FIVE MORE AFFILIATES BOOSTS FOX II REACH TO 40%

Fox’s MyNetworkTV announced today that it has landed five more affiliates: Raycom Media’s WUAB Cleveland, KFVE Honolulu and WBXH Baton Rouge, La..; Capitol Broadcasting’s WWWB Charlotte, N.C., and Mirage Media’s KPSE Palm Springs.

With the five additional affiliates, the new network is now cleared in 40% of the U.S. Aimed at the 18-49 demo, the network is scheduled to launch Sept. 5.

Of the five stations, only three are full-power stations. WBXH Baton Rouge is a Class A station; KPSE, a low-power station.

“I love the concept of MyNetworkTV’s business and programming model, and am betting on the unparalleled track record behind the MyNetworkTV leadership and News Corp,” said Raycom CEO Paul McTear. “This network’s station-friendly strategic plan presents a great long-term option for broadcasters and we couldn’t be happier to be affiliated with it in Cleveland, Baton Rouge and Honolulu.”

MyNetworkTV has also been cleared on ten stations owned and operated by Fox  and 17 stations of the Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Fox created MyNetworkTV after learning that nine of its stations will lose their UPN affiliations this fall because of the merger of UPN and The WB. The owners of the two networks, CBS and Time Warner, respectively, are merging them into The CW.

The CW and MyNetworkTV are now in a race to sign up affiliates so they can reach at least 90% of the country.