By Gavin Boyle
The new network Western Entertainment Series Television (WEST) is set to go on air at the end of the month. Here’s everything you need to know.
“WEST will be dedicated 24/7 to showcasing the most beloved and iconic classic TV Western series, with a massive library of titles that will make this the premier Western network on television,” said Neal Sabin, the Vice Chairman of Weigel Broadcasting Co., the company running the new network. “Featuring compelling story lines and narratives with universal adult appeal, the programs on WEST promise to transport viewers on an entertainment journey filled with excitement and adventure.”
The network is set to air some of the most beloved westerns from TV history including GUNSMOKE, BONANZA, RAWHIDE, WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE, HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL, THE HIGH CHAPPARAL, WAGON TRAIN, THE BIG VALLEY, THE VIRGINIAN and WILD WILD WEST.
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“The launch of the WEST network [is] a move that has been driven by years of client feedback and growing demand,” added Jeff Nash, SVP of Network Sales for Weigel. “This expansion represents another milestone for us, and we’re proud to deliver exactly what our partners have been asking for.”
The WEST network is set to release in 15 of the top 20 U.S. markets and will reach over half of the American population when it first hits the air.
While the launch of a network devoted fully to westerns may come as a surprise to many, demand for the genre has grown in recent years through the popularity of shows like WESTWORLD and YELLOWSTONE. Those close to the business believe this revived interest has been sparked, at least in part, by a desire to escape the troubles of modern life.
“In popular culture, the American west has long functioned as a mythical space where people are able to imagine themselves leading alternative, more authentic and exciting lives,” explained Andrew Patrick Nelson, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Film & Media Arts and an associate professor of film studies at the University of Utah.
WEST will join a growing lineup of networks launched by Weigel in recent years which look to cater a very specific genre to its audience. Last year, the company launched a cartoon channel which features many classic shows from the ’70s onward.
“MeTV Toons will be dedicated 24/7 to showcasing the biggest names and most beloved classic cartoons and animated characters. Everyone has a favorite cartoon; it is a universally loved art form,” Sabin explained in May 2024. “We are thrilled to bring those smiles and memories back to TV with MeTV Toons.”
“We’re going to bring those back to people every day in the MeTV way of doing things and this network is going to appeal to all ages and advertisers. It’s going to be multi-studio, multi-platform and multi-generational. It’s MeTV Toons, and it’s going to be really special,” he added.
WEST is set to bring its slate of beloved western shows to its audience beginning on Sept. 29, 2025.
Read Next: MeTV Toons Brings Classic Cartoons Back to TV This June
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