New Weigel Western TV Network Launching Fall 2025

[Chris J]

https://deadline.com/2025/06/weigel-...es-1236435766/

Weigel Broadcasting (owners of MeTV, MeTV Toons, and Heroes & Icons) is launching a brand new TV network called WEST (Western Entertainment Series Television), that is due to launch Fall 2025.

As the name suggests, it's devoted entirely to classic TV westerns, so you should expect to see the likes of Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Rawhide, Wagon Train, Cheyenne, and other shows that currently air on MeTV and H&I. Apparently this is supposed to compete with Scripps-owned Grit.

[PhysicalMediaMaestro]

Originally Posted by Chris J

https://deadline.com/2025/06/weigel-...es-1236435766/

Weigel Broadcasting (owners of MeTV, MeTV Toons, and Heroes & Icons) is launching a brand new TV network called WEST (Western Entertainment Series Television), that is due to launch Fall 2025.

As the name suggests, it's devoted entirely to classic TV westerns, so you should expect to see the likes of Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Rawhide, Wagon Train, Cheyenne, and other shows that currently air on MeTV and H&I. Apparently this is supposed to compete with Scripps-owned Grit.

It's nice that MeTV is expanding by adding more channels. I just hope they don't run out of material for the core channel.

[Chris J]

I imagine with the huge library of easily recognizable westerns they have rights to, they won't need to pad their schedule out with movies as much as Grit does. Whether or not this is a good thing is in the eye of the beholder.

[hagios]

Will we get HD video from some of these?

[Chris J]

If the affiliate is broadcasting in HD, yes. The masters are almost certainly in HD.

[Doomhunter]

But will they be cropped from 4:3 like MeTv, hopefully not

[Chris J]

MeTV Toons doesn't incorporate 14:9 cropping, so hopefully WEST won't either.