Hey,

Does anyone know if it will be WNYO or WNLO? Obviously, us in Toronto really want WNLO as we know we can get the station here, where as WNYO is going directional and we may not be able to get this network.

I figure there is now going to be a lot of Compelling HDTV content on this station...

Sent emails off to WNLO/WIVB today, as well as WNYO/WUTV. I got a response from WNLO, I do not expect one back from WNYO, here is the transcript. It appears as if they were caught off guard...

-EMAIL I SENT-

Dear WNLO/WIVB,

I am a concerend WNLO viewer, who lives along the boarder and presently recieves WNLO via their ATSC broadcast on Channel 32-3 (PSIP 23-3). I love that WNLO is affiliated with the UPN network however it is my understanding that today, the UPN announced that they will be merging their network with the WB network. WB Network, which is an affiliate with WNYO 49 (channel 34-1), is presently not available over-the-air in my area due to the extremly low broadcasting power (0.65kw) that they are broadcasting in. I understand that while WNYO will be changing to Grand Island and increasing their output power, it will be directional and I am afraid that I will not be able to view my favourite UPN programming that will be grandfathered onto The CW.

Hopefully, you can provide me with some positive news as if WNLO will become The CW network affiliate or if it will unfortuantly be WNYO that gets the new network. If WNLO is no longer going to be the affiliate (which is a shame), what are the plans for WNLO. Will the station cease operations or will they continue to carry programing (and if so, what programing will that be)?

Thank you,


-RESPONSE 1-

Dear xxx:

I wish I had an answer to give you. We were entirely caught off guard by today's announcement. At this point it is unclear as to which station will be granted the affiliation agreement with the new network. It goes without saying that we are hoping that WNLO will be victorious, but at this point, it is all just speculation.

Thank you for taking the time to write.

Diane Breen
Program Coordinator
WIVB/WNLO Buffalo

-RESPONSE 2-

xxx: We have no idea what our future holds right now, we just found out this morning. Stay tuned for more information.

Dan Meyers

-RESPONSE 3-

At this time we do not know who will become the CW affiliate. WNLO will not
go off the air but will exist as an independent if we loose the affiliation.

John
Director of Engineering/Operations
WIVB-TV/WNLO-TV
Buffalo NY

Look at it from the point of view of maximum profit. Which one do you think will get it, or could they perhaps BOTH get it? IF they serve different areas, why not?

There will not be two CW stations in Buffalo, since they both serve Buffalo proper. The announcements said that they'd be picking the strongest affiliates in each market, and from a mere off-air broadcast reach status I'd say that WNLO would win hands down, especially since they aren' t having all the power/channel assignment issues that WNYO is.

However I do not know about actual viewership, which is also likely a big part of the decision-making process. WNYO is also readily available in Canada on digital cable, so they would have the potantial bigger advertising reach through the Canadian market.

I'm sure the local CBS/UPN and Fox/WB affiliates are going to be scratching their heads for a while...

And why whenever I say CW do I keep thinking Country Western...

Daniel,

I forget where I read it, but I believe that WNLO is preparing to be launched by Rogers in the GTA in the near future... think it was somewhere over at DHC or AVSForm...

Obviously, for OTA ATSC I want WNLO. Even for OTA NTSC I want WNLO. But, in the Buffalo area, it will be intersting to see how it plays out. WNYO is a Sinclair station, WNLO is part of LinTV. So thankfully neither is owned by Viacom, WB or Tribune who all get priority.

And while they have said that it will be based on viewership, I am not so sure. WSBK in Boston is a 'Superstation' as well as a UPN affiliate, yet it will become an indepedent and WLVI WB 58 will get the 'CW' affilation in the Boston market. That is surprising, being that a lot of people know WSBK and never heard of WLVI...

Little to say, it will create for a lot of stations become Shop-NBC affiliates...

In what may not be good news, I just found an article over at WIVB where they make mention of the 'CW' but not that WNLO may be getting it and in fact made mention that WNYO may get it... hmm...

[Link: wivb.com]

UPN, The WB to Merge, Form New Network, "The CW"

New York, NY, January 24, 2006) - - This news is shaking up the television industry: The UPN and WB networks will soon merge to form a new network called The CW.

CBS Corporation executives made the bombshell announcement Tuesday in New York.

CBS partners with Warner Brothers to create the new network next fall after UPN and The WB sign off.

Our sister station WNLO Channel 23 is a UPN affiliate, and WNYO Channel 49 carries The WB in Buffalo.

Yeah, I did hear that too, but for some reason it hasn't happened yet. And I think WNYO is national (on Rogers at least).



That is surprising.

There's speculation about Fox filling the void, or just a big surge in syndicated programming (which always struggles to find primetime slots).


You sure about that? I don't see that artical saying much of anything.

Well maybe I am reading into it too much, but I would have thought that on their own website, they would either announce that they are getting it or not. Not have no say and then say that WNYO may get it...

Buffalo News had another article on this today. I guess we can confirm that no one knew this was coming. Additionally, the article does say that the WNLO 10pm news, which is produced and is same as the WIVB 11pm news, is drawing way better ratings than the WNYO 10pm newscast.

[Link: buffalonews.com]

Don't know if it is just me or not, but I do not see why CW doesn't make an attempt at doing a national 10pm newscast in their timeslot. Or the first 30 minutes national, second 30 minutes local, or something to that nature. With the big 3 networks still airing programming and Fox in syndicated mode at that time, with some affilaites having local news and others not, a national newscast at this time would probably do well, especially if they get some good names. I hear Aaron Brown is looking for a job...

I think I am going to attempt to contact WNGS. The used to be the UPN affiliate before WNLO took over the affiliation. WNGS has had pretty much nothing on since then, and I am sure could use the boost if they were able to land The CW.

However, I am sure it will face tough competition in both WNLO and WNYO...

Actually, I'd prefer WNGS stayed as they are...I like watching classic shows they play on "RTN" Retro TV Network.

i am assmung you only get WNGS over NTSC>?

WNYO finally contacted me, here is what they said in an email...

"It's too early to know the outcome. We have yet to be given termination
notices of our existing affiliation agreement nor have we been contacted
by CW."

Guess the Buffalo market still does not know what is going to happen...

Yes, as it is not digital yet. It is on analog NTSC 67 and channel 11 on Adelphia cable.

I hope WNLO gets the CW.

...And it's nothing against WNYO, we just want the stronger signal! ;-)

exactly

well, also the non-directional signal