On New Year’s Eve 2001, KRON-4 ended 52 years of affiliation with the NBC television network, becoming an independent television station after NBC was unsuccessful in its attempt to buy the property. In September 2006, an alliance with MyNetwork TV was forged.
Today, KRON is a Nexstar Media Group property, thanks to its merger with Media General. With a decision by CBS News & Stations to end affiliation with The CW Network in multiple markets, that network — majority-controlled by Nexstar — is heading to KRON.
The switch from KBCW-44 is scheduled for Friday (9/1).
While that could bring more viewers, thanks in part to its new investment in sports as it moves away from young adult fare, bringing additional eyeballs to a station that has committed to being a local news leader is another hopeful result of the CW’s move to a Nexstar-owned station.
And, with the Sept. 1 affiliation shift, KRON-4 will add a 2pm hourlong newscast each weekday, while going against the “Big Three” with a 30-minute newscast at 11pm.
Jim Rose, the VP/General Manager at KRON, commented, “The growth and development of The CW Network is an exciting new opportunity for KRON. This allows us to serve the Bay Area with diverse new programming and top-tier live sporting events while expanding our local news product into new time periods.”
