Editing WNUV (section)

===Affiliations with UPN and The WB===
WBFF–WNUV management opted to affiliate channel 54 with the United Paramount Network ([[UPN]]) over [[The WB]] when both networks began in January 1995 because UPN had more conventional affiliation agreements, specifying network compensation payments, than The WB. That network was forced to settle for coverage on local cable systems and a low-power UHF station, [[WMJF-CD|Towson State Television]].<ref name="Balt950115">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123011758/two-networks-debut-this-week-in-baltimor/|date=January 15, 1995|pages=1H, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123011737/upn-two-new-networks-take-to-the-air-a/ 3H]|first=Steve|last=McKerrow|title=Two networks debut this week in Baltimore area|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 17, 2023|archive-date=April 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417051844/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123011758/two-networks-debut-this-week-in/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

However, on July 21, 1997, Sinclair signed an affiliation agreement with The WB to switch the affiliations of WNUV and four other UPN affiliates to the network.<ref>{{cite news|first=Steve|last=McClellan|title=WB woos and wins Sinclair|id={{ProQuest|1016966796}}|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1997/BC-1997-07-21.pdf|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|date=July 21, 1997|access-date=June 8, 2013|pages=4, 8|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111095533/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1997/BC-1997-07-21.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The move put UPN on the back foot; the network contested the validity of the action in Maryland courts, where it lost twice.<ref name="Balt980113">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104005436/appellate-court-allows-wnuv-shift-to-war/|date=January 13, 1998|page=3C|first=Andrea F.|last=Siegel|title=Appellate court allows WNUV shift to Warner|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 17, 2023|archive-date=April 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417051840/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104005436/appellate-court-allows-wnuv-shift-to/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> WNUV became a WB affiliate on January 18, 1998. One of UPN's corporate parents, [[United Television]], acquired home shopping outlet WHSW (channel 24) and hastily relaunched it as UPN affiliate [[WUTB]] to give the network a continued presence in Baltimore.<ref name="Balt971114">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48581123/hsn-agrees-to-sell-ch-24-to-calif-firm/|date=November 14, 1997|page=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48581095/ 8C]|first=Greg|last=Schneider|title=HSN agrees to sell Ch. 24 to Calif firm|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|location=Baltimore, Maryland|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 18, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619000155/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48581123/hsn-agrees-to-sell-ch-24-to-calif-firm/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40790292/|work=Baltimore Sun|access-date=April 12, 2020|title=Getting a new channel up to speed|first=Chris|last=Kaltenbach|date=January 25, 1998|page=10F|location=Baltimore, Maryland|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=April 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417051910/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40790292/getting-a-new-channel-up-to-speed/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The relationship between Sinclair and Glencairn received renewed attention in 1999, when the company sought to acquire more stations and the FCC detected contradictions in its financial representations. By this time, Edwards only owned three percent of Glencairn's equity, with the rest being held by Carolyn Smith and trusts for the benefit of her grandchildren.<ref>{{cite news|last=Farhi|first=Paul|title=Station Owner Accused of Fronting for Another Firm|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1999/04/10/station-owner-accused-of-fronting-for-another-firm/8e242c7d-d45c-4d33-b6ee-b469862eb693/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 10, 1999|access-date=September 11, 2018|archive-date=October 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024192103/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1999/04/10/station-owner-accused-of-fronting-for-another-firm/8e242c7d-d45c-4d33-b6ee-b469862eb693/|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2001, Sinclair was fined $40,000 by the FCC for illegally controlling Glencairn.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/fcc-fines-sinclair-glencairn-control-90604|title=FCC fines Sinclair for Glencairn control|first=Bill|last=McConnell|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=December 10, 2001|access-date=June 5, 2022|archive-date=March 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320052121/https://www.nexttv.com/news/fcc-fines-sinclair-glencairn-control-90604|url-status=live}}</ref> Sinclair filed to acquire WNUV outright from the company, renamed Cunningham Broadcasting, in 2002;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/tv-deals-2002-top-25-bottom-69525|title=TV Deals of 2002: From Top 25 to Bottom|date=April 6, 2003|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=April 17, 2023|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420172843/https://www.nexttv.com/news/tv-deals-2002-top-25-bottom-69525|url-status=live}}</ref> it attempted again in 2003, when it appeared that the FCC would remove a restriction only allowing new duopolies in markets with more than eight independent TV station owners (which Baltimore lacked).<ref>{{Cite news|first=Rachel|last=Sams|date=November 21, 2003|title=Sinclair moves to acquire WB54|work=Baltimore Business Journal|id={{ProQuest|230346913}} }}</ref>

In 2006, The WB and [[UPN]] were shut down and replaced with [[The CW]], which offered programming from both predecessor networks. However, Sinclair was late to sign an agreement with the network.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seid |first=Jessica |date=January 24, 2006 |title='Gilmore Girls' meet 'Smackdown'; CW Network to combine WB, UPN in CBS-Warner venture beginning in September |url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ |website=[[CNN Money]] |publisher=CNN |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=March 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316043531/http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=January 24, 2006 |title=UPN and WB to Combine, Forming New TV Network |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017035638/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl |url-status=live }}</ref> The news of the merger resulted in Sinclair announcing, two months later, that most of its UPN and WB affiliates would join [[MyNetworkTV]], a new service formed by the [[News Corporation]], which was also owner of the Fox network; the core stations for this effort were Fox's UPN stations, including WUTB.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/102922-News_Corp_Unveils_My_Network_TV.php|title=News Corp. Unveils MyNetworkTV|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=February 22, 2006|access-date=June 15, 2013|archive-date=April 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417165134/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/102922-News_Corp_Unveils_My_Network_TV.php|url-status=live}}</ref> It was not until May 2, 2006, that Sinclair entered into a deal to affiliate WNUV and five other stations it operated with The CW.<ref name="Balt060503">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104006099/sinclairs-wnuv-to-air-new-cw-network-in/|date=May 3, 2006|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104006130/sinclairs-wnuv-will-air-new-cw-network/ 3C]|first=David|last=Zurawik|author-link=David Zurawik|title=Sinclair's WNUV to air new CW network in fall|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 17, 2023|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619000254/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104006099/sinclairs-wnuv-to-air-new-cw-network/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed -->