Stargazer, there will never ever ever ever ever be a new superstation. Repeat after me, "there will never be any new superstations". Once again just to make sure you and anyone else who was under the impression that there would be new superstations: "There will never be any new super stations".
Superstations are a relic of the past and only exist today because Congress has specifically exempt the 6 (now 5) super stations from copyright and SyndEx civil laws that would have otherwise made these stations unavailable outside their local markets.
Why are these stations specifically single out? Because before the crack down and enforcemnt of SyndEx and copyright laws (which existed before cable, but they were never enforced until programmers started feeling it in their pockets..the first major change goes back to 1984) these were already available throughout the country. There were dozens of superstations in 1984. Since then, no new superstations would ever be available. And any station that gave up superstation status could never reinstate it.
WTBS is not a superstation. WTBS is the sole broadcast affiliate to TBS Cable.
WGN TV 9 Chicago is still considered a superstation in the SHVIA, however WGN does not allow WGN 9 to be sold outside the Chicago area. Only WGN Superstation (a cable channel that shares about 60% of the programming schedule with its broadcast partner) is available outside Chicago.
Another thing to remember is that the 5 existing superstations were supersation well before UPN, WB and even Fox was thought of. These channels became popular because of the sports programming (particularly baseball) they offered WWOR used to be an independent NYC channel (Secaucus, NJ) with local programming and Mets baseball.
WGN showed every single Cubs game every season.
KTLA has the home for the Dodgers
WPIX was the Yankee's home.
KWGN... I have no idea, this was beore the Rockeys came about. But KWGN was a large regional independent channel.
The channels had shown baseball for DECADES! This was before the advent of 5800 sports channels that all want to charge a ton of money.
So... just to reveiw... repeat afte me, "There will never ever be a new superstation"
See ya
Tony