The station's standing was severely affected by the January 2006 announcement that The WB and UPN would merge into one network, The CW. Unlike in 1999 when the market's main independent stations were all owned separately and the ability for KTUD-LP to receive the UPN affiliation was easier, by 2006 both KVWB and independent KFBT were owned by Sinclair Broadcasting Group, which was one of the largest affiliate groups for both The WB and UPN. KVWB was part of an early bulk affiliation deal for MyNetworkTV, with the CW affiliation still up for grabs by mid-April 2006. However, KTUD-LP withdrew from negotiations with the CW on April 24, 2006. KFBT was thus announced as the market's CW affiliate on May 2, 2006, and KTUD-LP was left to become an independent station when UPN ended operations in September 2006.