TV Talk: The CW programming moves to WPNT-TV

Although it’s yet to be officially announced, as expected, WPNT-TV Channel 22.1 is poised to become Pittsburgh’s new CW affiliate.

The station’s own online listings confirm the change in affiliation from My Network TV, a channel that airs reruns of broadcast network series (“Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Law Order: SVU,” “Dateline”) in prime time.

WPNT’s listings show CW programming as part of the station’s prime-time lineup beginning Sept. 1.

WPCW-TV, Channel 19, will have its last day as a CW affiliate Aug. 31 before going fully independent.

An official announcement of WPNT’s affiliation switch is expected in the coming days. Representatives for WPNT and The CW declined to comment.

It’s unclear if My Network TV will relocate to another channel in the Pittsburgh market.

The CW, previously a joint venture between CBS and Warner Bros., is now owned by Nexstar, which is attempting a makeover of The CW using a different business model that relies on less expensive programming with more streaming rights. The CW canceled all but one of its superhero series, “Superman & Lois,” and for fall will debut a schedule of programming largely imported from abroad, including two Canadian dramas, “The Spencer Sisters” and “Sullivan’s Crossing.” In July, The CW began airing the Biblical streaming series “The Chosen.”

The CW’s move to WPNT represents a homecoming of sorts. The CW is the successor network to The WB and UPN. Channel 22 was Pittsburgh’s WB affiliate from 1998-2006 and the market’s UPN station from 1995-98.

‘Alma’s Way’ returns

Pittsburgh-based Fred Rogers Productions’ animated PBS Kids series “Alma’s Way” debuts its second season at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 18 on WQED-TV with an episode guest starring U.S. Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor, who voices an animated version of herself in an episode written by series creator Sonia Manzano, who played Maria on “Sesame Street.”

“Alma’s Way” recently secured a grant from PNC Foundation to help support series-related engagement activities and “Be My Neighbor Days,” the community outreach event for FRP’s “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.”

Channel surfing

The AMPTP released its latest offer to striking screenwriters Tuesday night which the WGA said “failed to sufficiently protect writers,” accusing the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers of attempting “not to bargain, but to jam us.” … Former CBS drama “All Rise” returns with its final 10 episodes on OWN at 9 p.m. Sept. 16. … HBO Max renewed “Sex and the City” sequel series “And Just Like That…” for a third season. … Paramount+ will debut “Superpower,” a documentary film co-directed by actor Sean Penn about Ukraine’s fight to maintain its freedom from Russia, Sept. 18.