The CW Plus

The CW Plus
Country	United States
Broadcast area	National; (available only in smaller television markets)
Network	The CW
Affiliates	(see section)
Slogan	Dare To Defy
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California
Programming
Language(s)	English
Picture format	480i (SDTV); 1080i or 720p (HDTV); (resolution varies depending on the affiliate)
Timeshift service	The CW Plus East; The CW Plus Mountain; The CW Plus Pacific (available as -1 timeshift for Alaska)
Ownership
Owner	The CW Network, LLC; (AT&T (via WarnerMedia) (50%)/; ViacomCBS (via CBS Entertainment Group) (50%))
History
Launched	September 18, 2006; 14 years ago
Replaced	The WB 100+ Station Group (1998–2006)
Links
Website	cwplustv.com
Availability
Cable
Available through an OTA or cable-only affiliate in applicable markets	Channel assignments vary by local provider
Satellite
DirecTV	Channel 394 (SD only)

The CW Plus is the national feed of The CW, owned by The CW Network, LLC (a joint venture between the WarnerMedia unit of AT&T and the CBS Entertainment Group unit of ViacomCBS, which each maintain a 50% ownership interest),^[1] that is intended primarily for American television markets ranked #100 and above by Nielsen Media Research estimates. The service is primarily carried on digital subchannels and multichannel subscription television providers, although it maintains primary affiliations on full-power and low-power stations in certain markets serviced by the feed.

Along with airing the network's prime time, weekday daytime and Saturday morning programming, The CW Plus offers a master schedule of first-run, off-network and brokered programs available for syndication distribution that are acquired by The CW to occupy the remainder of the feed's weekly schedule. The CW handles programming and promotional services for The CW Plus at its corporate headquarters in Burbank, California (marketing services were handled through a separate division for the service until March 2008, when these operations were transferred to The CW's marketing department due to layoffs imposed by the network^[2]); centralcasting operations for the CW Plus affiliates are hubbed at the California Video Center in Los Angeles.

Background[]

Pre-launch (The WB 100+ Station Group)[]

The CW Plus traces its existence to The WB 100+ Station Group (initially known as The WeB until March 1999), a similar national feed of CW co-predecessor, The WB Television Network, which began operations on September 21, 1998. Conceived under the same concept as Foxnet (developed by WB network co-founder and original president Jamie Kellner during his preceding tenure as the original president of the Fox Broadcasting Company), The WB 100+ was designed to distribute WB programming to small- and select medium-sized "white area" markets, primarily Designated Market Areas (DMA) ranked #100 and higher under annual Nielsen Market Universe estimates, that had five or fewer commercial television stations licensed within the designated market area through local cable providers (which owned affiliates of the feed individually or in consortiums, often entering into agreements with a local broadcast station to handle advertising and other management services for the WB 100+ outlet).^[3]^[4]^[5]

By its design, the initial cable-only composition of The WB 100+ Station Group’s affiliate body acted as a workaround to issues that The WB had encountered since its December 1993 founding with securing broadcast affiliates; these difficulties resulted in The WB having to rely on the national superstation feed of Chicago affiliate WGN-TV (later WGN America, relaunched as NewsNation in March 2021) to distribute its programming to markets without existing over-the-air WB affiliates. (In certain “white area” markets, the only option for over-the-air carriage was to maintain a secondary affiliation with an existing network outlet, subjecting WB programs to being aired via tape delay outside of key timeslots.) Beginning in 2002, The WB 100+ added conventional broadcast affiliations in the few eligible markets that had at least five commercial stations; the feed continued to operate until The WB ended operations on September 17, 2006.

Development and concept[]

Former Logo for KDLH in Duluth, Minnesota. Similar logos are used by most CW Plus stations as well as some conventional CW affiliates.

On February 24, 2006, one month after CBS Corporation and Time Warner announced the launch of the new network, The CW formally released a proposal to prospective affiliates announcing the creation of The CW Plus, a similar single-network feed for smaller markets – covering the same areas that were served by The WB 100+.^[6]^[7] While there was no guarantee that existing affiliates of The WB 100+ would automatically join The CW Plus, most of them (particularly cable-only affiliates) ultimately did join the new service, and programming transitioned seamlessly from The WB 100+ to The CW Plus.

Since The WB 100+ was created before digital television was easily available in the United States, most WB 100+ stations were distributed exclusively via local cable television providers, with a few main channel affiliations on broadcast television stations.^[3]^[5]^[8] With its launch, The CW (along with MyNetworkTV) became among the first conventional broadcast networks in the U.S. to fully utilize digital multicasting to gain over-the-air coverage in markets that did not have enough television stations to maintain a traditional main channel affiliation (Fox, The WB and fellow CW predecessor UPN had a few subchannel-only affiliates shortly before The CW launched, however over-the-air distribution in this manner was very limited at the time).^[9] In several markets served by a CW Plus station, the current affiliate may not be the same as the prior WB 100+ affiliate. Some CW Plus affiliates are carried on a digital subchannel of a local broadcast station, whereas the prior affiliate of The WB 100+ was cable-exclusive. Certain cable-only affiliates of The WB 100+ have been replaced completely by either a subchannel or main channel broadcast affiliation when The CW launched or joined The CW Plus only for a broadcast station that managed or acquired it to begin carrying it over-the-air at some point after its launch.

As with The WB 100+, CW Plus programming is delivered through a data server network that originally digitally transmitted locally and national advertisements, promos, station identifications and customized logo bugs for each individual affiliate to headends within the master control facilities of a local station or the offices of the multichannel television provider operating the local affiliate. That was the case with The WB 100+, promotions for syndicated programs aired on The CW Plus omit affiliate references – either in the form of verbal identification or use of the affiliate's logo – in favor of network branding; the timeslot cards also only list airtimes based on Eastern and Central Time Zone scheduling, with the announcer being used to read the promo's airtime card only identifying that the program airs "[today/tonight/day of week] on The CW."

Programming is relayed to a wireless PC-based system that downloads (through a data feed distributed via satellite), stores and inserts advertising during program breaks controlled via a playlist over the satellite-delivered national feed to the individual affiliate's home market; the units also transfer program feeds via address headers disseminated to each affiliate based on their call letters, transmit advertisements and program promotions, and generate a log of ads that have previously aired. The cost of these units is partially reimbursed by The CW, with no more than 50% of the purchase cost paid by the affiliate. Affiliates sent log files of local advertisements over the Internet to a traffic management system located at The CW's corporate offices in Burbank, which handles trafficking, dissemination of the program feed and specified local insertion of advertisements and promotions to each affiliate. After The CW stopped providing support for the traffic system and commercial server in September 2009, responsibility for ad trafficking and insertion was transferred to The CW Plus' individual affiliates, although The CW continues to handle programming and transmission operations.

CW Plus stations are generally managed and promoted by a local affiliate of a larger over-the-air television station, which may produce some local programming (such as morning and/or prime time newscasts), telecasts of local sports events, or syndicated national sports broadcasts from either ESPN Regional Television or the ACC Network (or on some affiliates, from 2014 to 2016, the American Sports Network); some affiliates, however, are operated by a local cable provider.

CW Plus affiliates each have their own local branding, which is usually a combination of the CW name with either the parent station/cable franchise's city of license or a regional descriptor of the area (such as "Northland" for Duluth and northeastern Minnesota, as seen in the logo to the above left). Unlike its predecessor, The WB 100+ Station Group, The CW Plus does not use call signs used solely for branding and/or supplementary identification purposes in a widespread fashion; while many cable-only WB 100+-turned-CW Plus affiliates have stopped using fictional call signs (which were not assigned by the Federal Communications Commission, as the agency does not issue licenses to cable channels), a few have continued to use the ones they had used while part of The WB 100+ Station Group, mainly doing so merely for identification purposes in local Nielsen diary-tabulated ratings reports.

The CW Plus originally maintained a separate website featuring promotions for CW network programs, search maps for CW Plus affiliates, programming schedules customizable to an affiliate's local time zone, and still promotional ads for CW network shows and syndicated programs are seen on the CW Plus feed. In May 2014, YourCWTV.com was discontinued as a standalone website, redirecting to The CW's main website at CWTV.com. However, the websites of all CW Plus affiliates continue to be hosted on the YourCWTV.com domain, featuring much of the aforementioned content seen on the national website; as well as links to websites and social media pages operated by the affiliate or a parent over-the-air station, and links to the affiliate's contact information, advertising services and (where applicable) the main website of a parent broadcast affiliate. A separate website for the service was reinstated in September 2017, under the CWPlusTV.com domain.

Programming[]

The CW Plus operates three separate feeds for the Eastern, Mountain and Pacific Time Zones (the latter also acts as an hour-behind timeshift feed for the Alaska Time Zone with timeslot modifications for network daytime and certain syndicated weekend programs), and designs the master schedules of each feed so that The CW's broadcast affiliate feed aligns with the regional start time of the network's prime time programming slot; as such, The CW Daytime (which is scheduled to end in September 2021 as a trade-off to its affiliates tied to the planned expansion of its prime time lineup to Saturday nights beginning the following month^[10]) and One Magnificent Morning blocks – which are designed to be tape-delayed – are aired an hour early, compared to their preferred scheduling, on affiliates in the Central and Alaska time zones. Syndicated programs broadcast on The CW Plus during non-network programming hours as of September 2020 include Maury, The Steve Wilkos Show, Seinfeld, Black-ish, Family Guy, The Goldbergs, American Ninja Warrior, Schitt’s Creek, Bob's Burgers and Judge Jerry.

Like the predecessor WB 100+ Station Group, The CW Plus utilizes a dual programming structure differing from the traditional American broadcast programming model used by CW-affiliated stations in all but a couple of the Nielsen-ranked "top 100" television markets. To fill dayparts on The CW Plus not reserved to the main network feed, The CW – asserting programming acquisition duties traditionally handled by the local affiliate operator – purchases cash- and barter-sold programs distributed for first-run and off-network syndication to occupy most daytime and evening timeslots throughout the week, syndicated feature film packages to occupy afternoon and late access timeslots on Saturdays and Sundays, and paid programming purchased through time-buys with direct response infomercial production firms and teleministries to occupy overnight and some early afternoon timeslots.^[6] The network's handling of these duties, along with the master schedule composition of the CW Plus feed, relieves the local affiliate's operator from needing to acquire and budget for syndicated programming to fill timeslots not occupied by The CW's designated network program blocks. Individual CW Plus affiliate operators handle advertising sales for local commercials inserted into the corresponding feed during designated ad breaks within network and syndicated programs aired on the service.

Prior to the debut of the Litton Entertainment-produced One Magnificent Morning block on the network in October 2014, the remaining two hours of programming that fulfill FCC educational programming guidelines which were not covered by The CW's predecessor children's program blocks – Kids' WB, The CW4Kids/Toonzai and Vortexx – was also taken care of by The CW Plus. However even after the debut of One Magnificent Morning, The CW Plus continued to offer syndicated educational programs on Saturday early afternoons immediately after the conclusion of the block, resulting the feed airing a net surplus of seven hours of E/I programming each week (five hours provided by The CW, and two hours supplied by The CW Plus) that far exceeded the FCC’s minimum three-hour requirement. The feed’s supplementary E/I content was reduced to just one half-hour in September 2015 (consisting solely of Elizabeth Stanton's Great Big World) and was concurrently shifted to a Saturday late-night timeslot; the supplementary syndication E/I window was eliminated in September 2016, leaving the shows aired within the One Magnificent Morning block as the only educational programming offered by the feed.

Operators of local CW Plus affiliates (whether a parent broadcast station or cable franchisee) can substitute syndicated programs on the feed’s schedule with alternative programming if the local syndication rights to a particular program on the CW Plus master schedule are held by the parent station’s main channel (if it is not already affiliated with The CW Plus), by any additional subchannels offered by the parent station or by a competing station within the DMA. Optionally, CW Plus broadcast affiliates may offer programming from a multicast-originated network (such as MeTV, This TV or Antenna TV) on a part-time basis during the feed’s designated paid programming time, particularly if the network being sourced lacks an existing full-time affiliate within the DMA. (Monroe, Louisiana affiliate KCWL-LD – the only CW Plus affiliate to maintain a secondary affiliation with that service – has carried CW competitor MyNetworkTV in the subfeed’s late-night paid programming slot since 2017, as late-night slotting increasingly became a common fate for MyNetworkTV in the years since its 2009 conversion from a television network to a programming service.)

The CW Plus offers three designated "Live Local News Windows" – a weekday morning window from 7:00–8:00 a.m. in all time zones and half-hour evening windows scheduled, depending on the time zone, nightly at 10:00 or 9:00 p.m. and weekend evenings at 6:00 or 5:00 p.m. – as options for affiliates to air local newscasts (either produced by the parent station or a station co-managed with the local CW Plus outlet, or via a news share agreement with a competing network affiliate) at their discretion. Although The CW has never carried any national news programming of its own, The CW Plus had served as a national carrier of syndicated morning news/talk program The Daily Buzz, which aired on the feed from September 2006 until September 2014, eight months prior to the program's April 2015 cancellation. (The predecessor WB 100+ Station Group had originally acquired the national syndication rights for the program, which aired on that feed from September 2002 until its conversion into The CW Plus.^[11]^[12])

Availability[]

A 2017 map of the network's national reach within the designated market areas served by it; from a map provided to the producers of Championship Wrestling from Hollywood announcing their airing on The CW Plus; the map has since been included in the "About Us" section of The CW Plus's website.

As of 2021, The CW Plus has current and pending affiliation agreements with 123 television outlets encompassing 44 states and the U.S. territory of Guam, consisting of 121 broadcast affiliates (109 of which serve as subchannel-only affiliates and the remaining 18 being primary channel affiliations) and four cable-only affiliates. Counting mainly over-the-air affiliates of the service, The CW Plus covers an estimated national audience reach of 73,120,898 U.S. residents or 23.40% of all households with at least one television set.^[13]

Availability of CW Plus stations through pay television services varies depending on the provider; while CW Plus outlets are usually carried by major cable, fiber optic and IPTV providers (including multiple-system and private cable operators) in markets served by a subchannel or cable-only affiliate of the service, some rural pay television franchises that do not carry a local CW Plus affiliate via an existing distribution agreement with a broadcast affiliate or through the absence of an agreement with the operator of a cable-only affiliate carry CW stations from adjacent larger markets.

In certain markets, satellite providers DirecTV and Dish Network carry stations that maintain primary affiliations with The CW Plus – and in some cases, also carry a subchannel-only affiliate of the service – as part of their local station tiers; however in areas served by a cable-only or subchannel affiliate, subscribers of both providers can only receive out-of-market broadcast affiliates of The CW (DirecTV carries affiliates from neighboring markets that have main channel affiliations with the network in some smaller markets, with the provider's designated coastal network feeds – WDCW in Washington, D.C. (or KTLA in Los Angeles) – available in lieu of a local or nearby affiliate in others; Dish Network provides CW programming to its subscribers in smaller markets through Nexstar Media Group-owned affiliates KTLA/Los Angeles and KWGN-TV/Denver and Mission Broadcasting-owned/Nexstar-operated affiliate WPIX/New York City (all of which were previously owned by Tribune Broadcasting until the closure of Nexstar's acquisition of its corporate parent, Tribune Media, in September 2019), which are available as part of its a la carte superstation tier.

Since the conversion of the CW Plus feeds to a high definition schedule in June 2012, many of The CW Plus's stations have converted to carrying the high definition feed on an over-the-air signal, though it is usually transmitted in 720p rather than the network's 1080i master resolution due to technical considerations for their parent station's main network feed – except in the few markets where a CW Plus broadcast affiliate does not also have an affiliation with a major broadcast network – on their primary channel. Before that, the parent stations also carried the main CW signal in HD mixed with the CW Plus schedule to provide high definition programming from the network to local cable and satellite providers.

List of The CW Plus affiliates[]

Designated market area (DMA) rankings are based on Nielsen estimates for the 2020–21 television season.^[14]

DMA	Market	Station^[15]	Nielsen call letters	Year of affiliation	Former affiliation	Ownership
85	Brownsville–McAllen–Harlingen, Texas	KCWT-CD 21 KMBH (LD2) 67.2¹ KXFX (CD2) 67.2¹ XHRIO-TDT 15.1¹	^N	2011 (KCWT-CD) 2006 (KMBH-LD2) 2016 (XHRIO)	Telefutura (KCWT-CD) The WB (KMBH-LD2) MundoMax (XHRIO)	Entravision Communications
89	Charleston, South Carolina	WCBD (DT2) 2.2¹	ECBD	2006	The WB	Nexstar Media Group
91	Savannah, Georgia	WSAV (DT2) 3.2	ESAV	2006	The WB	Nexstar Media Group
95	Fort Smith–Fayetteville, Arkansas	KHBS (DT2) 40.2¹ KHOG (DT2) 29.2¹	NHBS NHOG	2008	none	Hearst Television
96	Burlington, Vermont–Plattsburgh, New York	WNNE 31	^N	2018	NBC (as semi-satellite of WPTZ)	Hearst Television
99	Florence–Myrtle Beach, South Carolina	WWMB (DT2) 21.2 ^{1, 6}	EWMB	2006	UPN	Howard Stirk Holdings (operated through local marketing agreement with the Sinclair Broadcast Group)
100	Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia– Johnson City–Kingsport, Tennessee	served by WCYB (DT2); syndicated programming on the subchannel is supplied by WCYB owner Sinclair Broadcast Group
101	Boise, Idaho	KYUU-LD 35.1	^N	2011	RTV	Sinclair Broadcast Group
102	Greenville–New Bern– Washington, North Carolina	WNCT (DT2) 12.2¹	ENCT	2006	Weather radar	Nexstar Media Group
103	Davenport, Iowa–Rock Island–Moline, Illinois	served by KGCW; syndicated programming is supplied by KGCW owner Nexstar Media Group
104	Reno, Nevada	KRNS-CD 46 KREN (DT2) 27.2¹	^N	2009 (KRNS-CD) 2006 (KREN-TV, affiliated with DT1 until 2009)	The WB	Entravision Communications
105	Lincoln-Hastings- Grand Island-Kearney, Nebraska	KCWH-LD 18 KNHL (DT3) 5.3¹	^N ONHL (KNHL-DT3)	2018 (both stations)	NBC (KCWH-LD; as simulcast of KSNB-TV/Superior) none (KNHL-DT3)	Gray Television
106	Evansville, Indiana	served by WTVW; syndicated programming is supplied by WTVW operator Nexstar Media Group through owner Mission Broadcasting
107	Johnstown-Altoona-State College, Pennsylvania	WJAC-TV (DT4) 6.4¹	HJAC	2019	TBD	Sinclair Broadcast Group
108	Tallahassee, Florida–Thomasville, Georgia	WTLF 24 WTLH (DT2) 49.2¹	^N	2006	The WB	WTLF: MPS Media, LLC WTLH-DT2: New Age Media (both operated through master service agreements by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
109	Sioux Falls–Mitchell, South Dakota	KSFY (DT2) 13.2	NSFY	2012	none	Gray Television
110	Tyler–Longview, Texas– Lufkin–Nacogdoches, Texas	KYTX (DT2) 19.2	MYTX	2012	MeTV	Tegna
111	Fort Wayne, Indiana	WISE-TV 33	^N	2016	NBC	Gray Television
112	Augusta, Georgia	WAGT (CD2) 26.2¹	EAGT	2016	none	Gray Television
113	Eugene, Oregon	KMTR (DT2) 16.2¹	NMTR	2006	The WB	Roberts Media (operated under shared services agreement by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
114	Fargo, North Dakota	KXJB (LD2) 30.2/28.2¹	NXJB	2016	none	Gray Television
115	Lansing, Michigan	WLAJ (DT2) 53.2¹	NLAJ	2006	The WB	Shield Media, LLC (operated through shared services and joint sales agreements by Nexstar Media Group)
116	Springfield–Holyoke, Massachusetts	WWLP (DT2) 22.2 WFXQ (CD2) 22.2³	EWLP	2015	none	Nexstar Media Group
117	Yakima–Pasco– Richland–Kennewick, Washington	KIMA (DT2) 29.2 ¹ KEPR (DT2) 19.2¹	NIMA NEPR	2009	none	Sinclair Broadcast Group
118	Traverse City–Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan	WFQX (DT2) 32.2^1,3	EQFX	2018	MeTV	Cadillac Telecasting Company (operated under shared services agreement with Heritage Broadcasting Group)
120	Macon, Georgia	WMAZ (DT2) 13.2¹	EMAZ	2006	The WB	Tegna
121	Santa Barbara–Santa Maria– San Luis Obispo, California	KSBY (DT2) 6.2¹	NSBY	2006	The WB	E.W. Scripps Company
122	Lafayette, Louisiana	KATC (DT2) 3.2¹	NATC	2010	none	E.W. Scripps Company
123	Peoria–Bloomington, Illinois	WEEK (DT3) 25.3¹	GHOI	2016	none	Gray Television
124	Monterey–Salinas, California	KION (DT2) 46.2¹ KMUV (LD2) 46.2¹	NION	2006	none	News-Press & Gazette Company
125	Bakersfield, California	KGET (DT2) 17.2¹	NGET	2006	The WB	Nexstar Media Group
126	Montgomery–Selma, Alabama	WBMM 22	^N	2006	Daystar	Bahakel Communications
127	Columbus, Georgia	WLTZ (DT2) 38.2¹	ELTZ	2006	The WB	SagamoreHill Broadcasting
128	Wilmington, North Carolina	WWAY (DT3) 3.3¹	GWAY	2017	Cozi TV	Morris Multimedia
129	La Crosse–Eau Claire, Wisconsin	WECX-LD (LD1) 14.1 ¹ WEAU (DT5) 14.10¹	EEAU	2021	none	Gray Television
130	Corpus Christi, Texas	KRIS (DT2) 6.2¹	NRIS	2006	The WB	E.W. Scripps Company
131	Amarillo, Texas	KVII (DT2) 7.2 KVIH (DT2) 12.2¹	NVII NVIH	2006	none	Sinclair Broadcast Group
132	Chico–Redding, California	KHSL (DT2) 12.2¹	NHSL	2006	The WB	Heartland Media
133	Columbus–Tupelo, Mississippi	WCBI (DT3) 4.3	GCBI	2006	The WB	Morris Multimedia
134	Medford–Klamath Falls, Oregon	KTVL (DT2) 10.2¹	NTVL	2006	The WB	Sinclair Broadcast Group
135	Columbia–Jefferson City, Missouri	KOMU (DT3) 8.3¹	OOMU	2006	The WB	University of Missouri
136	Wausau–Rhinelander, Wisconsin	WSAW (DT4) 7.4 ¹ WYOW (DT1) 34.1¹	ESAW EYOW	2021 2006	The WB (WYOW)	Gray Television
137	Salisbury, Maryland	WMDT (DT2) 47.2¹	EMDT	2006	The WB	Marquee Broadcasting, Inc.
138	Midland–Odessa-Big Spring, Texas	KCWO-TV 4.1	^N	2019	NBC (as satellite of KWES-TV)	Gray Television
139	Rockford, Illinois	WIFR-LD (LD5) 23.5¹	EIFR	2021	none	Gray Television
140	Duluth, Minnesota–Superior, Wisconsin	KDLH 3.1	^N	2016	CBS	Gray Television
141	Bismarck–Minot–Dickinson, North Dakota	KXMA-TV 2.1 KXMB (DT2) 12.2 KXMC (DT2) 13.2 KXMD (DT2) 11.2	^N NXMB NXMC NXMD	2016	none	Nexstar Media Group
142	Topeka, Kansas	KTKA (DT3) 49.3¹	MTKA	2009	none	Vaughan Media, LLC (operated under shared services agreement with Nexstar Media Group)
143	Monroe, Louisiana–El Dorado, Arkansas	KNOE (DT3) 8.3¹	^N	2014	none	Gray Television
144	Beaumont–Port Arthur, Texas	KFDM-TV (DT2) 6.2¹	NFDM	2006	The WB	Sinclair Broadcast Group
145	Lubbock, Texas	KLCW-TV 22	^N	2006	The WB	Gray Television
146	Palm Springs, California	KCWQ-LD 2 KESQ (DT3) 2.3²	^N	2006	The WB	News-Press & Gazette Company
147	Anchorage, Alaska	KYUR (DT2) 13.2¹	NYUR	2006	The WB	Vision Alaska LLC (operated under joint sales and shared services agreements by Coastal Television Broadcasting Company LLC)
148	Sioux City, Iowa	KTIV (DT2) 4.2¹	NTIV	2006	The WB	Gray Television
149	Wichita Falls, Texas–Lawton, Oklahoma	KAUZ (DT2) 6.2¹	NAUZ	2006	none	American Spirit Media (operated under joint sales and shared services agreements with Gray Television)
150	Rochester, Minnesota	KTTC (DT2) 10.2¹	NTTC	2006	The WB	Gray Television
151	Erie, Pennsylvania	WSEE (DT2) 35.2¹	ESEE	2006	none	Lilly Broadcasting
152	Joplin, Missouri–Pittsburg, Kansas	KFJX (DT2) 14.2¹	NFJX	2018	none	SagamoreHill Broadcasting (operated under shared services and joint sales agreements by Morgan Murphy Media)
153	Panama City, Florida	WJHG (DT2) 7.2¹	EJHG	2006	The WB	Gray Television
154	Albany, Georgia	WGCW-LD 36 WALB (DT4) 10.4²	^N	2019	none	Gray Television
155	Bangor, Maine	WABI (DT2) 5.2¹	EABI	2006	The WB	Gray Television
156	Terre Haute, Indiana	WTHI (DT3) 10.3¹	GTHI	2017	Ion Television	Heartland Media
157	Biloxi–Gulfport, Mississippi	WXXV (DT3) 25.3	GXXV	2015	none	Morris Multimedia
158	Idaho Falls–Pocatello, Idaho	KIFI (DT3) 8.3¹	OIFI	2009	none	News-Press & Gazette Company
159	Sherman, Texas–Ada–Ardmore, Oklahoma	KTEN (DT2) 10.2^{1, 3}	NTEN	2006	none	Lockwood Broadcast Group
160	Gainesville, Florida	WCJB (DT2) 20.2¹	ECJB	2006	none	Gray Television
161	Missoula, Montana	KPAX (DT2) 8.2¹	NPAX	2006	none	E.W. Scripps Company
162	Binghamton, New York	WBNG (DT2) 12.2¹	EBNG	2007	none	Gray Television
163	Wheeling, West Virginia–Steubenville, Ohio	"WBWO" 18 (cable only)	^N	2006	The WB	Turnpike Television
164	Bluefield–Beckley–Oak Hill, West Virginia	WVVA (DT2) 6.2¹	EVVA	2006	The WB	Gray Television
165	Abilene–Sweetwater, Texas	KTXS (DT2) 12.2¹	NTXS	2006	none	Sinclair Broadcast Group
166	Yuma, Arizona–El Centro, California	KECY (DT3) 9.3¹	OECY	2010	none	News-Press & Gazette Company
167	Billings, Montana	KTVQ (DT2) 2.2¹	NTVQ	2006	none	E.W. Scripps Company
168	Hattiesburg–Laurel, Mississippi	WHLT-DT2) 22.2	EHLT	2018	Ion Television	Nexstar Media Group
169	Rapid City, South Dakota	KCLO (DT2) 3.2¹	NCLO	2018	Ion Television	Nexstar Media Group
170	Clarksburg–Weston, West Virginia	WVFX (DT2) 10.2	EVFX	2006	none	Gray Television
171	Utica, New York	WKTV (DT3) 2.3¹	EKTV	2017	MeTV	Heartland Media
172	Dothan, Alabama	WRGX-LD2 23.2¹ WTVY-DT3 4.3¹	ETVY	2006	UPN	Gray Television
173	Lake Charles, Louisiana	KPLC (DT2) 7.2^{1, 3}	NPLC	2017	none	Gray Television
174	Quincy, Illinois–Keokuk, Iowa	WGEM (DT2) 10.2¹	EGEM	2006	The WB	Gray Television
175	Jackson, Tennessee	WNBJ (LD2) 39.2¹	NNBJ	2018	none	SagamoreHill Broadcasting
176	Harrisonburg, Virginia	WSVW (LD2) 30.2¹	ESVW	2019	none	Gray Television
177	Charlottesville, Virginia	WVIR (DT3) 29.2¹ WVIR (CD3) 29.2¹	GVIR	2006 2019	The WB	Gray Television
178	Elmira–Corning, New York	WENY (DT2) 36.2	GENY	2006	The WB	Lilly Broadcasting
179	Bowling Green, Kentucky	WBKO (DT3) 13.3¹	GBKO	2006	The WB	Gray Television
180	Watertown, New York	WWTI (DT2) 50.2¹	EWTI	2006	The WB	Nexstar Media Group
181	Alexandria, Louisiana	KALB (DT3) 5.3	OALB	2015	none	Gray Television
182	Jonesboro, Arkansas	KAIT (DT3) 8.3¹	OAIT	2018	none	Gray Television
183	Marquette, Michigan	WBKP 5.1 WBUP (DT2) 10.2	^N DBUP	2006	ABC (WBKP) none (WBUP-DT2)	Marks Radio Group
184	Bend, Oregon	KTVZ (DT2) 21.2¹	NTVZ	2006	none	News-Press & Gazette Company
185	Butte–Bozeman, Montana	KXLF (DT2) 4.2¹ KBZK (DT2) 7.2 ¹	NXLF NBZK	2006	none	E.W. Scripps Company
186	Laredo, Texas	KYLX (LD2) 13.2¹	NYLX	2015	none	Gray Television
187	Grand Junction–Montrose, Colorado	KJCT-LP (DT2) 8.2¹	N/A	2014	none	Gray Television
188	Lafayette, Indiana	WLFI (DT2) 18.2¹	ELFI	2017	none	Heartland Media
189	Twin Falls, Idaho	KMVT (DT2) 11.2¹	NMVT	2006	none	Gray Television
190	Lima, Ohio	served by WBDT, Dayton, OH (cable only)
191	Meridian, Mississippi	WTOK (DT3) 11.3¹	GTOK	2006	none	Gray Television
192	Great Falls, Montana	KRTV (DT2) 3.2¹	NRTV	2006	none	E.W. Scripps Company
193	Eureka, California	KECA-LD 29¹	^N	2014	none	Sinclair Broadcast Group
194	Parkersburg, West Virginia	WOVA (LD2) 22.2¹	EOVA	2018	none	Gray Television
195	Cheyenne–Scottsbluff, Nebraska	KGWN (DT3) 5.3¹	OGWN	2006–2008, 2011–	none	Gray Television
196	Greenwood–Greenville, Mississippi	"WBWD" (cable only)	^N	2006	The WB	Suddenlink Communications
197	San Angelo, Texas	KTXE (LD2) 38.2	NTXE	2006	The WB	Sinclair Broadcast Group
198	Casper, Wyoming	KCWY (DT2) 13.2¹	NCWY	2015	none	Gray Television
199	Mankato, Minnesota	KMNF (LD2)^{1, 7}	^N	2019	none	Gray Television
200	Ottumwa, Iowa-Kirksville, Missouri	KYOU (DT4) 15.4¹	QYOU	2018	Escape	American Spirit Media (operated under shared services agreement by Gray Television)
201	St. Joseph, Missouri	KNPG (LD2) 21.2^{1, 3, 5}	NNPG	2012	none	News-Press & Gazette Company
202	Fairbanks, Alaska	KATN (DT2) 2.3¹	OATN	2006	none	Vision Alaska LLC (operated under time brokerage agreement by Coastal Television Broadcasting Company, LLC)
203	Zanesville, Ohio	"Zanesville CW 13" (cable only)	WBZV	2008	none	Charter Spectrum
204	Victoria, Texas	KVCT (DT3) 19.3¹	GVCT	2018	This TV	SagamoreHill Broadcasting (operated under local marketing agreement by Morgan Murphy Media)
205	Helena, Montana	KTVH (DT2) 9.2⁴	NTVH	2015	none	E.W. Scripps Company
206	Presque Isle, Maine	WAGM (DT3) 8.3¹	GAGM	2018	none	Gray Television
207	Juneau, Alaska	KJUD (DT2) 8.2¹	NJUD	2006	none	Vision Alaska LLC
208	Alpena, Michigan	"Alpena CW" (cable only)	WBAE	2006	The WB	Charter Spectrum
209	North Platte, Nebraska	KIIT (CD2) (simulcast of KCWH-LD/Lincoln)	NIIT	2018	None	Gray Television
210	Glendive, Montana	served by KBZK (DT2), Bozeman, MT (cable only)
N/A	Tamuning, Guam	KTKB-LD 26.1	^N	2009–2011, 2012–	Independent	KM Communications

^N Call letters used by the Nielsen Company are the same as their FCC-licensed callsign or are used for a cable-only WB affiliate for identification and diary registration purposes.
¹ These stations carry The CW Plus on a digital subchannel. In some of these cases, the channel listed is the actual digital channel (e.g. "13", not a virtual channel such as "27.2", for WKYT).
² Cable channel already operational, but not yet broadcasting via a digital subchannel. See also note 1.
³ Local affiliate formerly operated as a cable-only channel.
⁴ Local affiliate formerly operated as the main channel affiliation.
⁵ KCWE is available over-the-air in the St. Joseph market, as are other local stations originating from Kansas City; KNPG-LD formerly operated as cable-only "WBJO" from its 1998 sign-on as part of The WB 100+ Station Group until News-Press & Gazette Company took over operational and advertising control of the channel and added it to KNPN's third digital subchannel in June 2012; it was then spun off into a separately licensed station as KBJO-LD owned by News-Press & Gazette in April 2014.
⁶ WWMB is the only CW Plus subchannel affiliate that also maintains a primary CW affiliation on its main channel, the latter of which maintains a separate schedule of syndicated programming outside of CW network programming hours.
⁷ In the Mankato market, Consolidated Communications carries cable-only "KWYE" as the CW affiliate for that provider's subscribers, whereas Spectrum carries Quincy Media-owned CW affiliate KTTC-DT2/Rochester, Minnesota as the CW Plus outlet for its subscribers.

Former affiliates[]

Market	Station	Former affiliation (before The CW Plus)	Ownership	Years of affiliation	Status
Albany, Georgia	WSWG-DT3	The WB	Marquee Broadcasting	2006–2019	Replaced by WGCW-LD & WALB-DT4 on April 22, 2019
Augusta, Georgia	WAGT-DT2	The WB	Gray Television	2006–2017	Defunct, replaced by WAGT-CD2
Biloxi–Gulfport– Long Beach, Mississippi	"WBGP" (cable-only)	The WB	Morris Multimedia	2006–2015	The CW is affiliated with WXXV-DT3
Binghamton, New York	"WBXI"	The WB	Gateway Communications/ Spectrum (Gateway's interest later transferred to SJL Broadcasting in 2000, and Granite Broadcasting in 2006)	2006–2007	Replaced by WBNG-DT2 in September 2007
Bismarck, North Dakota	"KWMK" (cable-only)	The WB	Midcontinent Communications	2006–2016	Cable only; replaced by the KX Television group of stations^[16]
Brownsville–McAllen–Harlingen, Texas	KNVO (DT4) 48.4	none	Entravision Communications	2006–2016	Affiliation moved to XHRIO-TDT in October 2016; Now an Ion Television affiliate; This translator was replaced by KXFX-CD2
Burlington, Vermont– Plattsburgh, New York	WPTZ (DT2) 5.2	NBC Weather Plus	Hearst Television	2013–2018	Subchannel is now a MeTV affiliate; The CW is affiliated with sister station WNNE
Cadillac–Traverse City– Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan	"WBVC" (cable-only)	NBC Weather Plus	Spectrum	2013–2018	Affiliation moved to WFQX-DT2
Eureka, California	KUVU-LP 9	The WB	Sainte Partners II, L.P.	2006–2014	Defunct; The CW is affiliated with KECA-LD
Fort Smith– Fayetteville, Arkansas	"KCWA" (cable-only)	The WB	Cox Communications	2006–2008	Defunct; replaced by KHBS-DT2/KHOG-DT2 in April 2008
Glendive, Montana	CW Glendive (cable only, formerly KWZB)	The WB	Mid-Rivers Communications	2006–2017	Defunct; The CW is carried on cable only via KBZK-DT2
Grand Junction–Montrose, Colorado	KJCT (DT2) 8.2	none	Gray Television	2006–2014	Replaced by KJCT-LD2; Now a Cozi TV affiliate
Hattiesburg/Laurel, Mississippi	"WBH" 59 (cable-only)	The WB	Waypoint Media	2006–2012	The CW then affiliated with WHPM-LD2
Hattiesburg/Laurel, Mississippi	WHPM-LD2 (DT2)	None	Waypoint Media	2012–2014	The CW moved to WHLT DT 2 in 2014, duplicating the feed on sister station WJTV
Helena, Montana	KMTF 10	The WB	Montana State University	2006–2015	Station went dark on July 2, 2015, after Gray Television donated the station (now KUHM-TV) to Montana State University for pending integration into the Montana PBS member network;^[17]^[18] The CW is affiliated with KTVH-DT2
Idaho Falls/Pocatello, Idaho	KPIF 15	The WB	KM Communications	2006–2009	Defunct; became an RTV after disaffiliating from The CW, station license deleted in February 2011; The CW is affiliated with KIFI-DT3
Jackson, Tennessee	"WBJK" (cable-only)	The WB	Charter Communications	2006–2018	Defunct; replaced by WNBJ-LD2 in August 2018
Jonesboro, Arkansas	"KJOS" (cable only)	The WB	non-ownership (various cable systems)	2006–2018	Defunct; replaced by KAIT-DT3 in September 2018
Joplin, Missouri–Pittsburg, Kansas	"KSXF" (cable-only)	The WB	Cable One	2006–2018	Defunct; replaced by KFJX-DT2 in August 2018
Lafayette, Indiana	"WBI" (cable-only)	The WB	non-ownership (various cable systems)	2006–2017	Defunct; replaced by WLFI-DT2
Lafayette, Louisiana	KLWB 50	The WB	Wilderness Communications, LLC	2006–2010	Operating as a MeTV affiliate; The CW is affiliated with KATC-DT2
Laredo, Texas	"KTXW" 19	The WB	SagamoreHill Broadcasting	2006–2010	Replaced by KGNS-DT2
	KGNS-TV (DT2) 8	The WB	Gray Television	2010–2014	Subchannel became an ABC affiliate, replaced by "Laredo CW 19"
	"Laredo CW 19" (cable-only)	None	Spectrum	2014–2015	Defunct; replaced by KYLX-LD2
Lima, Ohio	"WBOH" (cable-only from 2008-2010)	The WB	Spectrum	2006–2010	Also broadcast on WLIO-DT2 until September 17, 2008, when the station joined Fox and MyNetworkTV Defunct; replaced by WBDT
Lincoln-Hastings- Grand Island-Kearney, Nebraska	"KWBL" (cable only)	The WB	Spectrum	2006–2018	The CW is affiliated with KCWH-LD and simulcast on KNHL-DT3
Macon, Georgia	"WBMN" 3 (cable-only)	The WB	Cox Communications	2006–2013	The CW is affiliated with WMAZ-DT2
Madison, Wisconsin	WBUW 57	The WB	Byrne Acquisition Group	2006–2016	The CW is affiliated with WMTV-DT2
Mankato, Minnesota	"KWYE" 19 (cable-only) (alternately served by KTTC-DT2, Rochester, MN [cable only])	The WB	Consolidated Communications	2006–2019	The CW is affiliated with KMNF-LD2
Midland–Odessa, Texas	KWES-DT2 9.2	None	Raycom Media	2013-2019	The CW is affiliated with Big Spring-based KCWO-TV, a former satellite station for KWES-TV.
North Platte, Nebraska	"KWPL" (cable only)	The WB	non-ownership (various cable systems)	2006–2018	The CW is affiliated with KIIT-CD2
Ottumwa, Iowa-Kirksville, Missouri	"KWOT" (cable only)	The WB	Mediacom	2006–2018	Defunct, replaced by KYOU-DT4
Parkersburg, West Virginia	"WCWP" (cable only)	The WB	Suddenlink Communications	2006–2018	The CW is affiliated with WOVA-LD2
Presque Isle, Maine	"WBPQ" (cable only)	The WB	non-ownership (various cable systems)	2006–2018	Defunct; replaced with WAGM-DT3
Rapid City, South Dakota	KWBH-LP 27	The WB	Rapid Broadcasting	2006–2018	The CW is affiliated with KCLO-DT2
Rio Grande Valley, Texas	"KMHB" (cable only)	The WB	Unknown	2006–2007	Defunct; replaced by KFXV-LD
St. Joseph, Missouri	"WBJO" (cable-only)	The WB	NPG Cablevision/ Suddenlink Communications	2006–2012	Defunct; replaced by KNPN-LD2 on June 2, 2012
	KNPN-LD2 26.2	The WB	News-Press & Gazette Company	2012–2013	Replaced by KNPG-LD2 on March 7, 2013; KNPN-LD2 continued to simulcast CW Plus programming (via KBJO-LD) until November 1, 2016, when it was replaced with a simulcast of CBS affiliate KCJO-LD
	KBJO-LD 21	None	News-Press & Gazette Company	2013–2016	Station relaunched as NBC affiliate KNPG-LD on November 1, 2016 The CW is affiliated with KNPG-LD2
San Angelo, Texas	"KWSA" (cable only)	The WB	Unknown	2006–2006	The CW is affiliated with KTXE-LD2
Springfield–Holyoke, Massachusetts	"WBQT" (cable only)	The WB	Unknown	2006–2015	NBC affiliate WWLP assumed operations of "WBQT" in March 2015 The CW is affiliated with WWLP-DT2/WFXS-CD2
Traverse City–Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan	"WBVC" (cable-only)	The WB	Tucker Broadcasting of Traverse City, Inc.	2006–2018	Defunct; replaced by WFQX-DT2
Utica, New York	WKTV-DT2 2.2	The WB (cable only as "WBU")	Heartland Media LLC	2006–2015	Joined CBS November 22, 2015 The CW is affiliated with WKTV-DT3
Victoria, Texas	"KWVB" 10 (cable only)	The WB	Suddenlink Communications	2006–2018	Defunct; replaced by KVCT-DT3
Wilmington, North Carolina	"WBW" 29/WWAY-DT2 3.2	The WB (cable only as "WBW")	Morris Multimedia	2006–2017	Cable-only until 2013, with a shift from DT2 to DT3 on January 1, 2017, to accommodate WWAY's new DT2 CBS subchannel
Yuma, Arizona/El Centro, California	KSWT-DT 13.2	The WB	Pappas Telecasting Companies	2006–2010	Subchannel is now silent; The CW is affiliated with KECY-DT3
Zanesville, Ohio	"WBZV" (cable-only)	The WB	WHIZ Media Group	2006–2008	Defunct; shut down in 2008 by WHIZ-TV, later replaced by "Zanesville CW 13"

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "CW Network LLC profile". Businessweek. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
^ Michael Schneider (March 3, 2008). "Strike, ratings slip lead to CW layoffs". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Jesse Heisiond. "WB 100 Plus Stations Act Locally" (PDF). The Hollywood Reporter. BPI – via RussellMyerson.com.
^ "The WB 100+ station group hits 8 million, more than doubling its household reach since launch". Time Warner (Press release). January 15, 2002.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "A Salute to The WB 100+ Station Group on its Fifth Anniversary" (PDF). TelevisionWeek. September 22, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016 – via RussellMyerson.com.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Allison Romano (February 24, 2006). "CW Creates Small-Market Service". Broadcasting & Cable. Reed Business Information. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
^ Allison Romano (February 24, 2006). "The Mating Game". Broadcasting & Cable. Reed Business Information. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
^ Daisy Whitney (January 17, 2005). "100+ Vital to Growth in Markets" (PDF). TelevisionWeek – via RussellMyerson.com.
^ Jay Sherman (June 12, 2006). "CW Plus: Digital for the Little Guy" (PDF). TelevisionWeek – via RussellMyerson.com.
^ "The CW Expands Primetime Schedule To Saturday, Returns Weekday Afternoon Block To Affiliates". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
^ Dan Trigoboff (September 15, 2002). "Acme's Buzz to go national". Broadcasting & Cable. Reed Business Information. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
^ Dan Trigoboff (September 16, 2002). "ACME's Buzz grows". Broadcasting & Cable. Reed Business Information. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
^ "Network Search: CW+". RabbitEars. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
^ "Local Television Market Universe Estimates" (PDF). Nielsen N.V. September 22, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
^ "CW PLUS Market Clearance (as of August 31, 2020)" (PDF). The CW Plus. The CW Network, LLC. August 31, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
^ "KX Adds The CW to Western North Dakota". Dakotawire. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
^ "Gray in 4 New Deals, Closes 3 Earlier Ones". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. July 1, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
^ "Notification of Suspension of Operations / Request for Silent STA". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.

External links[]

Official website
CWTV.com – Official website for The CW
CWTVLink.com (requires log-in information)
GDMX Broadcast – GDMX Website (performs broadcast origination for The CW Plus)

[CW_Bloomberg-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b "CW Network LLC profile". Businessweek. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved September 27, 2012.

[2] Michael Schneider (March 3, 2008). "Strike, ratings slip lead to CW layoffs". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved August 25, 2015.

[thc-wb100-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b Jesse Heisiond. "WB 100 Plus Stations Act Locally" (PDF). The Hollywood Reporter. BPI – via RussellMyerson.com.

[4] "The WB 100+ station group hits 8 million, more than doubling its household reach since launch". Time Warner (Press release). January 15, 2002.

[tvweek-wb100-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b "A Salute to The WB 100+ Station Group on its Fifth Anniversary" (PDF). TelevisionWeek. September 22, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016 – via RussellMyerson.com.

[b&c=cwplus-6] Jump up to: ^a ^b Allison Romano (February 24, 2006). "CW Creates Small-Market Service". Broadcasting & Cable. Reed Business Information. Retrieved August 20, 2015.

[7] Allison Romano (February 24, 2006). "The Mating Game". Broadcasting & Cable. Reed Business Information. Retrieved August 20, 2015.

[8] Daisy Whitney (January 17, 2005). "100+ Vital to Growth in Markets" (PDF). TelevisionWeek – via RussellMyerson.com.

[tvweek=cwplus-9] Jay Sherman (June 12, 2006). "CW Plus: Digital for the Little Guy" (PDF). TelevisionWeek – via RussellMyerson.com.

[10] "The CW Expands Primetime Schedule To Saturday, Returns Weekday Afternoon Block To Affiliates". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.

[11] Dan Trigoboff (September 15, 2002). "Acme's Buzz to go national". Broadcasting & Cable. Reed Business Information. Retrieved August 20, 2015.

[12] Dan Trigoboff (September 16, 2002). "ACME's Buzz grows". Broadcasting & Cable. Reed Business Information. Retrieved August 20, 2015.

[13] "Network Search: CW+". RabbitEars. Retrieved November 2, 2019.

[14] "Local Television Market Universe Estimates" (PDF). Nielsen N.V. September 22, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2021.

[15] "CW PLUS Market Clearance (as of August 31, 2020)" (PDF). The CW Plus. The CW Network, LLC. August 31, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2021.

[16] "KX Adds The CW to Western North Dakota". Dakotawire. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.

[tvnc-donationtomsu-17] "Gray in 4 New Deals, Closes 3 Earlier Ones". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. July 1, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2015.

[fcc-kmtfnocw-18] "Notification of Suspension of Operations / Request for Silent STA". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.

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show v t The CW
Forerunning networks	The WB UPN
Programming	CW programs CW Plus UPN WB Kids' WB The CW4Kids / Toonzai Vortexx The CW Daytime One Magnificent Morning
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