Circle Country

Circle Country

Type	OTT platform (Country music, rural/blue collar programming)
Country	United States
Broadcast area	Nationwide coverage: 100% [1]
Headquarters	Nashville, Tennessee
Programming
Language(s)	English
Picture format	1080i (HDTV)
Ownership
Owner	PowerNation
Parent	Gray Television
History
Founded	April 24, 2019;4 years ago (2019-04-24)
Launched	As a OTA channel: January 1, 2020;4 years ago (2020-01-01) As a FAST streaming channel: January 1, 2024;2 months ago (2024-01-01)
Closed	As a OTA channel: December 31, 2023;2 months ago (2023-12-31) [2]
Former names	Circle (2020–2023)
Links
Website	circleallaccess.com circlecountry.com
Availability
Streaming media
Service(s)	Circle Now App, FuboTV, Peacock, Roku Channel Live TV, Samsung TV Plus, Sling Freestream, Tubi, Vizio WatchFree

Circle Country, previously known as Circle, is a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service owned by Gray Television as part of its PowerNation Studios division. The network's programming consists of country music oriented shows, western films and rural/blue collar themed material, featuring a mix of original and off-network shows sourced from Opry Entertainment Group (the owner of the Grand Ole Opry, and Gray Television's former joint venture partner in the channel's previous incarnation as an over-the-air digital subchannel).

Previously before 2024, the network was available primarily through the digital subchannels of broadcast television stations, as well as an ad-supported video-on-demand channel on Peacock and Stirr, along with national carriage on Dish Network and Sling TV. Cable television and IPTV providers were offered either the network's local affiliate, or the network's national feed on their systems.

Circle ended the OTA portion of the channel on December 31, 2023. Streaming of the channel remained available under the Circle Country name. Many of the OTA stations replaced Circle with one of several networks under the new Gray/Lionsgate/Warner Bros. Discovery joint venture Free TV Networks, which is led by broadcasting veteran Jonathan Katz. Opry's programming rights will be utilized on several new AVOD ventures by Opry and NBCUniversal, which took a 30% minority stake in Opry Entertainment in 2022. ^{[2] [3]} Programs from the Circle Network continue to be available through various streaming providers on the Circle Country network after the OTA service ended. ^[4]

Background

Circle Country was Opry Entertainment Group's fourth entry into television network ownership. From its founding in 1983 until 1997, OEG's parent company (Ryman Hospitality Properties), known then as the Gaylord Entertainment Company, was owner of The Nashville Network (TNN). Gaylord later bought a second country music-oriented cable network, Country Music Television (CMT), in 1991. Gaylord Entertainment sold both networks to the CBS Cable unit of CBS Corporation in 1997 for $1.55 billion feeling that the two then-country networks could grow faster as part of a larger media company. ^[5] Gaylord, however, retained CMT International. ^[6] Gaylord Cable Networks took its stakes in TV Argentina and CMT International to launch the MusicCountry channel ^[7] in Mexico and Argentine in 2000. Then on September 1, 2000, the company launched the MusicCountry service in Europe. Gaylord would subsequently rebrand CMT channels in Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Asia-Pacific region's areas to the MusicCountry brand. ^[8]

History

Towards the end of the 2010s, Ryman Hospitality Properties was looking to venture back into television, with its Opry Entertainment unit already having co-produced the dramatic series Nashville , along with the end of its partnerships to carry the Opry with CMT, then Great American Country, as their managements both shifted away from music programming and towards a more generic and broad-based focus on Southern culture. In 2018, Ryman had settled on a broadcast television network and began pursuing starting one as they felt country music fans are underserved. Ryman tested nine potential shows via a sizzle reel with excellent responses from focus group sessions. ^[9]

Ryman and Gray Television announced a joint venture between Gray and Ryman's subsidiary, Opry Entertainment Group on April 24, 2019 to launch a broadcast television network in early 2020 and an online streaming service later. The planned network would feature the Grand Ole Opry archives and performances from the Grand Ole Opry House and other Ryman-owned music venues. ^[9] On October 17, 2019, the joint venture partners would confirm that Gray-owned stations would be among the network's charter affiliates; they would also reveal on that date the network's name — Circle, which is a nod to the iconic 6-foot wooden section of stage at the Opry House (and that section's original home, Ryman Auditorium) on which various country stars have performed. ^[10]

On December 16, 2019, Circle's formal launch date of January 1, 2020 was announced for Circle, along with a roster of 16 new programs for the network. Additionally, CBS Television Stations was also announced as joining in Circle's list of charter affiliates, bringing major markets to the network's initial list of stations to 56 affiliates covering 50% of the country. ^[11] As of October 2020, Circle has 99 affiliates reaching 62.61% of U.S. TV households. ^[12]

On November 10, 2023, it was announced that Circle as an over-the-air network would cease its broadcast operations on December 31, 2023, as Gray transitions to a new partnership for its digital subchannel networks, Free TV Networks, with Lionsgate and Warner Bros. Discovery. The final regular program to air on Circle as a OTA network was the movie Rio Lobo. The channel continues streaming via the Circle Country network, with select programming such as Coffee, Country & Cody as well as Opry Live. In addition, Opry Live and The Song will continue to be offered over-the-air via the syndication market. ^{[2] [3]}

Programming

Previously, Circle (as OTA sub-channel) provided up to 20 hours of programming to its owned-and-operated and affiliated stations on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time and on weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The remaining vacated hours were occupied by paid programming.

Circle featured programming geared toward both fans of the country music genre and rural audiences, a similar demographic targeted by competing country music-oriented multicast networks Heartland (which, incidentally from 2012 until 2013, used The Nashville Network moniker once used by Ryman's original cable network venture) and The Country Network. Circle Country's programming primarily features a mix of original and acquired series with a country music or Southern lifestyle-centric format.

Circle previously broadcast two simultaneous feeds: one for digital distribution, and the other for terrestrial distribution. The terrestrial feed (which typically appeared as a digital subchannel of a major network affiliate station in numerous markets around the United States) aired classic movies and off-network syndicated programming, while the digital feed (distributed over streaming services such as Peacock and Roku) features more company-owned music-based programming. Those feeds converged for live programming, such as the daily simulcast of WSM Radio morning show "Coffee, Country & Cody" and Grand Ole Opry broadcasts, as well as during regular timeslots of Circle-produced original programming. As of 2024, the terrestrial feed is no longer available, but the digital (aka streaming) feed remains available as Circle Country, with classic movies being added with the original programming.

As the network was under development, Circle Media developed several original productions for the network's inaugural programming slate—aiming to make it one of a handful of digital multicast services that carry original programming, and one of the few (alongside the Live Well Network, which reduced its national distribution outside of sister networks ABC's owned-and-operated stations in January 2015, and its rebrand Localish) to offer a large original content slate. On December 11, 2019, Circle Media announced that it had greenlit 16 original programs slated to debut on the network in Circle's first five months of operation, including a simulcast of WSM Radio's Coffee, Country & Cody (which had previously aired on competing country music-oriented multicast network Heartland), ^{[13] [14]} and the music and interview series The Dailey and Vincent Show which moved from the show's prior four-year home, RFD-TV. ^[15] and several docu-series (including Craig's World, a reality program centering on country artist Craig Morgan; Fandom, focusing on the artist-fan relationship in country music; Upstream, a fishing/interview program hosted by Elizabeth Cook; and several Grand Ole Opry-focused series such as Opry Debut). ^[16]

Among the initial offerings were all surviving episodes of Hee Haw . ^[16]

Current programming

Original programming

Music/interview programming

• Backstage at the Opry (January 1, 2020–present) – Docu-series following artists preparing for performances at the Grand Ole Opry. ^[11]
• Bluebird Café Sessions (February 2020–present) – Music series featuring performances from popular and up-and-coming country artists, recorded at the iconic Bluebird Café in Nashville. ^[11]
• Coffee, Country & Cody (January 1, 2020–present) – Television simulcast of the WSM Radio morning program; hosted by Bill Cody with co-host Charlie Mattos and entertainment correspondent Kelly Sutton. ^[14] The show is produced by occasional co-host Eric Marcum and is broadcast live from WSM Radio's studio inside the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.
• The Dailey & Vincent Show (January 1, 2020–present) – Music series hosted by the bluegrass/country/gospel duo of Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent featuring solo and collaborative performances with popular country music artists. ^[11]
• Fandom (February 2020) – Docu-series exploring the relationship between country artists and their fans from each's perspective. ^[11]
• Opry Live (February 2020–present)—One hour of an episode of the Grand Ole Opry; initially aired live in simulcast with the WSM radio broadcast, ^{[17] [11]} since 2021, Opry Live has typically been a pre-recorded live to tape hour of a Tuesday or Friday Opry radio broadcast or previously televised live Saturday broadcast, allowing WSM to continue carrying less demographic-friendly acts, square dances and audience-participation bits.
• My Opry Debut (January 1, 2020–present) – Docu-series chronicling up-and-coming country artists making their debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry. ^[16]
• Opry Anniversary (January 1, 2020–present) – Docu-series chronicling country artists looking back at their debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry.
• Austin City Limits: Country (June 8-August 17, 2022) - Hosted by singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell, featuring classic Austin City Limits episodes with a country flavor, along with behind-the-scenes, and never-before-seen interviews.
• Opry Docs (January 1, 2020–present) – Docu-series hosted by contemporary artists chronicling the life and careers of legendary country musicians. ^[16]
• Phil Vassar’s Songs from the Cellar (January 2, 2020–present) – Music and interview series hosted by Phil Vassar, featuring interviews with artists, songwriters, entertainers, athletes and wine enthusiasts at his personal wine cellar. ^[11]
• The Write Stuff (January 7, 2020–present) – Docu-series chronicling the composition steps of country music's greatest songs. ^[16]

Lifestyle/entertainment programming

• Authentic America (January 2, 2020–present) – Hosted by veteran television host Nan Kelley and country artist Charlie Kelley, in which the married couple spotlight lesser-known attractions and eateries, and interesting people around the U.S. ^[16]
• Bellamy Brothers' Honky Tonk Ranch (January 1, 2020–present) – Reality series chronicling country duo David and Howard Bellamy's music career, and home and ranch life. ^[18]
• Better Half (January 2, 2020–present) – Reality docu-series chronicling the lives of the spouses of country and NASCAR stars. ^[16]
• Craig's World (February 2020–present) – Docu-series featuring Craig Morgan dealing with the music world, his businesses and his family. ^[11]
• Family Traditions (February 2020–present) – Docu-series profiling the descendants of legendary country music artists. ^[16]
• Southern Weekend (January 2, 2020–present) – Travel series highlighting attractions of note across the Southern U.S.; hosted by Natalie Stovall. ^[11]
• Stand Up Nashville! (January 3, 2020–present) – Stand-up comedy showcase recorded at Zanies Comedy Club in downtown Nashville. ^[16]
• Upstream (May 2020 – present) – A fishing program featuring host Elizabeth Cook conducting conversations with country artists at various fishing locations. ^[16]

Affiliates

Previously, Circle had current or pending affiliation agreements with 96 television stations in 96 media markets encompassing 39 states, covering 62.60% (or a total population of 195,620,130 residents) of all households in the United States that own at least one television set. ^[1] It is also carried as a live channel on NBC's streaming service Peacock, and on Vizio's Free Streaming Channels platform on their current generation of smart TVs.

Before its launch, Circle Media actively sought affiliation agreements with various television station owners to make the Circle network widely available throughout the United States. The network launched with clearance rate of, at minimum, 50% of overall American television households, in part due to affiliation agreements with stations owned by network co-parent Gray Television (initially encompassing 56 of the group's stations, with no clearance in approximately 15 other small-sized markets with a Gray-owned station) ^[10] and CBS Television Stations, which provided Circle broad clearance in the 25 largest U.S. markets (including New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, Miami–Fort Lauderdale and Dallas–Fort Worth) through the group's independent stations. ^[11]

Ironically at the network's launch, Circle was not available over-the-air in the network's headquarters of Nashville, despite its status as the hub of the country music industry. Gray Television did not own any television stations in the Nashville television market (the company was only in two of the six Tennessee-based television markets) until 2021, and did not secure a local affiliate prior the network's debut. The network gained an affiliate in that market on January 31, 2020, via the DT5 subchannel of (at the time) Meredith Local Media-owned NBC affiliate WSMV-TV, which was formerly owned alongside Ryman's Opry properties from 1950 until 1981 and had a short-lived launch affiliation with Heartland, which launched utilizing the trademark of The Nashville Network, but lost it a year later due to business disputes. ^{[19] [20]} On May 3, 2021, Gray announced it was purchasing Meredith's broadcasting properties (and the sale was completed on December 1 ^[21] ), which made WSMV-TV both an O&O station for the network as well as its flagship station. ^[22]

List of last OTA affiliates

Stations listed in BOLD were Circle owned-and-operated.

City of license/market	Station [1]	Virtual channel	Primary affiliation (on main feed)	Owner	Launch date	Notes
Birmingham/Tuscaloosa/ Anniston	WBRC	6.3	Fox	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [23]	Displaced Grit (network moved to 6.5)
Huntsville/Decatur/ Florence	WAFF	48.3	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [24]	Displaced Grit (network moved to 48.5)
Mobile	WALA	10.5	Fox	Gray Television	February 7, 2020	New subchannel
Montgomery/Selma	WSFA	12.3	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020	Displaced Grit (network moved to 12.3)
Anchorage	KAUU	5.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Phoenix	KTVK	3.3	Independent	Gray Television	February 1, 2020	New subchannel
Tucson	KOLD-TV	13.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [25]
Little Rock	KTHV	11.5	CBS	Tegna
Bakersfield	KERO-TV	23.7	ABC	E. W. Scripps Company
Los Angeles	KCAL-TV	9.3	Independent	CBS News and Stations	January 1, 2020
San Francisco/Oakland/ San Jose	KPYX	44.5	Independent	CBS News and Stations	January 1, 2020
Colorado Springs	KKTV	11.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 6, 2020 [26]
Denver	KUSA-TV	9.6	NBC	Tegna	February 28, 2020 [27]
Dover (Salisbury, Maryland)	WMDE	36.4	ShopHQ	WRNN License Company	January 1, 2020
Gainesville/Ocala	WCJB-TV	20.4	ABC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Miami/Fort Lauderdale	WBFS-TV	33.5	Independent	CBS News and Stations	January 1, 2020
Panama City	WECP-LD	18.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [28]	Displaced Heroes & Icons (network moved to 18.4)
Sarasota	WWSB	40.2	ABC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
St. Petersburg/Tampa	WTOG	44.5	Independent	CBS News and Stations	January 1, 2020
West Palm Beach	WFLX	29.3	Fox	Gray Television (operated by the E. W. Scripps Company under an SSA)	January 1, 2020
Albany	WALB	10.5	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
	WGCW-LD	36.2	CW
Atlanta	WPCH-TV	17.4	The CW	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Augusta	WRDW-TV	12.4	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [29]
Columbus	WTVM	9.3	ABC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Savannah	WTOC-TV	11.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Thomasville (Tallahassee, Florida)	WCTV	6.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Honolulu	KGMB	5.2	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Caldwell/Boise	KNIN-TV	9.4	Fox	Marquee Broadcasting	January 1, 2020
Chicago	WBBM-TV	2.5	CBS	CBS News and Stations	February 2023
Rockford	WIFR-LD	23.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Evansville	WFIE	14.3	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [30]	Displaced Grit (network moved to 14.4)
Indianapolis	WTHR	13.6	NBC	Tegna	February 2020	New subchannel
South Bend	WNDU-TV	16.3	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [31]
Davenport	KWQC-TV	6.6	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2021	New Subchannel
Ottumwa/Kirksville, MO	KYOU-TV	15.3	Fox	Gray Television	January 1, 2020	Displaced Grit (network moved to 15.5)
Sioux City	KTIV	4.6	NBC	Gray Television	February 2023	New Subchannel
Topeka	WIBW-TV	13.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020	New subchannel
Hutchinson/Wichita	KWCH-DT	12.4	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020	New subchannel
Bowling Green	WBKO-TV	13.4	ABC	Gray Television	December 27, 2022
Hazard	WYMT-TV	57.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [32]
Lexington	WKYT-TV	27.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Louisville	WAVE	3.3	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Baton Rouge	WAFB	9.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020	(replaced by The365 on Jan. 1 2024)
Lake Charles	KVHP	29.3	Fox	American Spirit Media (operated by Gray Television via an SSA)	January 13, 2020	Displaced Ion Television (network moved to 29.4)
Monroe	KNOE-TV	8.4	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2021
New Orleans	WVUE-DT	8.3	Fox	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [33]	Displaced Grit (network moved to 8.5)
Shreveport	KSLA	12.2	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020	Displaced Grit (network moved to 12.4)
Bangor	WABI-TV	5.4	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [34]
Boston	WSBK-TV	38.5	Independent	CBS News and Stations	January 1, 2020
Detroit	WKBD-TV	50.5	Independent	CBS News and Stations	January 1, 2020
Flint/Saginaw/ Bay City	WJRT-TV	12.3	ABC	Allen Media Broadcasting	January 1, 2020
Lansing/Jackson	WILX-TV	10.3	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [35]
Marquette	WLUC-TV	6.4	NBC	Gray Television
Duluth / Superior	K23MQ-D	23.1	Circle	Gray Television	February 2023	New subchannel
Mankato	KMNF-LD	7.3	NBC	Gray Television	October 6, 2022	New subchannel
Minneapolis	KARE-TV	11.5	NBC	Tegna	February 13, 2020
Rochester	KTTC	10.6	NBC	Gray Television	February 2023
Jackson	WLBT	3.3	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [36]
Biloxi	WLOX	13.6	ABC	Gray Television
Hattiesburg-Laurel, Mississippi	WDAM	7.5	NBC	Gray Television
Meridian, Mississippi	WTOK	11.5	ABC	Gray Television
Cape Girardeau (Paducah, Kentucky)	KFVS-TV	12.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [37]
Kansas City	KQML-LD	46.1		HC2 Holdings	January 7, 2023
	KSMO	62.5	MyNetworkTV	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
St. Louis	KMOV	4.5	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Springfield	KYTV	3.5	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Grand Island/Hastings	KGIN	11.5	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020	Satellite of KOLN
Lincoln	KOLN	10.5	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
North Platte	KNOP-TV	2.4	NBC	Gray Television	January 2, 2023
Omaha	WOWT	6.6	NBC	Gray Television
Reno	KOLO-TV	8.4	ABC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Las Vegas	KHSV	21.3	H&I	Howard Stirk Holdings	May 2021	Displaced QVC (network moved to 21.6)
Binghamton	WBNG-TV	12.6	CBS	Gray Television	February 2023
New York (New York City)	WCBS-TV	2.5	CBS	WRNN-TV Associates	January 1, 2020	New Subchannel, Circle formerly on WRNN-TV (48.2, later on 48.4)
Riverhead (New York City)	WLNY-TV	55.5	Independent	CBS News and Stations	January 1, 2020
Charlotte	WBTV	3.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Greensboro/Winston- Salem/High Point	WFMY-TV	2.5	CBS	Tegna	February 2020
Greenville/New Bern/ Washington	WITN-TV	7.6	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [38]
Raleigh	WNCN	17.4	CBS	Nexstar Media Group	September 1, 2021
Wilmington	WECT	6.3	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Bismarck	KFYR-TV	5.4	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Dickinson	KQCD-TV	7.4	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020	Satellite of KFYR-TV
Minot	KMOT	10.4	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020	Satellite of KFYR-TV
Williston	KUMV-TV	8.4	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020	Satellite of KFYR-TV
Cincinnati	WXIX-TV	19.3	Fox	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [39]	Displaced Grit (Grit moved to 19.4, forcing the displacement of Ion Television to 19.5)
Lorain/Cleveland	WUAB	43.2	The CW	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Columbus	WBNS-TV	10.6	CBS	Tegna	January 1, 2020
Toledo	WTVG	13.4	ABC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Tulsa	KJRH-TV	2.6	NBC	E. W. Scripps Company	May 17, 2022
Vancouver, Washington–Portland	KPDX	49.3	MyNetworkTV	Gray Television	June 17, 2022
Philadelphia	WPSG	57.5	Independent	CBS News and Stations	January 1, 2020
Jeannette/Pittsburgh	WPKD-TV	19.4	Independent	CBS News and Stations	January 1, 2020
Toa Baja	W17DL-D	17.3	MeTV	TV Red Puerto Rico	February 1, 2020
Charleston	WCSC-TV	5.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [40]	Displaced Grit (network moved to 5.4)
Columbia	WIS	10.3	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Myrtle Beach	WMBF-TV	32.3	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [41]	Displaced Grit (network moved to 32.5)
Lead	KHSD-TV	11.2	ABC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020	Satellite of KOTA-TV
Rapid City	KOTA-TV	3.2	ABC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Knoxville	WVLT-TV	8.4	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [42]
Memphis	WMC-TV	5.3	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [43]	Displaced Grit (network moved to 5.4) Broadcasts CW Sports programming on weekends.
Nashville	WSMV-TV	4.5	NBC	Gray Television	January 31, 2020 [20]	Flagship station
Austin	KVUE	24.5	ABC	Tegna	Spring 2020
Belton (Waco/Temple/Bryan)	KNCT	46.2	CW+	Gray Television	January 13, 2020	Replaced MeTV simulcast (network remains available on KWTX-DT 10.3)
Borger (Amarillo)	KEYU	31.3	Telemundo	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Fort Worth/Dallas	KTXA	21.4	Independent	CBS News and Stations	January 1, 2020
Houston	KHOU	11.5	CBS	Tegna	January 1, 2020
Lubbock	KCBD	11.2	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [44]
San Antonio	KENS-TV	5.5	CBS	Tegna	January 1, 2020
Sherman/Ada	KXII	12.6	CBS	Gray Television	January 2023
Tyler/Longview	KLTV	7.2	ABC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Wichita Falls/Lawton, OK	KAUZ-TV	6.3	CBS	American Spirit Media (operated by Gray Television via an SSA)	January 13, 2020
Burlington	WCAX-TV	3.3	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [45]	Displaced Ion Television (network moved to 3.5)
Charlottesville	WVIR-TV	29.6	NBC	Gray Television	February 2023
Harrisonburg	WHSV-TV	3.6	ABC	Gray Television
Norfolk	WTKR	3.5	CBS	E.W. Scripps Company
Richmond	WWBT	12.3	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [46]	Displaced Ion Mystery (network moved to 12.4)
Roanoke	WDBJ	7.2	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [47]	Displaced Heroes & Icons (network moved to 7.3)
Tacoma/Seattle	KSTW	11.5	Independent	CBS News and Stations	January 1, 2020
Bluefield/Beckley/Oak Hill	WVVA-TV	6.6	NBC	Gray Television
Huntington/Charleston	WSAZ-TV	3.3	NBC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [48]
Weston/Clarksburg	WDTV	5.4	CBS	Gray Television	January 1, 2020
Eau Claire	WEAU-TV	13.3	NBC	Gray Television	February 2020	Displaced Heroes & Icons (network moved to 13.6)
Green Bay	WBAY-TV	2.3	ABC	Gray Television	January 1, 2020 [49] [50]	Displaced Ion Television (currently Catchy Comedy (network moved to 2.6) Broadcasts MyNetworkTV programming on weekdays.
Wausau	WSAW-TV	7.6	CBS	Gray Television
Casper	KCWY-DT	13.5	NBC	Gray Television

Former affiliates

City of license/market	Station	Virtual channel	Primary affiliation (on main feed)	Owner	Year(s)	Notes
Sacramento/Stockton/ Modesto	KMAX-TV	31.5	Independent	CBS News and Stations	2020–2022	Became affiliate of Dabl (simulcast of KOVR 13.3); later became affiliate of Movies!
Cedar Rapids	KCRG-TV	9.6	ABC/MyNetworkTV/The CW	Gray Television	2020–2021	Displaced after station assumed CW affiliation for third subchannel, requiring removal of subchannels to provide HD signal
Las Vegas	KLAS-TV	8.4	CBS	Nexstar Media Group	2020-2021	Became affiliate of Rewind TV

References

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3. Hayes, Dade (2023-11-07). "Warner Bros. Discovery, Lionsgate And Gray Television Team With Free TV Networks, A New Programmer With A Presence On Broadcast TV And Streaming". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
4. "Outlaw to replace Circle Country on Jan 1, 2024" . Retrieved 2023-12-27.
5. "Gaylord Sells Country Music Channels". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
6. Fabrikant, Geraldine (February 11, 1997). "Westinghouse To Buy Units From Gaylord For $1.5 Billion". The New York Times– via NYTimes.com.
7. Sutter, Mary (May 24, 2000). "Gaylord increases share in Argentine pay TV channels".
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10. Miller, Mark K. (October 17, 2019). "New Country Multiplatform Network From Gray, Opry Entertainment Group To be Named Circle". TV News Check. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
11. Annie Reuter (December 16, 2019). "Opry Entertainment to Launch New Network Circle in 2020". Billboard . Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
12. Circle affiliate list on RabbitEars.info (accessed 10/24/2020)
13. Barry Courter (December 12, 2019). "Chattanooga-based television hub adds programming, national streaming access". Chattanooga Times Free Press . Retrieved December 19, 2019.
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15. "THE DAILEY & VINCENT SHOW Announces New Network Home With Circle". Broadway World. December 12, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
16. Bethany Bowman (December 14, 2019). "New Country Music Network Circle to Launch January 1". Tennessee Star . Retrieved December 26, 2019.
17. "GRAY TELEVISION, Atlanta". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
18. Markos Papadatos (January 10, 2020). "Bellamy Brothers launch 'Honky Tonk Ranch' on the Circle Network". Digital Journal. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
19. Marq Burnett (February 6, 2020). "Circling back: Ryman's TV network launches in Nashville". Nashville Business Journal. American City Business Journal. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
20. "The Circle Network Is Now on WSMV 4.5". Nashville DTV News & More. January 31, 2020.
21. "Gray Television Closes on Acquisition of Meredith Corporation's Local Media Group" (Press release). Gray Television. Globe Newswire. December 1, 2021.
22. "Gray to acquire Meredith Corporation's Local Media Group in a $2.7 billion transaction". Gray Television. May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
23. Jenna Wood (December 31, 2019). "WBRC multicast lineup changes effective Jan 1". WBRC . Gray Television. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
24. "Country music channel 'Circle' on 48.3". WAFF . Gray Television. January 7, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
25. "Country music network Circle to launch with 16 shows, including 'Opry Live'". KOLD-TV . Gray Television. December 23, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
26. Tony Keith (January 6, 2020). "'Circle,' a new country music and lifestyle network launches on KKTV: Here's how to watch". KKTV . Gray Television. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
27. Alexander Kirk (February 28, 2020). "9NEWS' new channel 9.6 is your country music destination". KUSA-TV . Tegna. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
28. "Country music channel 'Circle' to debut Jan. 1 on WECP 18.3". WJHG-TV . Gray Television. December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
29. "Country music channel 'Circle' to debut Jan. 1 on WRDW". WRDW-TV . Gray Television. December 23, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
30. "Circle - A Country Lifestyle Network". WFIE . Gray Television. December 9, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
31. "Country music channel 'Circle' to debut Jan. 1 on WNDU 16.3". WNDU-TV . Gray Television. December 28, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
32. "Here's where you can find WYMT's brand-new country music channel 'Circle'". WYMT-TV . Gray Television. December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
33. "Here's where you can find the brand-new country music channel 'Circle'". WVUE-DT . Gray Television. December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
34. "How to get access to our new country music network Circle beginning January 1st". WABI-TV . Gray Television. December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
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36. "What y'all need to know about the new Circle network". Mississippi Weekend . Gray Television. January 1, 2020. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
37. "More channels free from KFVS12". KFVS-TV . Gray Television. December 20, 2019. Archived from the original on January 12, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
38. "Country music channel 'Circle' debuts Jan. 1 on WITN 7.6". WITN . Gray Television. December 30, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
39. John Kiesewetter (December 27, 2019). "Grand Ole Opry, New Channels Coming To Cincinnati TV". WVXU . Cincinnati Public Media, Inc. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
40. Patrick Phillips (December 28, 2019). "Country music channel 'Circle' to debut Jan. 1 on WCSC 5.3". WCSC-TV . Gray Television. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
41. "Country music channel 'Circle' to debut Jan. 1 on WMBF News". WMBF-TV . Gray Television. December 27, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
42. "How to get access to Circle Network". WVLT-TV . Gray Television. December 26, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
43. "How to get access to our new country music network Circle". WMC-TV . Gray Television. December 26, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
44. "Coming to KCBD 11.2: Country music network Circle to launch with 16 shows". KCBD . Gray Television. December 27, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
45. Darren Perron (December 30, 2019). "How to watch our new, free country music network, Circle". WCAX-TV . Gray Television. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
46. "Here's where you can find the brand-new country music channel 'Circle'". WWBT . Gray Television. January 1, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
47. "WDBJ channels get New Year update". WDBJ . Gray Television. December 12, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
48. Tony Rutherford (January 11, 2020). "Comcast Adds Three New Digital OTA Channels". The Huntington News . Retrieved January 12, 2020.
49. "Circle launches Jan. 1 on WBAY 2-3: Here's how to watch". WBAY-TV . Gray Television. December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
50. "WBAY-TV adds channel 2-6". WBAY-TV. Gray Television. December 2, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.

External links

• Official website
• Official website