguson...

None of the affiliations so far are secondary. What they have done is sign
affiliations for digital sub-channels that are operated by stations
affiliated with one of the BTAAH (I don't think, in any case yet, it has
been Fox).

So, say you have CBS on your channel 10. Channel 10 is allowed up to 3
digital sub-channels (usually, one's digital full-screen, one's HD, and
perhaps one might be digital WS). The CW may have signed a deal so that
10-3 (the one showing digital WS) is now a CW affiliate and shows the CW
programs, at their regular time, while the analog Channel 10, and the other
digital sub-channels, show the CBS programs at Their regular times.

The newly signed affiliates are:

* WLYH Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York, PA, owned by Television
Station Group Pennsylvania License Subsidiary, LLC and operated by Clear
Channel Television under a Local Marketing Agreement (DMA rank 41).
* WLMT Memphis, TN, owned by Clear Channel Television (DMA Rank 44).
* KCZ Springfield, MO, owned by Schurz Communications, Inc. (DMA rank
77).
* WBMN Macon, GA, owned by Cox Communications (DMA rank 120).
* KMTR Eugene, OR, owned by Clear Channel Television (DMA rank 121).
* WSEE Erie, PA, owned by Lilly Broadcasting (DMA rank 142).
* KWBZ Lubbock, TX, owned by Woods Communications Corporation (DMA rank
146).
* WABI Bangor, ME, owned by Diversified Communications (DMA rank 151).
* WENY Elmira-Corning, NY, owned by Lilly Broadcasting (DMA rank 173).
* WWTI Watertown, NY, owned by Clear Channel Television (DMA rank 178).
* KATN Fairbanks, AK, owned by Smith Media LLC (DMA rank 203).

WLYH-TV, WLMT-TV and KCZ-TV are currently UPN affiliates. KWBZ-TV, which
is currently an affiliate of The WB, will have both an analog and
digital broadcast. The DT stations in Eugene, Erie, Elmira, Watertown
and Fairbanks are also currently WB affiliates, as is WBMN, which is a
cable station. WABI-DT is the digital channel of the CBS affiliate in
Bangor.

Its another significant milestone to secure coverage in every Top 50
market as we continue to strengthen The CWs national distribution, said
John Maatta, Chief Operating Officer, The CW. Its a great pleasure to
add these newly signed affiliates to our solid line-up of station
partners throughout the U.S. and were looking forward to working with
them to maximize the full potential of their CW affiliation.

[snip]

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company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author.
The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed
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