WNLO
A CW-affiliated television station serving Buffalo, New York, and surrounding markets.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WNLO is a television station licensed to Buffalo, New York, and serves as the Buffalo-area affiliate of The CW. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 23 and is operated alongside CBS affiliate WIVB-TV, with which it shares ownership, facilities, news operations, and transmission infrastructure. Its programming combines CW network shows with locally produced news, syndicated entertainment, sports, and selected CBS programming carried when WIVB-TV is unavailable or has scheduling conflicts. The station began broadcasting on May 13, 1987, as WNEQ-TV, a public television outlet affiliated with the educational broadcasting operation associated with WNED-TV. It was created as the second public television service in the Buffalo market after earlier plans for a broader statewide educational network were reduced because of financial and organizational constraints. WNEQ-TV initially operated with a limited schedule, generally beginning its broadcast day in the afternoon, and was carried by some cable systems in Western New York and Southern Ontario. The Buffalo market ultimately proved unable to sustain two financially pressured public television stations, leading to regulatory and ownership changes. In 2000, the Federal Communications Commission approved a restructuring that converted channel 23 from an educational license to a commercial license while assigning an educational license to channel 17. LIN Television then acquired the station, completed the transaction in March 2001, and relaunched it under the WNLO call sign as a general-entertainment independent station. The station soon developed a closer operational relationship with WIVB-TV, LIN's CBS affiliate, including WIVB-produced local newscasts and shared facilities. WNLO obtained Buffalo's UPN affiliation in 2003 after the network's arrangement with WNGS ended. Following the planned closure of UPN and The WB, WNLO became a charter affiliate of The CW when that network launched in September 2006. This positioned the station as a general-market entertainment and youth-oriented outlet while preserving its locally produced news presence. WNLO began carrying CW programming in high definition in November 2006 and launched an independent station website in 2007. The station has expanded its distribution and programming footprint over time. In 2010, it moved to a standardized channel position on Time Warner Cable systems across Western New York. In 2013, it added Bounce TV to a digital subchannel. Its sports portfolio has included Atlantic Coast Conference football and men's basketball, Buffalo Bisons minor-league baseball, and Buffalo Bandits lacrosse. WNLO has also carried CBS overnight and morning programming from WIVB-TV and serves as an alternate outlet for CBS programming when WIVB-TV cannot show it. WNLO's news identity is closely tied to WIVB-TV. A WIVB-produced 10 p.m. newscast began in 2001, and the station later added an extended weekday morning broadcast branded Wake Up! on CW 23. A local morning talk program, Winging It! Buffalo Style, briefly occupied part of the schedule. The 10 p.m. newscast expanded to one hour on weeknights in 2014, and WNLO added a 6:30 p.m. newscast in January 2018. WIVB's locally produced newscasts for WNLO began airing in high definition in 2012. Ownership changed when Media General acquired LIN Television in December 2014, followed by Nexstar Broadcasting Group's acquisition of Media General in 2017. In 2018–2019, WNLO and WIVB-TV undertook a major technical consolidation. WIVB-TV moved onto WNLO's spectrum after selling its previous spectrum in the Federal Communications Commission incentive auction, and both stations ultimately began transmitting from facilities in Colden, New York. WNLO remains an active CW station serving the Buffalo market under Nexstar ownership.
History
WNLO originated as WNEQ-TV, which signed on May 13, 1987, as a second public television station serving Buffalo. The station was operated under an educational license and was affiliated with the organization that also operated WNED-TV. Its channel 23 allocation had been associated with ambitious plans for a public broadcasting installation at the University at Buffalo, but financial limitations and institutional disagreements delayed and reduced those plans. WNEQ-TV eventually launched with a relatively short daily schedule, usually beginning broadcasts in the afternoon. The station's carriage extended beyond the immediate Buffalo area. During the 1990s, cable systems in parts of Hamilton and Niagara carried WNEQ-TV, and Rogers Cable later made it available on a digital tier in the Greater Toronto Area. However, the Buffalo market faced economic pressure from supporting two public television outlets. Both WNEQ-TV and WNED-TV experienced financial difficulties, and the educational foundation placed WNEQ-TV on the market. LIN Television, which owned Buffalo CBS affiliate WIVB-TV, sought to acquire channel 23 and operate it commercially. The educational license created regulatory complications, and proposals to exchange the commercial and educational status of channels 17 and 23 raised concerns about audience recognition and donor support. In 2000, the FCC approved a license restructuring that made channel 23 commercial while assigning channel 17 an educational license. LIN completed its purchase of WNEQ-TV in March 2001. After the transaction, channel 23 adopted the WNLO call sign and became a general-entertainment independent station. WIVB-TV took over much of its operational support and began producing a nightly 10 p.m. newscast for the station. In 2003, WNLO gained the Buffalo UPN affiliation after UPN's previous arrangement with WNGS ended. The station also developed a presence in Southern Ontario, where regulatory and cable-carriage arrangements affected how it was distributed. The creation of The CW and MyNetworkTV in 2006 reshaped the Buffalo television market. WNLO became the local CW affiliate when the network launched on September 18, 2006, while WNYO-TV became associated with MyNetworkTV. WNLO began airing CW programming in high definition later that year. The station launched its own website in 2007, separating its web presence from the WIVB-TV site. WNLO continued to adjust its distribution and programming. In 2010 it moved to a common channel position on Time Warner Cable systems in Western New York. It added Bounce TV to digital subchannel 23.2 in 2013. Sports became an important supplementary offering: WNLO carried an ACC football and men's basketball package, later acquired Buffalo Bisons minor-league baseball rights, and broadcast Buffalo Bandits lacrosse games. The station's local-news operation expanded under WIVB-TV production. A weekday morning extension branded Wake Up! on CW 23 began in 2009, while WNLO also briefly aired the locally produced program Winging It! Buffalo Style. The prime-time newscast was expanded to an hour on weeknights in 2014. WNLO's news broadcasts entered the high-definition era as part of WIVB-TV's 2012 local-news upgrade. In January 2018, WNLO added a 6:30 p.m. newscast as another local alternative to the market's national evening-news broadcasts. Corporate ownership changed in stages. Media General completed its acquisition of LIN Television in December 2014. Nexstar Broadcasting Group subsequently acquired Media General, placing WNLO within the Nexstar station group. A related technical transition followed the FCC broadcast-spectrum auction. WIVB-TV sold its existing spectrum and began using WNLO's physical transmission resources in 2018. During 2019, the stations completed their move to post-auction facilities in Colden, New York, and consolidated their transmission and operational arrangements. WNLO continues to operate as a Nexstar-owned CW affiliate for Buffalo and surrounding communities.
- 2019
WNLO and WIVB-TV complete shared-transmission transition
[1]The stations move to their post-auction transmission arrangement and transmit from facilities in Colden, New York.
- 2018
WNLO adds an early-evening newscast
[1]A WIVB-produced 6:30 p.m. newscast premieres on WNLO in January.
- 2012
WNLO news programming moves to high definition
[1]WIVB-TV's locally produced newscasts for WNLO are included in WIVB-TV's high-definition news upgrade.
- 2009
Wake Up! on CW 23 launches
[1]WNLO begins airing a weekday morning extension of WIVB-TV's local news programming.
- 2006
WNLO joins The CW
[1]WNLO becomes a charter CW affiliate when the network launches in September.
- 2003
WNLO becomes Buffalo's UPN affiliate
[1]The station obtains the local UPN affiliation after the network's agreement with WNGS expires.
- 2001
WNLO launches as a commercial station
[1]LIN Television completes its purchase of WNEQ-TV in March and relaunches it under the WNLO call sign.
- 2000
Channel 23 receives commercial-license approval
[1]The FCC approves a restructuring that converts channel 23 from educational to commercial use.
- 1987
WNEQ-TV signs on
[1]The station begins broadcasting on May 13 as Buffalo's second public television outlet.
Products and positioning
A locally focused CW affiliate and general-entertainment television outlet, differentiated by WIVB-TV-produced news, Western New York sports coverage, and shared Nexstar resources.
Network-affiliated television programming · 2006
CW network service
WNLO's primary programming service is the Buffalo-area feed of The CW. The affiliation began when the network launched in September 2006, following WNLO's period as a UPN affiliate. The service supplies scripted series, entertainment programming, specials, and other network content, complemented by local news and syndicated programs.
Broadcast journalism · 2001
Local news
WNLO carries local news produced by sister station WIVB-TV. Its schedule has included a weekday morning extension, a prime-time 10 p.m. newscast, weekend news, and a 6:30 p.m. early-evening broadcast. The service gives viewers a local-news alternative within a CW-affiliated schedule.
Sports broadcasting · 2015
WNLO sports programming
The station has carried several sports packages, including Atlantic Coast Conference football and men's basketball, Buffalo Bisons minor-league baseball, and Buffalo Bandits lacrosse. These rights complement the network schedule and provide locally relevant programming, particularly through Buffalo-area professional and minor-league teams.
Digital multicast television · 2013
Bounce TV on 23.2
WNLO added Bounce TV to its second digital subchannel in July 2013. The multicast service expanded the station's over-the-air offering beyond its primary CW programming.
Brand decisions
2018
Consolidate transmission resources with WIVB-TVStrategyBackground
WIVB-TV sold its existing spectrum in the FCC transition auction and needed a new post-auction transmission arrangement.
Action taken
WIVB-TV began using WNLO's physical channel resources, followed by a joint move to post-transition facilities in Colden, New York.
Aftermath
By 2019, WNLO and WIVB-TV had merged their transmission arrangements and fully consolidated related operations.
2006
Move from UPN to The CWStrategyBackground
UPN and The WB were scheduled to shut down as CBS and Time Warner created The CW, while another new service, MyNetworkTV, sought displaced affiliates.
Action taken
WNLO joined The CW at the network's September 2006 launch, while WNYO-TV became associated with MyNetworkTV.
Aftermath
WNLO established its long-term identity as Buffalo's CW affiliate and added high-definition CW programming later that year.
2000
Convert channel 23 from educational to commercial operationStrategyBackground
The Buffalo market struggled to support two public television outlets, while LIN Television sought to acquire channel 23 and operate it as a commercial station.
Action taken
The FCC approved a license restructuring under which channel 23 became commercial and channel 17 received an educational license, allowing LIN to purchase the station.
Aftermath
WNEQ-TV was sold to LIN in March 2001 and relaunched as WNLO, a general-entertainment commercial station.
Recent events
- 2019
WNLO and WIVB-TV consolidate transmission facilities[1]
Regulation
Following WIVB-TV's spectrum sale, WIVB-TV moved onto WNLO's spectrum, and the two stations completed a transition to shared transmission facilities in Colden, New York.
- 2018
WNLO launches a 6:30 p.m. local newscast[1]
Product launch
A half-hour early-evening newscast produced by WIVB-TV for WNLO premiered in January 2018.
- 2016
Nexstar announces acquisition of Media General[1]
M&A
Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced an agreement to acquire Media General, a transaction that ultimately placed WNLO under Nexstar ownership.
- 2014
Media General completes acquisition of LIN Television[1]
M&A
Media General completed its acquisition of LIN Television, bringing WNLO and WIVB-TV under Media General ownership.
- 2014
WNLO expands its weeknight prime-time newscast[1]
Product generation · Other
The WIVB-produced WNLO weeknight 10 p.m. newscast was expanded from 30 minutes to one hour.
- 2013
WNLO adds Bounce TV to its digital lineup[1]
Product launch
WNLO began carrying Bounce TV on digital subchannel 23.2, expanding its over-the-air programming portfolio.
- 2010
WNLO adds a standardized cable channel position in Western New York[1]
Other
The station moved to channel 11 on Time Warner Cable systems throughout Western New York after years of being carried on different channel positions.
- 2006
WNLO becomes a CW affiliate[1]
Product launch
WNLO joined The CW when the network launched after the planned shutdown of UPN and The WB, replacing its prior UPN affiliation.
Sources2 sources
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