KDKA+ debuts
September 1, 2023There was little ceremony at 12:01 this morning when the WPCW call letters were removed at the WPKD call letters (the formal, legal callsign for “KDKA+”) went up on “Channel 19” (DT 11 Jeannette). But what happened with CBS-owned former CW stations in other markets?
Similarly to Pittsburgh, San Francisco’s KBCW became KPYX and is branded as “KPIX+”. The other six stations in markets like Philadelphia and Seattle will retain their call letters and five of those stations are still identified with their analog channel number.
KDKA+ already started with its 10-week Steel City High School Football Showcase at 7:00 p.m. on Fridays. The station has also secured the rights to college football featuring local Presidents’ Athletic Conferece schools.
Beginning September 11, viewers can look forward to the launch of the new weekday “48 Hours” which will air in first release syndication. Later in November,, in addition to the 10:00 p.m. mewscast, KDKA+ will add an 8:00 p.m. hour-long newscast – a first in Pittsburgh.
I think with the exception of the reported move of MyTV to a part-time role on WPNT’s 22-2 (Stadium Sports), I nailed it about what would happen to the CW in its transition to Channel 22-1. Having said that, Eric, what gives with KDKA-2.5? Came up on my TV last night as “no signal” but with the antenna mode showing a power reception similar to that of the other four KDKA subchannels.
2-5 is Catchy Comedy. Former Decades network.
KDKA+ is really interesting so far. Channel 19 was the CW station for 17 years. It’s an amazing run for that channel.
As for an 8:00 newscast, I don’t think Pittsburgh needs one. KDKA has a 7:30 newscast on its main channel and a 10:00 newscast on KDKA+.