Nexstar shifts affiliations, drops CBS in six markets
Cities include Albuquerque, Birmingham
In news that was forst reported by The Desk, Nexstar Media Group renewed its CBS affiliations in 36 markets, but is parting ways with the network in six others, with CBS landing on digital subchannels in each.
The Nexstar CBS renewals include two downstate stations – the top-rated WCIA Champaign and WMBD Peoria, with others including WNCN Raleigh-Durham, and WFRV Green Bay, Wis.
But Nexstar is cutting ties with CBS in six markets on August 1, and in some cases, replacing the affiliation with The CW, which it acquired a controlling stake of in 2022, while CBS signed four Hearst stations and two Forum Communications outlets as replacements:
Albuquerque: KRQE is replacing CBS with Fox, since they already had the affiliation on a dot-two channel, wih ABC affiliate KOAT taking the CBS network on its 7.2 channel, as rumors of the move was tipped on FTV Live on Monday. Previous Fox affiliates in Albuquerque were the former KGSW-TV and KASA, which is now owned by Telemundo/NBCUniversal. KRQE’s move to Fox is notable given the Dallas Cowboys have a strong fan base in Albuquerque, and the network carries a majority of their games.
Birmingham, Ala.: Nexstar’s WIAT – which signed on as a CBS affiliate as WBMG-TV in 1965, is becoming a CW affiliate, shifting away from Sinclair’s WTTO. CBS is moving to Hearst’s WTVM 13.2 channel, while NBC remains on 13.1. This is a reunion of sorts, as WVTM aired both NBC and CBS programming in the 1950s and 1960s when it was known as WAPI-TV, even sticking with the dual affilaition after WBMG signed on, lasting until 1970. The last major affiliation switch took place here 30 years ago as part of the Fox-New World deal.
Sprtansburg, S.C.: WSPA will also become a CW affiliate with CBS moving to Hearst’s WYFF, Channel 4.2. Located in the Greenville-Spartansburg-Ashville (N.C.) market, WSPA had been a CBS affilaite since 1956. CW programming had run on Nexstar’s WYCW on Channel 62; it’s not known what would replace it.
Jackson, Miss.: WJTV is also becoming a CW affiliate, regulating CBS to a dot-two channel of Hearst ABC affiliate WAPT. WJTV had been a CBS affiliate since it signed on in 1953, while WAPT signed in in 1970.
In addition, Forum Communications’ satellite stations – KBMY Bismarck, N.D. and KMCY Minot, N.D., will add CBS programming to its channels – both currently carry MyNetworkTV programming, and are semi-satellites of ABC Affiliate WDAY Fargo, N.D. (Bismarck and Minot share the smae TV market.) In Rapid City, S.D., Forum’s KNBN will also take CBS programming. In all three markets, the CBS affilaitions were owned by Nexstar’s “KX Television” group, consisting of KXMB Bismarck, KXMC Minot, and KMXD Williamson, N.D.
“We are pleased to have entered into several new CBS Television Network affiliation agreements, including extending our long-standing partnership with Nexstar, expanding our relationship with Hearst Television and welcoming Forum Communications Company into the CBS family,” the network told The Desk via e-mail. “CBS has an unwavering commitment to our audience, and we are excited to continue to deliver our leading sports, news and entertainment programming to viewers across the country.”
There’s been tensions between Nexstar and the broadcast networks as the Irving, Tex. is buying rival broadcaster Tegna, but is currently on hold by the courts, stating they have too much leverage when it comes to numerous issues, including retransmission content funds, pre-emptions, and “reverse” compensation.
To fill the time in lieu of CBS programming, Nexstar will air more newscasts and locally-produced “community programming” – similar to what you currently see on its Chicago station, WGN-TV. Last year, WPLG Miami ended its 60-plus years relationship with ABC and became a news-intensive independent with network programming shifting to WSVN’s dot-two channel – the same WSVN who pioneered the news-intensive independent format in 1989 after losing its longtime NBC affilaition to WTVJ, which the network bought two years earlier. Now, Nexstar is looking to replicate that model in the markets where it decided to drop CBS.
Despite its lower costs, the replacement programming would be hard-pressed to match the ratings CBS brings, as it has the top-rated daytime and primetime schedules, and premier sports programming such as the NFL, The Masters, and NCAA March Madness. Or maybe, it was the cost of providing such programming through “reverse compensation” that drove Nexstar away in those six markets in the first place.