Subchannel Shuffle Begins following ION Sale

Several subchannel networks are now receiving full-power carriage in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and several other Upper Midwest markets following Scripps’ purchase of the ION network and its stations.

As Scripps had announced earlier this year, national networks owned by the company are being moved to the ION stations. The company is discontinuing ION’s former qubo, ION Plus, and ShopTV subchannel networks effective Feb. 28.

Scripps owns Court TV, Court TV Mystery, Grit, Bounce, and Laff. The networks are being moved as contracts with existing affiliates expire, upgrading from low-power stations in many cases.

Channel placement varies by market. According to listings at RabbitEars and TVTV and reports from viewers and a translator operator, the following changes have been made or are coming soon:

• KPXM St. Cloud-Minneapolis: Bounce 41.2, Grit 41.3, Mystery 41.4
• WPXE Kenosha-Milwaukee: Bounce 55.2, Court TV 55.3, Grit 55.4 (Court and Grit are also carried on Scripps’ WTMJ-TV)
• WTPX Antigo-Wausau: Grit 46.2, Mystery 46.3, Laff 46.4, Bounce 46.5
• KPXR Cedar Rapids: Grit 48.2, Bounce 48.3, Laff 48.4 (HC2’s KWKB Iowa City continues to carry the networks as well as of Feb. 28.)
• KFPX Newton-Des Moines: Court TV 39.2, Laff 39.3, Mystery 39.4

The main ION network continues on the stations’ DT1 channels.

KPXM is relayed on several TV translator systems outside of the Twin Cities metro area. The Selective TV system in Alexandria said it is considering new programming for LPTV channels that had already carried Bounce and Grit.