We are calling on Warner Bros. Discovery to officially revive The WB Television Network and save the future of broadcast television drama!

The current landscape of free, broadcast television is rapidly shifting. On August 1, 2026, a massive network-affiliate shakeup will officially take place. Nexstar Media Group, which now fully controls and owns The CW Network, dropped its CBS affiliations across multiple markets to make room for its owned stations to carry The CW. Consequently, CBS is switching its affiliations from Nexstar to Hearst Television and Forum Communications. Meanwhile, on this exact same date, several former CW affiliate stations are choosing to strip network ties altogether and become entirely independent broadcasters.

The Death of the Original CW Network

The CW that fans loved for nearly two decades is completely gone. Originally formed on September 18, 2006, as a proud merger between The WB and UPN, the network was built on character-driven, young-adult storytelling. Today, under Nexstar's corporate strategy, The CW has transformed into a network that relies heavily on low-cost reality TV, cheap unscripted content, and live sports.

The final remnant of the golden era—All American—is currently airing its eighth and final season on the network, signaling the definitive end of homegrown scripted blockbusters on The CW.

Why We Need The WB Back Under Mark Pedowitz

CBS is now securely positioned under the Paramount Skydance Corporation banner. It is time for Warner Bros. Discovery to step up and rescue the audience that Nexstar left behind. We demand that WBD resurrect The WB Television Network to act exactly like the classic, beloved eras of The WB and the pre-2022 CW.

To ensure its creative and commercial success, we demand that Mark Pedowitz be appointed as Network President. As the former head of The CW, Pedowitz championed creators, loved genres, and built the iconic DC Arrowverse franchise.

Our Demands to Warner Bros. Discovery:

• Revive The WB: Re-launch the brand as a premier broadcast network destination.

• Appoint Mark Pedowitz: Bring back the executive who genuinely understands script-driven fandoms.

• Return to High-Quality Scripted TV: Build a brand-new slate of original prime-time dramas, reality television, and workplace/family comedies.

• Bring Back the DC Arrowverse: Revive, reboot, or continue the beloved DC Comics superhero television universe under its original creative spirit.

🧸 The Return of Kids’ WB! — Programming & Broadcast Schedule

To complete the revival of The WB Network under Mark Pedowitz, we propose bringing back the legendary Kids’ WB! children’s programming block. This block will feature a modern, multi-platform lineup powered by Warner Bros. Discovery’s massive animation library, airing across three distinct dayparts.

⏰ Master Broadcast Schedule (Eastern Time)

• Weekday Mornings (7:00 AM – 8:00 AM): Kids’ WB! Jr.
• Weekday Afternoons (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM): Kids’ WB! presents The AfterToons Show
• Saturday Mornings (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM): Kids’ WB! flagship block

📺 Block Breakdown & Animation Lineup

🌅 Weekday Mornings: Kids’ WB! Jr. (7:00 AM – 8:00 AM ET)

• Target Audience: Preschoolers.
  
• Content Strategy: This dedicated early-morning hour will air high-quality Cartoonito programming to give parents a trusted, educational broadcast destination for young children before the school day begins.

🎒 Weekday Afternoons: The AfterToons Show (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET)

• Target Audience: School-aged children and teenagers.
• Content Strategy: Bridging the gap between school and evening, this block revives the classic after-school cartoon tradition. It will feature action, comedy, and premium animated hits from top-tier studios.

🪐 Saturday Mornings: Kids’ WB! Flagship Block (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET)

• Target Audience: All-ages animation fans.

• Content Strategy: A massive four-hour weekend event showcasing premier original series, nostalgic revivals, and current fan favorites.

🎨 Studio Partnerships & Content Sources

The revived block will serve as the exclusive free, over-the-air home for the best animation in the world, sourcing premium content from:

• Warner Bros. Animation: DC Superhero series, Looney Tunes, and classic franchise revivals.

• Cartoon Network Studios: Current hit original series and modern animated comedies.

• Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe: Innovative global co-productions and fresh takes on classic properties.

• Cartoon Network Acquisitions: Select popular third-party acquired shows currently anchoring the cable network.

📋 Strategic Network Realignment Plan: Launching The WB Revival & Optimizing The CW

To successfully revive The WB Network under the leadership of Mark Pedowitz while maintaining robust national coverage for The CW, we propose a comprehensive affiliation restructuring. This plan outlines an agreement between Nexstar Media Group and CBS News and Stations across core markets, alongside specific channel-by-channel programming adjustments.

📍 Core Market Station Swaps (Nexstar & CBS)

In these major markets, The WB takes over the primary Nexstar channels, while The CW moves over to CBS-owned stations:

• San Francisco, CA
  • The WB: Launches on KRON-TV (Channel 4.1) (Nexstar).
  • The CW: Moves back to KPYX (Channel 44.1) (CBS).
• Philadelphia, PA
  • The WB: Returns to WPHL-TV (Channel 17.1) (Nexstar).
  • The CW: Moves back to WPSG (Channel 57.1) (CBS).
• Seattle, WA
  • The WB: Launches on KUNS-TV (Channel 51.1) (Sinclair).
  • The CW: Moves back to KSTW (Channel 11.1) (CBS).
• Atlanta, GA
  • The WB: Launches on WPCH-TV (Channel 17.1) (Gray).
  • The CW: Moves to WUPA (Channel 69.2) (CBS).

⏱️ Flagship Markets: Dual-Affiliation & Primetime Scheduling

In the nation's largest markets, Nexstar's powerhouse stations will carry both networks using a unique daypart split to prioritize The WB in primetime:

• New York City (WPIX 11.1), Los Angeles (KTLA 5.1), & Chicago (WGN-TV 9.1)
  • The CW (Primary Status): Remains technically primary but its primetime lineup is shifted to late-night slots.
  • The WB (Secondary Status): Broadcasts its brand-new lineup during actual, high-value primetime hours.

🔄 Regional Market Adjustments & Multicast Reshuffling

• Sacramento, CA
  • KQCA (Channel 58.1): Drops The CW entirely. The WB becomes the new primary affiliate, while MyNetworkTV remains as a secondary affiliate.
  • KTXL (Channel 40): The CW moves to digital subchannel 40.2. To accommodate this, Antenna TV shifts over to subchannel 40.5.
• Pittsburgh, PA
  • WPNT (Channel 22.1): Strips both The CW and MyNetworkTV from its main channel to become a dedicated affiliate for The WB.
  • WPGH-TV (Channel 53.1): Fox remains the primary network, but the station adds MyNetworkTV as a secondary affiliate to clear its programming.

⚙️ Nationwide Non-Nexstar Station Blueprint

To maintain full coverage across the rest of the United States, non-Nexstar stations will transition via a flexible two-network model:

• Subchannel Displacements: Where The CW is dropped by non-Nexstar stations, local Nexstar stations will pick up The CW on an available digital subchannel.

• Primary vs. Secondary Clearances: Non-Nexstar stations nationwide that swap out The CW will replace it with The WB on their main channel, shifting The CW to a subchannel. Stations keeping The CW on 1.1 will launch The WB on their secondary digital subchannel.

 

With so many local stations across the country becoming independent on August 1, 2026, there is an abundant supply of local broadcast channels hungry for a new network affiliation. The audience is waiting, the stations are open, and the scripts are ready.

Sign this petition to tell Warner Bros. Discovery to bring back The WB!