or


[03/09/06 - 12:00 AM]
The CW and Acme Communications Announce Long-Term Television Station Affiliation Agreements

[via press release from The CW]

THE CW AND ACME COMMUNICATIONS ANNOUNCE LONG-TERM TELEVISION STATION AFFILIATION AGREEMENTS

America�s Fifth Broadcast Network Increases National Coverage To Almost 60% Of The Country

ACME�s Full WB Station Portfolio (In Albuquerque, Knoxville, Dayton, Ft. Myers, Green Bay, Champaign and Madison) To Join Rapidly Growing CW Affiliate Line-Up

ACME To Become Third Largest CW Affiliate Group Based On Number Of Stations

The CW and ACME Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACME) announced today the signing of long-term affiliation agreements for ACME�s television stations in Albuquerque-Santa Fe, Knoxville, Dayton, Ft. Myers-Naples, Green Bay-Appleton, Champaign-Springfield-Decatur and Madison.

The addition of these seven ACME Communications stations increases The CW�s national coverage to almost 60% of the country. America�s fifth broadcast network has affiliates in 19 of the Top 20 markets and 26 in the Top 30.

The newly signed affiliates are: KWBQ-TV Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM; WBXX-TV Knoxville, TN; WBDT-TV Dayton, OH; WTVK-TV Ft. Myers-Naples, FL; WIWB-TV Green Bay-Appleton, WI; WBUI-TV Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, IL; and WBUW-TV Madison, WI..

These stations are in the 46th, 58th, 59th, 66th, 69th, 82nd and 85th largest markets in the country, respectively, and represent 3.01% of total U.S. TV households. All seven stations are currently affiliated with The WB.

Doug Gealy, ACME�s President and COO, noted: �Affiliating our television stations with The CW is an outstanding business opportunity because it immediately enhances the value of our television assets. When you factor in a primetime schedule that includes returning shows that are already viewer and advertiser favorites, a multi-tiered marketing effort that is going to be innovative and impactful, and an accomplished executive team leading the new network, it creates a compelling formula for success. Additionally, with an improved lineup of popular programming still targeted at young adults, we believe The CW�s content will only serve to strengthen our connection with this core audience in our local markets.�

�The addition of these ACME Communications stations as affiliates of The CW bolsters our burgeoning station line-up,� said John Maatta, Chief Operating Officer, The CW. �It also extends a valued business relationship we began with ACME nine years ago when their newly formed company affiliated their television stations with The WB. During that time ACME�s station group has produced impressive ratings and revenue growth, and in fact recently their Knoxville and Dayton stations tied for the #2 ratings spot among all WB affiliates in the November 2005 sweep period for Adults 18-49. That speaks to how well the ACME stations are managed, which includes their savvy station branding, purchasing the best available programming and providing outstanding service to their communities. With these new, long-term affiliation agreements ACME now has the third largest number of CW affiliates, after Tribune and CBS. We�re looking forward to growing our new partnership, and appreciate ACME�s support.�

On January 24, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment announced their intent to form a new 5th network, The CW, to be launched in the fall of 2006. The new broadcasting network will be a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation, with each company owning 50%.

In an important strategic move that secures major market distribution for The CW, it was also announced on January 24th that Tribune Broadcasting and the CBS Corporation's UPN affiliates have agreed separately to sign 10-year affiliation agreements with the new network. The combination of Tribune's 16 major market stations (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Houston, Miami, Denver, St. Louis, Portland, Indianapolis, San Diego, Hartford, New Orleans and Albany) and the 11 CBS-owned UPN major market affiliates (Philadelphia, San Francisco, Atlanta, Detroit, Tampa, Seattle, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, West Palm Beach, Norfolk and Providence) cover the top 13 television markets, 20 of the top 25 television markets and have a total coverage area of more than 47% of the country.

The remainder of the network's distribution system will be a combination of selected current UPN and The WB stations.

The CW will incorporate The WB's current scheduling model, which consists of a 6 night-13 hour primetime lineup including Monday through Friday nights from 8-10 (EST/PST); Sundays from 7-10 (EST/PST); Sunday from 5-7 (EST/PST) outside of primetime as well as a Monday thru Friday afternoon block from 3-5 (EST/PST) and a 5-hour Saturday morning animation block. Together, the network will program 30 hours a week over seven days for its affiliated stations.

CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and UPN), cable television (Showtime), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Paramount Television and King World), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), theme parks (Paramount Parks), digital media (CBS Digital Media Group and CSTV Networks) and consumer products (CBS Consumer Products). For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.

Warner Bros. Entertainment, a fully-integrated, broad-based entertainment company, is a global leader in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of all forms of entertainment and their related businesses. Warner Bros. Entertainment, a Time Warner Company, stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry, from feature films to television, home video/DVD, animation, comic books, interactive entertainment and games, product and brand licensing, international cinemas and broadcasting.

ACME Communications currently owns and operates eight broadcast television stations in medium-sized markets across the United States. Seven of their eight stations are affiliated with The WB Television Network, making them the fourth largest WB Network affiliated station group in the country. ACME�s second station in Albuquerque is a UPN affiliate. Their television stations broadcast in markets that cover, in aggregate, approximately 3% of the total U.S. population.





  [march 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[09/09/26 - 10:01 AM]
Host Jane Krakowski and New Bandleader Robin Thicke Set the Stage for an All-New Season of "Celebrity Name That Tune"
Ice-T and Tony Hawk face off in the season premiere on Monday, September 21.

[09/09/26 - 10:00 AM]
"Saturday Night Live" to Premiere 52nd Season Sept. 26 on NBC and Peacock
Jalen Brunson, Dakota Johnson, Shane Gillis, and Inde Navarrette are the first wave of hosts.

[09/09/26 - 10:00 AM]
Prime Video Announces 2026 New York Comic Con Programming
"Blade Runner 2099," "Bloodaxe," and "Helluva Boss" are the featured projects.

[09/09/26 - 09:19 AM]
Johnny Knoxville and the Gang Make One Final Raucous Return for "Jackass: Best and Last," Streaming on Paramount+ September 24
Grab your buddies, raise your glasses and experience the cinematic event that promises to be the last time you'll ever laugh this hard.

[09/09/26 - 09:16 AM]
New Dating Series Will Discover If Singles Can Fall in "Love at First Sight"
Do you believe you could see someone and know instantly that they're the one?

[09/09/26 - 09:07 AM]
Nirvana to Receive Video Vanguard Award During "2026 MTV Video Music Awards" Airing Live Sept. 27 on CBS
On this date in 1992 (9/9/92), Nirvana took to the "VMAs" stage for the first time - shaping music, culture and MTV forever.

[09/09/26 - 09:05 AM]
"Ghost Adventures" Returns with Chilling All-New Season - Wednesday, September 30 on Discovery Channel
Navigating abandoned frontier towns, centuries-old landmarks and historic estates, investigators Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Jay Wasley and Billy Tolley delve into the shadows of America's turbulent past in pursuit of restless dark forces wreaking havoc on the living.

[09/09/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: HBO Max Releases Trailer for "The Howard Stern Show"
Each week, Howard's SiriusXM show will be adapted into a streamable episode for HBO Max.

[09/09/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Starz Releases Trailer and Key Art for Riveting Queer Thriller "Tip Toe," Starring Alan Cumming and David Morrissey
"Tip Toe" is a darkly witty, yet harrowing and explosive thriller that explores the most corrosive forces facing the LGBTQ+ community today.

[09/09/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Inside The Circle" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The murder of a popular actress unleashes a Pandora's box of secrets and espionage that threatens to destroy four childhood friends at its center.

[09/09/26 - 09:01 AM]
Bravo's "Next Gen NYC" First Ever Two-Part Reunion Event Begins Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 9:15 P.M. ET/PT
The squad reunites to unpack a season of messy friendships, complicated romances, shifting loyalties, major glow-ups and peak NYC chaos.

[09/09/26 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Brings the Drama on September 24 in New "Team Moms: Baseball" Trailer
The series gives viewers a front row seat to all the friendships, rivalries and drama that come with being a baseball mom.

[09/09/26 - 08:31 AM]
WWE Superstar CM Punk Will Go Head-to-Head with the Wings of Death in a New Episode of "Hot Ones: Extra Heat" on September 14!
Hosted by Sean Evans and featuring WWE Superstar CM Punk, this 30-minute special brings the signature 10-wing challenge and deeply researched conversations to the WWE.

[09/09/26 - 08:14 AM]
"Learning to Fly" Takes Flight Globally on Amazon Prime Video September 24th
Following a celebrated run in theaters nationwide, the documentary from Unreasonable Studios and Chris Hemsworth and Ben Grayson's Wild State, will make its global streaming debut on the service.

[09/09/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Haunted Hotel" Season 2 - Official Teaser - Netflix
Katherine and her family find their groove as more paranormal problems come looking for vacancies. But can a haunted hotel ever really feel like home?