Today, programming for the CW network in eastern Iowa moves from KWKB Channel 20.1 to KWWL Channel 7.2. KWKB will still be on the air, but taking over the “This TV” affiliation instead (or so Wikipedia says). At the same time, KWWL is nearing the end of a complete building renovation project.
It’s probably the biggest change in Iowa TV stations since the CW stations (KWKB and KCWI*) came on the air as WB stations. This is the first time in Iowa that a previously existing network has moved from a channel to a subchannel — KHQA and KTVO in far southeast Iowa picked up ABC/CBS secondary affiliations in 2007 and 2010 respectively, but those were additions to “in-between” coverage areas.
The TV landscape in Iowa has remained remarkably stable in the last 30 years, at least on the viewer’s end — stations have changed owners, and subchannels have been added in the digital era, but affiliations and call letters haven’t changed. The NFL-induced 1994 TV station realignment didn’t touch the state. The CW move here isn’t nearly the shakeup going on in Peoria right now.
Now I just have to remember which station I need to record “Supergirl” on. (Give us more female-driven shows! they said. Then “Agent Carter” was cancelled and “Supergirl” was pushed off CBS.)
*KCWI is still on Channel 23 despite now being partnered with WOI and not having its own local programming anymore.