The CW Network has extended its network affiliation agreement with Hearst Television, and the new agreement also includes an expansion to Sacramento, California.
Under the existing agreement, Hearst was carrying The CW’s entertainment and sports programming in six markets. All of these markets and affiliates have now been renewed as part of the new multi-year agreement.
As a result, viewers of the following The CW affiliates can except no change to their channel or content: KCWE-TV in Kansas City, Missouri, KHOG-TV/KHBS-TV in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, WCWG-TV, in Greensboro, North Carolina, WKCF-TV in Orlando, Florida, WPXT-TV in Portland, Maine, and WNNE-TV in Burlington, Vermont.
In addition to those renewed markets, The CW and Hearst have confirmed the launch of a new CW affiliate in Sacramento, California. The CW on Hearst’s KQCA-TV is currently scheduled to go live on September 1, 2023.
“Hearst has been an important partner for The CW throughout the years and we are extremely pleased to be launching a new CW affiliate in Sacramento,” said Dennis Miller, President of The CW Network. “KQCA-TV is already home to LIV Golf in Sacramento, and this agreement will ensure that viewers there won’t miss a moment of our other highly-rated sports and entertainment programming, including ACC college football and basketball, and INSIDE THE NFL, both of which premiere this fall.”
Previously, KMAX had been operating as The CW affiliate in Sacramento. However, KMAX, along with seven other stations, are set to go independent later this year. These channels are changing as part of CBS and Paramount Global’s plan to cut ties with The CW, following Nexstar Media Group’s 75% acquisition late last year.
Nexstar’s The CW has been making a few content deals of late as well. For example, The CW will soon be showing a number of ACC football and basketball games each year, and is also set to soon become the exclusive home of NASCAR Xfinity Series racing.
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