Syracuse TV station makes big change: Why you may need to re-scan channels

A Syracuse television station has made a big change.

CNY Central’s WTVH CBS 5 changed its call letters on Monday, Dec. 1, becoming WKOF CBS 5. The TV station remains a CBS affiliate, continue to broadcast the network’s sports and entertainment programming, along with local CBS 5 News.

“For most viewers, it’s business as usual, with this simply being a legal call letter change from WTVH CBS 5 to WKOF CBS5,” CNY Central said. “It will be seamless for viewers who receive our programming via cable or satellite, as well as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, and DirecTV Stream.”

However, Syracuse-area viewers who watch over-the-air with an antenna may need to re-scan their channels to continue watching CBS. WTVH was previously available on Channel 5.1, which began airing Roar programming on Monday; local CBS programming has moved to digital channel 15.1.

CNY Central shared instructions for viewers to re-scan their over-the-air channels for the following television sets:

CNY Central, which includes Syracuse TV stations NBC 3 (WSTM), CW 6 (WSTQ) and CBS 5, is operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair did not say why its local CBS affiliate was changing its call letters.

WTVH was Syracuse’s first television station when it began broadcasting as WHEN-TV on Dec. 1, 1948.

Roar, owned by Sinclair, first launched in 2016 as TBD. The network airs a variety of TV shows like “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and “Saturday Night Live” re-runs.

Fans can continue watching CBS via streaming services like Fubo TV, DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV.