Fox’s MyNetworkTV announced Wednesday that it has signed 12 new affiliates, increasing clearances for the new network to 55 percent of U.S. TV homes.

Granite Broadcasting signed up with MyNetworkTV, which is scheduled to launch Sept. 5, in three markets, committing current WB affiliate WDWB-TV in Detroit (the 11th-largest market) and digital channels of Granite NBC affiliates WISE-TV in Fort Wayne, Ind. (market No. 101) and KBJR-TV in Duluth-Superior, Minn. (137).

The new agreements include five stations currently affiliated with UPN: Bay City Television’s XUPN-TV in San Diego (26); Journal Broadcasting’s WACY-TV in Green Bay-Appleton, Wis. (69); WBGT, LLC’s WBGT-TV in Rochester, N.Y. (79); Cox Television and Broadcast Development’s KAME-TV in Reno, Nev. (112); and GH Broadcasting’s KTOV-TV in Corpus Christi, Texas (129).

MyNetworkTV also will be carried on the digital channels of Columbus Television’s CBS affiliate WCBI-TV in Columbus-Tupelo-West Point, Miss. (132); and ICA Broadcasting’s CBS affiliate KOSA-TV in Odessa-Midland, Texas (159).

Rounding out the deals announced Wednesday were Vision Communications’ new station WJKP-TV in Elmira, N.Y. (173) and Rapid Broadcasting’s Pax affiliate KKRA-TV in Rapid City, S.D. (177).

Fox Television Stations CEO Jack Abernethy said in the announcement, “While securing affiliates in the major markets is important, it is equally imperative to us to sign strong affiliates in the midsized and smaller markets. Every one of these broadcasters brings significant value to MyNetworkTV and they will play a central role in launching this exciting new network.”

Don Cornwell, chairman and CEO of financially strapped Granite, said in the announcement: “A number of years ago we missed the chance to be associated with the then fledgling Fox Network. Now we have taken the opportunity to be associated with Rupert Murdoch as he launches his second broadcast network.”

Richard Doutré Jones, VP and general manager of XETV and XUPN, said, “Since XETV/Fox6 was the first non-owned-and-operated Fox affiliate in the country, we are thrilled to now join XUPN with Twentieth Television in this exciting new venture as the San Diego affiliate of MyNetworkTV. As part of our affiliation change, XUPN will be changing our call letters to XDTV and our primary Web site to mytv13.com, all of which will add to the vibrant new brand of MyNetworkTV13.”

Bill Christian, president and CEO of Vision Communications, said, “The MyNetworkTV model capitalizes on the value of the local prime-time inventory that big and small stations have, maximizing the resources of both the stations and [Fox parent] News Corp. to create an instantly viable, strong brand.”