Raycom Media WUAB/43 “My 43” in Cleveland won’t technically be a “network affiliate” this coming fall, though it’ll still be “My” and still air a slate of prime-time national programming.
The “My” in “My 43”, MyNetwork TV, has announced that it’ll consider itself a “programming service” starting in the fall, and will reduce its programming hours by two hours, to 10 hours a week. That move frees up Saturday nights to MyNetwork affiliates like WUAB.
And WOIO/WUAB VP/general manager Bill Applegate is apparently quite happy with his soon-to-be-not-a-network’s changes.
Broadcasting & Cable’s Michael Malone quotes the 19/43 boss in a Monday article:
“We’re very happy about it. Getting Saturday nights back is terrific, the overall inventory spread stays the same, and Law & Order is going to play well here.”
That’s “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”, which will air in the reduced 10 hour MyNetwork TV schedule this fall.
Applegate is one of many MyNetwork affiliate bosses trying to figure out what to put on Saturdays starting in September. Quoting B&C:
Applegate is pondering a number of choices for WUAB. “It presents all kinds of interesting options,” he says.
Some MyNetwork affiliate GMs are considering more sports programming. WUAB has some of that in its rotation already, as the free TV home of the Cleveland Cavaliers (five games a season, simulcast off Fox Sports Ohio) and the Lake Erie Monsters (in rotation with FS Ohio).
Other possible options for MyNetwork stations include slotting off-network reruns in the Saturday evening time slot.
We would have to look into this, but we’re pretty sure MyNetwork TV already isn’t technically “a network” in the FCC’s eyes, due to its limited programming schedule. We’re not even sure the FCC considers Fox a “network” under programming hours guidelines…remember, Fox only programs two hours a night Monday through Saturday…
ADDENDUM: Our apologies for the wording there. We’re well aware that Fox programs three hours on Sunday, plus NFL, NASCAR and other sports events.
We were only trying to point out that programming one less hour per night vs. the other “Big Four” networks helps Fox not reach the definition of “network” in the eyes of regulators.
Even with its three hour Sunday prime-time lineup, Fox programs one hour less than ABC/CBS/NBC (each with a four hour Sunday night schedule)…
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