Clear Channel Communications Inc. did some major business with CBS and co-owned United Paramount Network Monday, affecting nine stations in eight markets.
As expected, Clear Channel's UPN affiliate in Jacksonville, Fla., WTEV-TV,
signed a new long-term agreement to become the CBS affiliate in the market
effective Monday, July 15. The UPN affiliation there switches to Clear Channel's
co-owned Jacksonville station, WAWS-TV. That's a Fox affiliate, and the station
will remain a primary Fox affiliate with UPN as secondary affiliation, which
basically means that Fox shows will air in pattern and UPN programs will out air out
of pattern.
WTEV-TV replaces Post-Newsweek Stations Inc.'s WJXT(TV) as the CBS affiliate there.
Several weeks ago, CBS and Post-Newsweek said they couldn't come to terms on
an affiliate renewal after 53 years in business together.
In addition, Clear Channel has renewed long-term primary-affiliate agreements
with UPN in seven other markets, including WLMT(TV) Memphis, Tenn., UPN's strongest-performing station in the 18-through-49 demo for February.
Four other Clear Channel stations where the primary UPN affiliation was
renewed were KASN(TV) Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.; KTFO(TV) Tulsa, Okla.;
WJTC(TV) Mobile, Ala.-Pensacola, Fla.; and WMTU(TV) Jackson, Tenn.
The companies also renewed primary UPN affiliate agreements in two markets
where Clear Channel operates stations under local marketing agreements: WLYH(TV)
Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York, Pa.; and KSCC Wichita-Hutchinson,
Kan.
