YouTube TV has added 2 new CW network affiliates into its streaming service. The additions include WJET-DT2 in Erie, Pennsylvania, and WETM-DT2 in Elmira, New York. This expansion enhances the platform's appeal to cord-cutters in these mid-sized markets, where access to network affiliates has long been a sticking point for streaming enthusiasts. By incorporating these channels, YouTube TV now reaches deeper into the heartland, offering viewers a richer mix of syndicated programming, sports highlights, and community-focused content that defines the CW brand.
The decision comes at a pivotal time for YouTube TV, which has been aggressively scaling its local offerings to compete with traditional cable providers and rivals like Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV. Launched in 2017 as Alphabet's entry into the live TV streaming arena, the service has grown from a modest lineup of about 50 channels to over 100, with a heavy emphasis on ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC affiliates in major metros. However, smaller markets like Erie and Elmira -- regions often overlooked by national streamers -- have seen slower progress. WJET-DT2, a digital subchannel operated by Nexstar Media Group, serves as the CW outlet for the Erie area, a lakefront city of around 95,000 residents nestled between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Similarly, WETM-DT2, also under Nexstar's umbrella, delivers CW programming to the Southern Tier of New York, a rural expanse dotted with finger lakes and small towns totaling about 90,000 people in the Elmira-Corning combined statistical area.
These channels bring a treasure trove of CW staples to YouTube TV subscribers in their respective footprints. Expect episodes of long-running favorites like "The Flash" reruns, "Supernatural" marathons, and the network's signature wrestling broadcasts from WWE's NXT series. Beyond scripted fare, the affiliates localize the feed with regional news inserts, weather updates tailored to lake-effect snow patterns in Erie, and high school sports coverage that resonates in Elmira's tight-knit communities. For instance, WJET-DT2 frequently airs Erie SeaWolves minor league baseball games, while WETM-DT2 spotlights Cornell University athletics and local harvest festivals. This blend of national polish and grassroots flavor underscores why CW affiliates remain vital in non-metro areas, where over-the-air signals still dominate household TV consumption.
From a technical standpoint, the rollout appears seamless, leveraging YouTube TV's cloud-based infrastructure to geolocate and authenticate streams without requiring additional hardware. Subscribers in the Erie and Elmira zip codes will notice the channels popping up automatically in their guide, slotted alongside existing locals like WJET's primary ABC feed and WETM's NBC main channel. The platform's base package, priced at $82.99 monthly, includes these additions at no extra cost, aligning with YouTube TV's strategy of bundling value to retain its 8 million-plus subscribers. Industry analysts view this as a low-risk win for Google, which benefits from increased ad inventory on these subchannels -- CW programming often features lighter ad loads, but targeted streaming placements could juice revenue from regional advertisers like auto dealers and grocery chains.
This expansion isn't isolated; it fits into a broader pattern of YouTube TV nibbling away at cable's market share. Just last quarter, the service added Gray Television affiliates in several Midwest markets, and whispers suggest more CW and MyNetworkTV pickups could follow in the Dakotas and upstate New York. For Nexstar, the parent company behind both WJET and WETM, the deal represents a diversification play. As one of the largest station owners in the U.S., Nexstar has pivoted hard toward streaming retransmission fees, negotiating carriage with platforms like YouTube TV to offset declining linear ad dollars.