I actually e-mailed them about this back when it first happened.
This is what I said:
Hi KCWI,
I have a friend that lives in your affiliate area. When I was talking to him recently, he seemed very upset that you had to keep pre-empting the end of the Toonzai block. It was mainly the episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's.
The problem that we're having is that some weeks, you don't air the episodes at all (this week for example).
It also seems like you don't inform people on when pre-empting will take place.
We've noticed that past episodes have been force to air very early, around 5 AM, the next morning. It seems that you also don't inform people that the episodes will air at that time either.
I'm asking, in a nice way, could you try to inform people when you will cut portion/s of the block and when you will air the episodes? Another idea is air the episodes after the event or to at least air them, at a more reasonable time.
I know you have rules to follow, but I just want to post my concern. I know that some other people might like to see the episodes too and I hope you're not upset.
Thanks and have a great day!
Their Response:
In the future we have our program schedule on our website which you can look at and we feel badly that we have to pre-empt sometimes for special programming...Sorry for the inconvenience...Also if you become a fan on our facebook page you will also get notified on special programming that might affect the shows you watch...Again sorry for the pre-empting and thanks for letting us know your concerns.
Thanks
I'm sorry, but this kind of thing really sets me off. It's one thing if you have to pre-empt it, but why can't a affiliate air it after or the next day ? Changing one/two paid programming slots is NOT going to drive you into the ground and it's not like it's a ratings killer. Plus, it's the CW. They're not having the most sports/event coverage out there.
Even NBC, for this weekend's French Open coverage, notifies when Qubo is pre-empted and when it will air. Can't the stations at least have that decency? Even ABC does this when they have to pre-empt their stuff.
I remember back when I learned FOX stations in Memphis and St. Louis pre-empted their blocks to 5 AM-9AM (for paid programming). I sometimes woke up at 4 or 5 and said, "Well, St. Louis/Memphis is airing 4Kids TV right now."
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