WTVA, home of the NBC affiliate in the Columbus-Tupelo-West Point, MS market (#133), will add the ABC TV network to its digital channel 9.2 Saturday morning. The current ABC station in the market WKDH will cease operations Friday night. WTVA already operated WKDH through a local marketing agreement, but today announced a long term deal with ABC bringing programming to the digital channel.

“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with WTVA coverage in the Columbus/Tupelo market,” said John Rouse, SVP of Affiliate Relations for ABC. “Local viewers will continue to be able to see all their favorite ABC and ESPN on ABC programs, including this Saturday’s 2012 Cowboys Classic featuring Michigan vs. Alabama.”

On its website, WKDH wrote, “It is with extreme regret, remorse, and disappointment that we must make the following announcement. Due to financial conditions in recent years, effective at 11:59 p.m. on August 31, 2012, WKDH will terminate operations for the foreseeable future.”

KSBW, the NBC-affiliate for the Monterery-Salinas-Santa Cruz market, is set to become an ABC-affiliate as well.  The Hearst-owned station announced on Monday that it will begin carrying ABC programming on its digital sub-channel.

Historically, viewers in the Central Coast region have relied on KNTV in nearby San Jose for its ABC programming.  Now, as the result of a new affiliation agreement, KSBW will carry ABC’s regular programming, as well as syndicated shows, on its 8.2 digital channel.  In addition to ABC shows, the station will broadcast KSBW’s newscasts on the sub-channel.

“The Central Coast has never had a local ABC affiliate. Now we can bring viewers NBC shows, plus the great line-up from ABC,” said Joseph Heston, KSBW’s president and GM.  “Best of all, the #1 rated newscast in our region, ‘KSBW Action News 8,’ will be seen on both channels.”
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