Head WEST, young man: Weigel announces new multicast network

Genre staples Gunsmoke, Bonanza are the centerpiece of western-themed channel 

Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting announced another new multicast network – this time devoted to the Western genre, simply called “WEST” in capital letters.

The western was a huge staple in the early days of television. In 1961, for example, four of television’s top ten highest-rated shows were westerns. The genre sputtered in the 1970s when long-running shows Gunsmoke and Bonanza ended due to declining ratings, but returned to prominence in the late 1980s with the success of mini-series Lonesome Dove and the current hit show Yellowstone.

Gunsmoke is one of the highest-rated shows on MeTV and has found success on streaming platforms such as Pluto TV and Paramount Plus. Until it was surpassed by Law & Order: SVU in 2019, Gunsmoke was the longest-running scripted drama on television, airing from 1955 to 1975 on CBS, and even survived a near-axing by the network in 1967. 

The new channel launches this fall and will land on one of Weigel’s channel spaces in Chicago. WEST competes with Scripps’ Grit, Free TV Networks’ Outlaw, and cable networks INSP and Starz Westerns.  

Here’s the full press release, edited only to add the italic font for the shows and quotes: 

Weigel Broadcasting Co. today announced a fall 2025 launch of WEST (Western Entertainment Series Television), its 10th over-the-air national broadcast television network. WEST will showcase the greatest Western television series ever made, with a library of more than 30 marquee series including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Maverick, Rawhide, The Virginian and more. The network will be available across the nation on the broadcast television stations of Weigel Broadcasting Co., with additional carriage and distribution partners to be announced.  

“WEST will be dedicated 24/7 to showcasing the most beloved and iconic classic TV western series, with a massive library of titles that will make this the premier western network on television,” said Neal Sabin, Weigel vice chairman. “Featuring compelling story lines and narratives with universal adult appeal, the programs on WEST promise to transport viewers on an entertainment journey filled with excitement and adventure.” 

“We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the WEST network, a move that has been driven by years of client feedback and growing demand,” said Jeff Nash, Weigel SVP network sales. “This expansion represents another major milestone for us, and we’re proud to deliver exactly what our partners have been asking for.”

The library of series featured on WEST includes iconic gunslingers, dangerous outlaws, heroic sheriffs and thrilling stories at every turn. A partial list includes: 

• Gunsmoke
• Bonanza
• Maverick
• Rawhide
• Wanted: Dead or Alive
• Have Gun, Will Travel
• The High Chaparral 
• Wagon Train 
• The Big Valley
• The Virginian
• Wild Wild West

The network joins MeTV, MeTV Toons, Start TV, Heroes & Icons, Catchy Comedy, MeTV+, Story Television, Dabl, and MOVIES! in the Weigel family of national broadcast networks.