Release
THE CW AND LIN TV CORP. ANNOUNCE LONG-TERM TELEVISION STATION AFFILIATION AGREEMENTS
Columbus (OH), Buffalo, Austin and Mobile
Are the Latest Markets to Be Served by The CW
America's Fifth Broadcast Network Increases National Coverage
To More Than 81% Of The Country
The CW and LIN TV Corp. (NYSE: TVL) announced today the signing of long-term affiliation agreements for LIN TV's television stations in Columbus (OH), Buffalo, Austin and Mobile.
The addition of these four LIN TV stations increases The CW's national coverage to more than 81% of the country, including 19 of the Top 20 markets and 26 of the Top 30.
The newly signed affiliates are:
* WWHO Columbus, OH (DMA rank #32).
* WNLO Buffalo, NY (DMA rank #49).
* KNVA Austin, TX (DMA rank #53).
* WBPG Mobile, AL-Pensacola (Ft. Walton Beach), FL (DMA rank #62).
These four stations represent 2.383% of total U.S. TV households. WWHO and WNLO are currently UPN affiliates. KNVA and WBPG are currently affiliated with The WB. KNVA is owned by 54 Broadcasting, Inc. and is operated by LIN TV under a Local Marketing Agreement.
Gary Chapman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, LIN TV Corp., said: "The affiliation agreements we've signed with The CW reflect our company's strategic focus on growing market share and asset value. After careful consideration, we believe that The CW's strong, sharply focused, highly promotable and highly saleable programming, its seasoned and well-regarded executive team, and LIN TV's industry-leading operating capabilities together make these affiliations with The CW the right choice for our four stations, for our viewers, for our advertisers and for our shareholders. We're looking forward to being The CW's partner in Columbus, Buffalo, Austin and Mobile."
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John Maatta, Chief Operating Officer, The CW, noted: "I am so pleased that we have been able to conclude the terms of an agreement with Gary Chapman and LIN TV. The CW is poised to be an enormous and extraordinary success on every level, and it is gratifying to move ahead with LIN TV at our side. Since our first dealings in 1994 when The WB was announced, it has always been a great pleasure to do business with LIN TV generally, and a particular pleasure to do business with Gary Chapman, who stands out as one of the great and most innovative broadcasters of his generation. The opportunity to maintain our relationship with LIN TV at The CW is extremely important to us. LIN TV has always proven itself to be one of the most forward-thinking of the broadcast groups, serving each of their communities with the very best that the medium of television has to offer. We are thrilled with their decision; one which we know will be very beneficial for LIN TV and its shareholders for many years to come."
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 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 and CSTV Networks), 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). In Fall 2006, UPN will cease operations and The CW, a new fifth broadcast television network, will launch as a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation. For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.
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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.
LIN TV Corp. operates 29 television stations in 18 mid-sized markets, two of which are LMAs. The Company owns approximately 20% of KXAS-TV in Dallas, Texas and KNSD-TV in San Diego, California through a joint venture with NBC, and is a 50% non-voting investor in Banks Broadcasting, Inc., which owns KWCV-TV in Wichita, Kansas and KNIN-TV in Boise, Idaho. LIN is also a 1/3 owner of WAND-TV, the ABC affiliate in Decatur, Illinois, which it manages pursuant to a management services agreement. Financial information and overviews of LIN TV's stations are available on the Company's website at www.lintv.com.
Are the Latest Markets to Be Served by The CW
America's Fifth Broadcast Network Increases National Coverage
To More Than 81% Of The Country
The CW and LIN TV Corp. (NYSE: TVL) announced today the signing of long-term affiliation agreements for LIN TV's television stations in Columbus (OH), Buffalo, Austin and Mobile.
The addition of these four LIN TV stations increases The CW's national coverage to more than 81% of the country, including 19 of the Top 20 markets and 26 of the Top 30.
The newly signed affiliates are:
* WWHO Columbus, OH (DMA rank #32).
* WNLO Buffalo, NY (DMA rank #49).
* KNVA Austin, TX (DMA rank #53).
* WBPG Mobile, AL-Pensacola (Ft. Walton Beach), FL (DMA rank #62).
These four stations represent 2.383% of total U.S. TV households. WWHO and WNLO are currently UPN affiliates. KNVA and WBPG are currently affiliated with The WB. KNVA is owned by 54 Broadcasting, Inc. and is operated by LIN TV under a Local Marketing Agreement.
Gary Chapman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, LIN TV Corp., said: "The affiliation agreements we've signed with The CW reflect our company's strategic focus on growing market share and asset value. After careful consideration, we believe that The CW's strong, sharply focused, highly promotable and highly saleable programming, its seasoned and well-regarded executive team, and LIN TV's industry-leading operating capabilities together make these affiliations with The CW the right choice for our four stations, for our viewers, for our advertisers and for our shareholders. We're looking forward to being The CW's partner in Columbus, Buffalo, Austin and Mobile."
(More)
John Maatta, Chief Operating Officer, The CW, noted: "I am so pleased that we have been able to conclude the terms of an agreement with Gary Chapman and LIN TV. The CW is poised to be an enormous and extraordinary success on every level, and it is gratifying to move ahead with LIN TV at our side. Since our first dealings in 1994 when The WB was announced, it has always been a great pleasure to do business with LIN TV generally, and a particular pleasure to do business with Gary Chapman, who stands out as one of the great and most innovative broadcasters of his generation. The opportunity to maintain our relationship with LIN TV at The CW is extremely important to us. LIN TV has always proven itself to be one of the most forward-thinking of the broadcast groups, serving each of their communities with the very best that the medium of television has to offer. We are thrilled with their decision; one which we know will be very beneficial for LIN TV and its shareholders for many years to come."
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 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 and CSTV Networks), 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). In Fall 2006, UPN will cease operations and The CW, a new fifth broadcast television network, will launch as a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation. For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.
(More)
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.
LIN TV Corp. operates 29 television stations in 18 mid-sized markets, two of which are LMAs. The Company owns approximately 20% of KXAS-TV in Dallas, Texas and KNSD-TV in San Diego, California through a joint venture with NBC, and is a 50% non-voting investor in Banks Broadcasting, Inc., which owns KWCV-TV in Wichita, Kansas and KNIN-TV in Boise, Idaho. LIN is also a 1/3 owner of WAND-TV, the ABC affiliate in Decatur, Illinois, which it manages pursuant to a management services agreement. Financial information and overviews of LIN TV's stations are available on the Company's website at www.lintv.com.
