[sky303]

They are dropping the 8 and 9pm news hours indeed, but they are however filling these gaps with afternoon news at 2pm and a 11pm half-hour broadcast:

www.nexttv.com 

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There is speculation over at TVNewsTalk.net that Nexstar might bring back the CW affiliation to WGN (from Weigel-owned WCIU). According to the FCC licensing portal, their agreement with 26 ends in September next year (one year from now).



For context...  WGN dropped The CW in the first place so it wouldn’t have to continually reschedule CW programming to other timeslots as “makegoods”, so it could air Cubs, White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks games, live and continuously in prime time, followed by its late night news block; this had been the case since The WB affiliated with channel 9 back in 1995. However, since dropping the CW, all teams have left WGN in favour of cable, with the Cubs partnering with Sinclair/Bally Sports to launch the Marquee Sports Network, and the White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks signing exclusivity deals with NBC Sports Chicago and WMAQ.

variety.com 

This led to WGN scrambling to fill the gaps left by these moves, by increasing the number of original local shows, off-network reruns and more local news; they also got a pack of Chicago Fire MLS local rights (until Apple TV+ took over). Ironically, WGN began airing LIV Golf after WCIU declined to air them citing a strong syndicated off-network programming line-up on weekends, plus popular coverage of Illinois High School Association sport events. Now, WGN will air the Raycom ACC package due to the same reasons already mentioned.

11pm is a return for them, they had that up until a few years ago when they moved to ten. They kept it even after the NBC split.