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Sure sounds like they might be buyouts, timing-wise

In this case, it's likely the first time that a separate operating unit (WPMI/WJTC in Mobile) has had to shack up on a co-owned rival's frequency (WEAR). Most of the other cases have been the same operating unit for years(WSYX/WTTE, WCHS/WVAH, KBTV/KFDM etc...), they just did the switch from the "shell" station to the parent as a subchannel. Probably the closest things have been the Fox move-ins like with "Fox Chattanooga" being the old FOX 61 that used to live on WDSI, and the "Fox Michiana" that relocated from WSJV "Fox 28" to WSBT 22.2. The others have kept their long-term branding in place on their new OTA home.

As is often the case, I wouldn't be surprised if this was Sinclair being in a hurry and not waiting until the Ts and Is had been crossed and dotted. There are examples of this, particularly with streaming: a station launches their platform but only some TVs can actually download it. (Seems to me that stations always launch on Samsung TV months later).

Curious to know if Jim and Elliot's retirement are tied to all of the upheaval at CBS News and their O&O stations.

I can.

WETA has canceled PBS News Weekend and 34 staffers laid off The bureau at ASU will also be closed New weekend programs will be spun up, but pre-recorded during the week

WPMI itself still uses 15.1 as it is now the "Roar" feed on that channel. They essentially traded places with WEAR 3.2. This was just another legal maneuver to get "NBC 15" totally under Sinclair's control and away from Deerfield Media. And unlike most digital stations, WPMI actually broadcasts on Channel 15, so no PSIP is needed at all. The only remapping is WJTC 44.1's 1.0 feed since WJTC is a 3.0 station.

Bungled would be an understatement. Surely Sinclair could at the very least remap 3.2 as 15.1 to minimize confusion - at least as far as over the air viewers are concerned. Having 15.1 continue as something else while continuing to brand the NBC feed as NBC15 does nothing but further confuse viewers.

Several weeks after "NBC 15" moved from WPMI to WEAR 3.2, viewers are confused as hell... I wonder why? From the looks of things Sinclair has royally bungled this switch especially if the only way to watch NBC15 is in digital siberia on the main Xfinity service in Mobile (which was WEAR 3.2 while WPMI has always been on channel 11)

Found a video they posted on the KNOP YouTube. They are using CUEZ and are the first station to do it.

Morning anchor Jim Donovan has announced he will retire after 20+ years at KYW and nearly 40 years in TV news. His final broadcast is on December 19. https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/video/jim-donovan-announces-retirement-after-more-than-20-years-with-cbs-news-philadelphia/

Jimmy Kimmel’s Lifelong Friend and Jimmy Kimmel Live! Band Leader Cleto Escobedo Dies at 59: 'We Are Heartbroken'