KTWO-TV in Casper and sister station KKTU in Cheyenne have acquired a contract with ABC, the stations' General Manager Tom Shannon said Friday.

Both stations are currently affiliated with NBC and will continue to air its programming until the stations' contract with the network expires Aug. 31.

At 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1, Shannon says, Cheyenne will switch over to ABC. KTWO, however, will operate as an independent station until June 5, 2004, when the network's current contract with Casper's KFNB-TV, Channel 20, expires.

As an independent station, Shannon said, KTWO will continue to air programming that appeals to its older viewership, like "Oprah" and "Jeopardy."

The station will also acquire "Judge Judy" on Sept. 8. All three syndications will continue to air after KTWO makes the switch to ABC.

KTWO broadcasts on channel 2 and cable channel 6.

While ABC typically receives lower ratings than NBC, Shannon says he doesn't think the station's affiliation change will dampen its viewership.

"We're just trying to just stick with our core audience and give them some programming that they're going to enjoy and hopefully tune in for until we get to ABC," said Shannon.

Mark Nalbone, KFNB's general manager, says his station is still in the planning stages in regard to its future affiliation.

Equity, a broadcasting company based in Little Rock, Ark., purchased KTWO and KKTU in the spring of 2001 with the knowledge that its 30-year affiliation with NBC affiliation would expire this year, Shannon said.

Sunbelt Communications of Las Vegas, the parent company of Casper's KCWY, Channel 13, will acquire the NBC affiliation. KCWY, which has aired PAX programming while awaiting the transfer, will compete against KTWO Television in the local news market, according to Bill Sullivan, KCWY's vice president and general manager.

In addition to the affiliation switch, Shannon announced Friday that KTWO and KKTU will also substantially increase their local news programming.

Both stations will begin airing a noon newscast July 7, he said.

In addition to that, Casper's early morning news program will be extended by one hour and a 9 p.m. newscast will be added Sept. 1.

"Report to Wyoming," the station's long-standing, local news magazine, will still be aired Saturday evening, says Shannon.

During its nine-month hiatus as an independent station, Shannon said CNN Headline News will replace NBC's Nightly News.

The station has also acquired other popular programs it feels will appeal to a younger audience.

"We've added some new syndicated programs on the weekends and picked up a movie, Candid Camera, Miracle Pets. Some fun stuff that, I think, fits with our image," said Shannon. "We'll be starting up in the fall a coach's show with Joe Glenn," the new University of Wyoming football coach.

UW football and basketball games will also continue to be aired on both stations, he said.