CBS Moving to WUPA in Atlanta

[Hometown News 127]

On 8/10/2025 at 3:05 PM, TheRolyPoly said:

Finally, what y'all have been waiting for and curious to see, just like me... the weekday schedule for WANF and it is about to pump out a WHOLE LOT more news. Yes, its OnTVTonight again as my resource for this.

 

Monday, August 18th, WANF's first full day of a news-heavy independent schedule:

04:00-07:00 AM: ANF Early Edition (they're expanding to 4am to compete against WSB)

07:00-10:00 AM: ANF A.M. LIVE (the 9am goes back to an hour)

10:00-11:00 AM: ATL LIVE (new timeslot and expands to an hour)

11:00-11:30 AM: Inside Edition (the new episode will remain on WPCH)

11:30AM-12:00PM: Investigate TV+

12:00-01:00 PM: ANF News LIVE at 12 Noon (expands to an hour now that it doesn't have to worry about CBS Daytime anymore)

01:00-02:00 PM: ATL LIVE (repeat)

02:00-03:00 PM: Local News LIVE

03:00-04:00 PM: ANF News LIVE at 3:00 (going back to an hour on WANF proper though its been that way on WPCH for quite some time now ever since Investigate TV+ premiered on syndie)

04:00-06:30 PM: ANF News LIVE

06:30-07:00 PM: ANF First Alert Weather Extra (yep, they're getting their own 30-minute all-weather program just like a handful of other Gray sisters out there, i.e. KCTV and WBRC)

07:00-07:30 PM: ANF News LIVE at 7:00

07:30-09:00 PM: The Big Bang Theory (x3)

09:00-10:00 PM: ANF News LIVE at 9:00 (the primetime newscast it once had, for WPCH, is back and on WANF proper)

10:00-11:30 PM: ANF News LIVE (no word if WPCH will continue to simulcast WANF's 6-9am, noon, 3, and 10pm newscasts)

11:30PM-12:00AM: ANF Sports Overtime (new to WANF proper but just like what KTVK/KPHO is doing with The Extra Point plus WANF has done this on streaming for some time too)

12:00-12:30 AM: Young Sheldon

12:30-01:00 AM: The Conners

01:00-01:30 AM: ANF News LIVE at 11:00 (repeat)

01:30-02:00 AM: ANF Sports Overtime (repeat)

02:00-03:00 AM: Georgia High School Sports Daily (from PSN: Peachtree Sports Network)

03:00-04:00 AM: Law and Order: SVU

 

This is insane. I guess they don't realize this, but the audience they're angling for with a schedule like this is already glued to CNN or FOX News all day. Those people aren't going to flip away from the national politics they're obsessed with to watch hours of local news instead. All they'll end up doing is overworking their anchors, reporters and staff for diminishing returns until they either leave or quit.

 

Again, with this new round of affiliation changes, there needs to be a better alternative for the stations left behind than either the bottom-of-the-barrel syndicated slop or hours of redundant local news on a loop.

Edited August 11, 2025 by Hometown News

[mre29 1967]

25 minutes ago, Hometown News said:

This is insane. I guess they don't realize this, but the audience they're angling for with a schedule like this is already glued to CNN or FOX News all day. Those people aren't going to flip away from the national politics they're obsessed with to watch hours of local news instead. All they'll end up doing is overworking their anchors, reporters and staff for diminishing returns until they either leave or quit.

 

Again, with this new round of affiliation changes, there needs to be a better alternative for the stations left behind than either the bottom-of-the-barrel syndicated slop or hours of redundant local news on a loop.

 

So, something like...another network? 

 

I think what's needed is a service that can provide a wide variety of programming with flexibility that allows stations to determine their own schedules.

 

[MediaZone4K 2661]

9 hours ago, mre29 said:

 

So, something like...another network? 

 

I think what's needed is a service that can provide a wide variety of programming with flexibility that allows stations to determine their own schedules.

 

Im interested in that idea.

 

As for how stations can avoid basic newscasts in the absence of syndicated programming, I think Fox O&Os have tried to answer that.

 

WTTG with Lion Lunch hour, KRIV with various local talk shows like The Isiah Facotor, and KCPQ with a statewide newscast. Granted some of these programs are not fantastic (Wake Up With Sally Mac and Lina, Chatting with Chelsea KRIV). I still, however, appreciate the effort.

Edited August 12, 2025 by MediaZone4K

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

With just days to go before their Independence Day, WANF has finally posted their plans, telling you what I've already told you but there's some new wrinkles in there.

 

TL;DR

• Sounds like ATL Live will be two hours, both new, one at 10am and another at 1pm.
• On The Record is their new politics show on Sundays at 11am.
• WANF will even have a 7pm newscast on Saturdays.
• Uncovered: ANF Investigates, the local Investigate TV+ weekly version (let's be honest here), will air Sundays at 7pm.
• Atlanta Eats moves from WPCH to WANF on Saturdays at 8pm.
• One-on-One with Monica Pearson moves from WPCH to WANF on Sundays at 8pm.
• WANF will even have weekend news at 9pm on top of the 10 and 11pm news I've already mentioned in previous posts.

https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2025/08/12/anf-unveils-new-programming-with-expanded-local-news-political-show-investigations/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMJwGpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHizTHCSEcDM7l_7iudkrV7MzraI7A8bTrZIijDJMHzADUNVIN1vsnFWgA-GS_aem_9zQ3US4YRDdB2BfyNUAoRw

[Georgie56 3661]

CBS is building out the news and weather team for WUPA.

 

Additionally, there will be local weather updates during CBS Mornings at launch.

[MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie 1158]

1 hour ago, Georgie56 said:

CBS is building out the news and weather team for WUPA.

 

Additionally, there will be local weather updates during CBS Mornings at launch.

I had a feeling Troy Bridges was just at WWJ to fill-in and learn the systems before moving to WUPA.

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

On 8/11/2025 at 2:48 PM, mre29 said:

 

So, something like...another network? 

MyNetworkTV basically.  A branding package and a programming block that can be aired as is, bounced around, or split in half.

 

WATL tried the primetime news and it failed.  How bad were the ratings?

[GoldenShine_10 263]

As far as WANF, they should also look at shows focused on the entire state of Georgia, perhaps a state legislature weekly on Sunday and opportunities to use locally-produced non-news programs in the future, airing them on the other stations they have in Augusta, Savannah, Albany, Macon, Tallahassee* and Columbus (and, if they can acquire, Chattanooga* and Jacksonville*)

 

* probably in part, since they would need to share with adjacent states.

[T.L. Hughes 958]

On 8/10/2025 at 5:35 PM, Rusty Muck said:

In any event, PLG will inevitably lose Live to WSVN .2 and WoF/J! goes away entirely next year. So by 2026 it'll be all shovelware news with diminishing returns for ratings.

This comment completely ignores that KTVK (also an independent) airs both Wheel and Jeopardy!.

On 8/10/2025 at 7:10 PM, ATLNewsExpert said:

This is kind of disappointing, on what world does Atlanta need an hour and a half of TBBT? Something smarter would have been to make the 6:00 an hour long, and move the weather show to 7:30, and then air an hour of LNL at 8.

Where are they getting the extra Big Bang episode? Last I checked, Warner Bros. distributes only two episodes per day for their weekday and weekend runs (ten total across the weekday runs and four for weekends, with stations getting the option of only running two of the weekend episodes either Saturday or Sunday).

On 8/11/2025 at 2:07 PM, Hometown News said:

This is insane. I guess they don't realize this, but the audience they're angling for with a schedule like this is already glued to CNN or FOX News all day. Those people aren't going to flip away from the national politics they're obsessed with to watch hours of local news instead. All they'll end up doing is overworking their anchors, reporters and staff for diminishing returns until they either leave or quit.

Ironically, although it is indicative of how much the syndication market has downturned lately, stations like WPLG, KTLA, KVVU and WANF have regional cable news channels (past and present, from NY1 to Bay News 9 to CLTV) as baselines for expanding news to fill their broadcast days to make up for the lack of adequate entertainment programming available on the market.

Edited August 14, 2025 by T.L. Hughes

[Rusty Muck 4688]

14 hours ago, T.L. Hughes said:

This comment completely ignores that KTVK (also an independent) airs both Wheel and Jeopardy!.

Which KTVK will also lose next year. Sony is pulling both shows from OTA when they go to streaming.

14 hours ago, T.L. Hughes said:

Ironically, although it is indicative of how much the syndication market has downturned lately, stations like WPLG, KTLA, KVVU and WANF have regional cable news channels (past and present, from NY1 to Bay News 9 to CLTV) as baselines for expanding news to fill their broadcast days to make up for the lack of adequate entertainment programming available on the market.

It's the equivalent of waving a white flag and Ned Flanders' parents whining, "we've tried nothing and run out of ideas!"

 

Just because excessive news worked for WHDH—which largely capitalized on Cox's neutering of WFXT and NBC Boston's newscasts struggling to get off the ground—does not guarantee the same success anywhere else. WPLG will inevitably suffer from diminishing returns (again, being in a billingual market) and WANF is headed down an unsustainable path because they've never been competitive. If Gray gets Cox before Sinclair can and merges WANF into WSB, problem solved!

Edited August 15, 2025 by Rusty Muck

[T.L. Hughes 958]

25 minutes ago, Rusty Muck said:

Which KTVK will also lose next year. Sony is pulling both shows from OTA when they go to streaming.

No, they are not. The streaming windows are day-after-air. Sony acknowledged they are separate arrangements from the syndication pacts.

Edited August 15, 2025 by T.L. Hughes

[Rusty Muck 4688]

Comparing WPLG to KTVK c. 1994 is deeply flawed. KTVK at least tried to do unique things besides shovelware news when they lost ABC. They actually tried to do things. WPLG isn't trying by adding unsustainable levels of local news and doing a cheap xerox of WNT, and that's because of lazy programming and being owned (for now) by a faceless holding company.

 

WANF isn't even giving the illusion of trying, they're just dumping hours and hours of low-rated news in hopes that a dozen people watch at 2pm or 3am. It won't work.

 

Again, lazy programming is what is causing this, not because of viewer demand.

[DefinitelyIan 11]

WANF’s first day as an independent off to a great start. 

[ATLNewsExpert 508]

Interesting note, I looked at the new WUPA schedule, it seems they are opting to air CBS Mornings +, but not CBS Evening News +. The noon, six, and 11 slots are filled in with Family Feud for the time being. Family Feud also airs at 7, which was already on the schedule.

 

Tamron Hall is moving from WSB to WUPA, same time, at 3pm. I don't recall if anything has been said on what the newscast slots will be, but 4pm and 5pm are currently slated to be Judge Mathis and People's Court reruns.

 

Jericka Duncan also wished the station luck during the final minutes of tonight's Weekend News.

Edited August 17, 2025 by ATLNewsExpert

[MediaZone4K 2661]

22 minutes ago, ATLNewsExpert said:

Interesting note, I looked at the new WUPA schedule, they it seems are opting to air CBS Mornings +, but not CBS Evening News +. The noon, six, and 11 slots are filled in with Family Feud for the time being. Family Feud also airs at 7, which was already on the schedule.

 

Tamron Hall is moving from WSB to WUPA, same time, at 3pm. I don't recall if anything has been said on what the newscast slots will be, but 4pm and 5pm are currently slated to be Judge Mathis and People's Court reruns.

 

Jericka Duncan also wished the station luck during the final minutes of tonight's Weekend News.

Lack of local news aside, the WUPA schedule is pretty decent. Now do they actually need a news department? Would that be profitable for them?

[AmericanErrorist 267]

cbsatlanta dot com now redirects to the CBS News Atlanta landing page.

[Hometown News 127]

On 8/15/2025 at 6:07 PM, Rusty Muck said:

Comparing WPLG to KTVK c. 1994 is deeply flawed. KTVK at least tried to do unique things besides shovelware news when they lost ABC. They actually tried to do things.

 

Independence was also the last resort for KTVK after losing ABC. They wanted CBS, didn't get it, and had to settle for going indy. And that was at a much healtheir time for linear TV and certainly a much stronger market for syndicated programming to fill a schedule with. They were able to spend $100 million to get shows people actually wanted to watch. Nowadays, it doesn't even matter how much money you can spend on syndication, it's all the same copy-pasted court shows, game shows, and Big Bang reruns no matter where you look.

 

These stations nowadays who are just shrugging off the loss of their affiliations like it's nothing because they think they can be "CNN, but local" are delusional about their place in the current American media landscape and the way the average American consumes news.

 

On 8/14/2025 at 3:34 PM, tyrannical bastard said:

MyNetworkTV basically.  A branding package and a programming block that can be aired as is, bounced around, or split in half.

 

I'd argue that the exact opposite is necessary. A new network would have to program a lot more of the day's schedule than MNTV does, given how weak syndication is nowadays. If anything, it'd need to look more like Ion, but with more variety than Ion's endless NCIS and FBI reruns.

Edited August 17, 2025 by Hometown News

[Rusty Muck 4688]

On 8/16/2025 at 7:51 PM, MediaZone4K said:

Lack of local news aside, the WUPA schedule is pretty decent. Now do they actually need a news department? Would that be profitable for them?

Local news equals more political ad revenue (at least until the political parties and SuperPACs realize spending endless amounts of advertising time on linear television is not an effective strategy). It's why WUPA is doing news so soon and why Gray's bar for success at WANF will be set impossibly low.

[Georgie56 3661]

The first-ever weather update on CBS Atlanta:

 

 

[nathannah 2792]

On 8/7/2025 at 7:51 PM, nathannah said:

What may happen is once CBS goes dark, it either goes to an FAQ about the switchover, or a 'CBS has moved to channel 69, (pagelink)' statement. You have to assume since this switchover was more expected, that Gray and CBS agreed to a proper handover as part of their new affiliation agreement without Atlanta and there won't be the 'New York ivory tower' attitude you heard from WPLG their first day, which is just not the 'Gray style'.

We found out what would happen, and it was exactly that; cbsatlanta.com goes to cbsnews.com/atlanta/, so the gentlemanly thing was indeed done (including on their final newscast as a CBS affiliate).

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

YouTube TV is still carrying WANF.  However you have to re-add the channel since CBS is now WUPA.  Since that's an existing station with prior carriage, no action should be needed.

 

They're also carrying the Peachtree Sports Network in addition to WPCH.

Edited August 19, 2025 by tyrannical bastard

[Georgie56 3661]

CBS News Atlanta debuts September 15th. They’ll start with 6pm and 11pm newscasts.

Edited September 9, 2025 by Georgie56

[nathannah 2792]

CBS Mornings had David Begnaud on this morning from Atlanta to show the news operation's staff and AR studio; no clip yet up on YouTube, I'll make sure to post it when it does go up (which was posted below, thank you!).

Edited September 15, 2025 by nathannah

[Georgie56 3661]

58 minutes ago, nathannah said:

CBS Mornings had David Begnaud on this morning from Atlanta to show the news operation's staff and AR studio; no clip yet up on YouTube, I'll make sure to post it when it does go up.

Beat ya.

 

 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

1 hour ago, Georgie56 said:

Beat ya.

 

 

 

Boy does that building look small for a news department. Yet, they made it happen.