Nexstar is counting television stations owned by Mission Broadcasting among the outlets that it controls, and considers Mission-owned CW Network affiliates to be owned-and-operated stations, based on the statement issued on Wednesday. "As the CW's number one affiliate group, Nexstar is very pleased to be bringing the network's programming to these stations this fall," Alford said. "Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Tampa are among the most important television markets in the country, and adding the CW's programming to them will offer advertisers a variety of new linear and digital opportunities to reach millions of viewers." Nexstar is the largest independent operator of local television stations in the country, with more than 200 stations as of June. It also owns the national cable news upstart NewsNation and the digital political affairs publication The Hill.