By R.L. Bynum
Finding the broadcast of No. 4 North Carolina’s 2:15 Saturday men’s basketball game may be challenging for some fans, but most should have easy access to the Tar Heels’ game.
For the only time during this season, a UNC men’s game will air on The CW, which is available to most fans over the air.
The good news is that it’s less likely that another game will go long, forcing fans to miss the start of Carolina’s game. Fans missed the beginning of Carolina’s 86–70 victory Wednesday over Louisville because Florida State’s 84–75 victory over Miami on ACC Network that aired at 7 p.m. didn’t end until a few minutes into UNC’s game.
Unlike ESPN and ACC Network, who are convinced that every college basketball game can fit into a two-hour window, The CW spaces games out more. The Virginia Tech at N.C. State game airs on The CW before UNC’s game but starts at noon Saturday.
What is The CW?
It’s a national television network that launched in 2006, and is best known for shows such as “Gilmore Girls,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Gossip Girl,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” “7th Heaven,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Charmed,” “Smallville,” “The Flash,” and “America’s Next Top Model.”
The network aired ACC games during the football season, including Carolina’s game with Virginia. The UNC-BC game is one of 23 ACC men’s and women’s basketball games airing on The CW this season.
UNC’s women’s basketball win Dec. 31 over Clemson aired on The CW, as will the Tar Heels’ Jan. 28 road game with Virginia.
Where can you find The CW in your area (according to the network’s website)?
— In the Triangle and Fayetteville areas: WLFL channel 22 (10 or 1212 on Charter Spectrum, 22 or 1022 on AT&T U-Verse, 22 or 7022 on Frontier Communications, 22 on DirecTV and 22 on Dish Network)
— In the Greenville area: WLFL channel 22 (9 or 1213 on Charter Spectrum) or WNCT channel 9 (15 on DirecTV, 10 on Dish Network, 1212 on Charter Spectrum 6 and 106 on Suddenlink Communications).
— In the Charlotte area: WCCB channel 18 (11 or 1212 on Charter Spectrum, 18 or 1018 on AT&T U-Verse, 18 on DirecTV and 18 on Dish Network)
— In the Triad area: WCWG channel 20 (3 or 1212 on Charter Spectrum, 20 or 1020 on AT&T U-Verse, 20 on DirecTV and 20 on Dish Network; in Greensboro, also on 3 or 1003 on North State Communications.)
— In the Wilmington area: WWAY channel 3 (17 or 1212 on Charter Spectrum, 4 on DirectTV and 7 on AT&T U-Verse)
— In northeast North Carolina: WYCW channel 62 (9 or 709 on Charter Spectrum, 62 on DirecTV, 62 on Dish Network, 9 and 62 or 1062 on AT&T U-Verse)
— In the Asheville area: WYCW channel 62 (9 or 709 on Charter Spectrum, 62 on DirecTV, 62 on Dish Network and 62 or 1062 on AT&T U-Verse)
— In Boone area: WCCB channel 18 (5, 7, 705 or 712 on Charter Spectrum, 18 on DirectTV, 18 on Dish Network, 11 or 2011 on Skybest TV, and 18 or 1018 on AT&T U-Verse)
You can determine your CW affiliate by plugging your ZIP code into this webpage.
If your TV provider doesn’t offer The CW, your best bet is to use an antenna to get the game over the air or listen to the radio call from play-by-play announcer Jones Angell and analyst Marcus Ginard on the Tar Heel Sports Network.
tarheeltribune.com 
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