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MichaelKane20 · 01-24-2006, 12:47 PM

-AP-

UPN AND THE WB WILL CEASE OPERATIONS
NEW YORK - Two small, struggling television networks, UPN and WB, will merge to form a new network called The CW, executives from the companies that own them said Tuesday.

The announcement was made by executives from CBS Corp., which owns UPN, and Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc., which owns WB.

Both UPN and WB had struggled to compete against larger rivals in the broadcast TV business, including Walt Disney Co.’s ABC, News Corp.’s Fox and CBS Corp.’s CBS.

The new network will launch in the fall, the executives said, and both UPN and WB will shut down. It will be a 50-50 partnership between Warner Bros. and CBS, and the network will be carried on stations owned by the Tribune Co., which is a minority owner of the WB network.

Leslie Moonves, chief executive of CBS Corp., said the new network will air 30 hours of programming seven days a week aimed in part at young audiences.

Barry Meyer, the head of Warner Bros., said the network would be run by the current executives of UPN and WB.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO CHARMED, GIRLFRIENDS AND SMALLVILLE

Brent88 · 01-24-2006, 01:00 PM

Sounds like the shows that aren't performing will be cancelled. I would expect Smallville and Girlfriends to remain, Charmed might be ending after this season anyway.

vashti1999 · 01-24-2006, 01:18 PM

I was just thinking about network mergers the other day. It makes sense. It'll make for a stronger 5th network, better that than two weaker ones. It'll be interesting to see what current UPN affiliates will broadcast since it'll be the Tribune/WB stations broadcasting the new channel.

db108108 · 01-24-2006, 01:21 PM

I find the whole thing kind of shocking, but given that ratings have been tanking of late for both the UPN and the WB, it's not entirely surprising. The interesting part will be how they fit all the series together, particularly the WB and the UPN's comedies, which are geared towards different audiences. There's got to be alot of nervous people on the sets of these series today....

Mr. Monitor · 01-24-2006, 01:22 PM

Interesting move on the part of the networks, but its sad that so many people are gonna lose their job.

vashti1999 · 01-24-2006, 01:29 PM

Well, if there was any question before, it's certain now: What I Like About You is outta here!

Since they'll be picking shows from both networks and have limited hours to fill on the new network, CBS should really think about solidifying their own lineup by taking shows that deserve a bigger audience, like Veronica Mars and Everybody Hates Chris. One night with programming with a younger audience appeal could do them some good.

James"Thunder"Early · 01-24-2006, 01:39 PM

It's a shock, but a smart business decision.

Chelsea · 01-24-2006, 01:44 PM

The network will probably keep the shows that worked for WB, and the shows that worked for UPN (All two of them), and build around that

TVJunkie101 · 01-24-2006, 01:51 PM

Yeah, Seth, that's how I see things going.

I don't have a WB affiliate available to me so I'm hoping my local UPN takes on the CW's programming. If not I'm screwed.

I definitely think Smallville, Gilmore Girls, Reba, Everybody Hates Chris, America's Next Top Model, Beauty & the Geek, Veronica Mars, Girlfriends, and a few others are for sure making the transition. I think it's a really smart move to combine the two networks and offer a really strong network consisting of solid performers from both networks.

gilligan fanatic · 01-24-2006, 01:52 PM

the networks lasted longer than they deserved to. Oh well

Brent88 · 01-24-2006, 02:03 PM

It will be a 50-50 partnership between Warner Bros. and CBS, and the network will be carried on stations owned by the Tribune Co., which is a minority owner of the WB network

Brent88 · 01-24-2006, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVJunkie101

I don't have a WB affiliate available to me so I'm hoping my local UPN takes on the CW's programming. If not I'm screwed.

and I don't have UPN. I have 2 WB stations though.

spunkygirl · 01-24-2006, 02:09 PM

My WB station has been WB and UPN combined since 2000 wonder how it will affect that.

Raisingdad2004 · 01-24-2006, 02:10 PM

I think the fall schedule will be more WB than UPN, how many hits do they have? I am interested to see how they will merge together, The WB works mainly in Teen Drama's and 12 year old comedies while UPN - doesn't work.

I am hoping for some form of Charmed/Spinoff on the fall schedule, but I seriously doubt it now.

Ronn Harmon · 01-24-2006, 02:13 PM

This is obviously HUGE News, but I think it will turn out well in the long run. Looking at UPN's current batch of shows, most of them are very weak shows and really do not have long term potential. They also have really never found a hit show in there 11+ year existence. As for the WB, they have found several hits in the form of all the drama's the network produces designed for the younger age group, however they have not been producing as many hits as they did a few years ago. I expect the new network will only bring along a few UPN shows and it will be mostly like the WB, only with a few existing UPN shows and a name change.

The big question is what will happen to the local affiliates, what will happen to the one affiliate that does not become the CW network, will it become independent again or cease to exist???

Plus the only UPN shows that are shoe-in's next fall are:

America's Next Top Model
Everybody Hates Chris
Veronica Mars

As for the WB, I expect ONLY the following to return next year:

Gilmore Girls
Supernatural
One Tree Hill
Smallville
Reba

This leaves plenty of room for new shows on the network, since both networks are very weak, in terms of long running shows.

01-24-2006, 12:47 PM	#1
MichaelKane20 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 07, 2003 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 128	The CW Network -AP- UPN AND THE WB WILL CEASE OPERATIONS NEW YORK - Two small, struggling television networks, UPN and WB, will merge to form a new network called The CW, executives from the companies that own them said Tuesday. The announcement was made by executives from CBS Corp., which owns UPN, and Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc., which owns WB. Both UPN and WB had struggled to compete against larger rivals in the broadcast TV business, including Walt Disney Co.’s ABC, News Corp.’s Fox and CBS Corp.’s CBS. The new network will launch in the fall, the executives said, and both UPN and WB will shut down. It will be a 50-50 partnership between Warner Bros. and CBS, and the network will be carried on stations owned by the Tribune Co., which is a minority owner of the WB network. Leslie Moonves, chief executive of CBS Corp., said the new network will air 30 hours of programming seven days a week aimed in part at young audiences. Barry Meyer, the head of Warner Bros., said the network would be run by the current executives of UPN and WB. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO CHARMED, GIRLFRIENDS AND SMALLVILLE
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01-24-2006, 01:00 PM	#2
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	Sounds like the shows that aren't performing will be cancelled. I would expect Smallville and Girlfriends to remain, Charmed might be ending after this season anyway.
	__________________ Brent

01-24-2006, 01:18 PM	#3
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	I was just thinking about network mergers the other day. It makes sense. It'll make for a stronger 5th network, better that than two weaker ones. It'll be interesting to see what current UPN affiliates will broadcast since it'll be the Tribune/WB stations broadcasting the new channel.
	__________________ .

01-24-2006, 01:39 PM	#7
James"Thunder"Early Whoever's In New England Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Location: The Apollo Posts: 7,088	It's a shock, but a smart business decision.
	__________________ Esther Anderson: Get thee behind me, Satan, but I'm gon' get behind you, 'cause I'm gonna put my foot in your--- Peggy Mitchell: Get outta my pub! You better pray you get the last laugh, it's a kick in the teeth when you don't get it.

01-24-2006, 01:44 PM	#8
Chelsea Semi-retired Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Washington Posts: 5,727	The network will probably keep the shows that worked for WB, and the shows that worked for UPN (All two of them), and build around that
	__________________ Chelsea Former Administrator, 2005-2012 Former Member, DVD Review Team, 2004-2010.

01-24-2006, 01:21 PM	#4
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	I find the whole thing kind of shocking, but given that ratings have been tanking of late for both the UPN and the WB, it's not entirely surprising. The interesting part will be how they fit all the series together, particularly the WB and the UPN's comedies, which are geared towards different audiences. There's got to be alot of nervous people on the sets of these series today....

01-24-2006, 01:22 PM	#5
Mr. Monitor Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 27, 2004 Posts: 402	Interesting move on the part of the networks, but its sad that so many people are gonna lose their job.

01-24-2006, 01:29 PM	#6
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	Well, if there was any question before, it's certain now: What I Like About You is *outta here!* Since they'll be picking shows from both networks and have limited hours to fill on the new network, CBS should really think about solidifying their own lineup by taking shows that deserve a bigger audience, like Veronica Mars and Everybody Hates Chris. One night with programming with a younger audience appeal could do them some good.

01-24-2006, 01:51 PM	#9
TVJunkie101 Member...you 'member? Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,838	Yeah, Seth, that's how I see things going. I don't have a WB affiliate available to me so I'm hoping my local UPN takes on the CW's programming. If not I'm screwed. I definitely think Smallville, Gilmore Girls, Reba, Everybody Hates Chris, America's Next Top Model, Beauty & the Geek, Veronica Mars, Girlfriends, and a few others are for sure making the transition. I think it's a really smart move to combine the two networks and offer a really strong network consisting of solid performers from both networks.
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01-24-2006, 01:52 PM	#10
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	the networks lasted longer than they deserved to. Oh well
	__________________ Matt Filmaf ~ Twitter ~ Last.FM

01-24-2006, 02:03 PM	#11
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	It will be a 50-50 partnership between Warner Bros. and CBS, and the network will be carried on stations owned by the Tribune Co., which is a minority owner of the WB network

01-24-2006, 02:09 PM	#13
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	My WB station has been WB and UPN combined since 2000 wonder how it will affect that.

01-24-2006, 02:10 PM	#14
Raisingdad2004 Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 05, 2004 Posts: 715	I think the fall schedule will be more WB than UPN, how many hits do they have? I am interested to see how they will merge together, The WB works mainly in Teen Drama's and 12 year old comedies while UPN - doesn't work. I am hoping for some form of Charmed/Spinoff on the fall schedule, but I seriously doubt it now.
	__________________ Kaley Cuoco (8 Simple Rules) and Johnny Galecki (Roseanne) star - The Big Bang Theory Site. Two and a Half Men Fan Site.

01-24-2006, 02:13 PM	#15
Ronn Harmon Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 05, 2005 Posts: 181	This is obviously HUGE News, but I think it will turn out well in the long run. Looking at UPN's current batch of shows, most of them are very weak shows and really do not have long term potential. They also have really never found a hit show in there 11+ year existence. As for the WB, they have found several hits in the form of all the drama's the network produces designed for the younger age group, however they have not been producing as many hits as they did a few years ago. I expect the new network will only bring along a few UPN shows and it will be mostly like the WB, only with a few existing UPN shows and a name change. The big question is what will happen to the local affiliates, what will happen to the one affiliate that does not become the CW network, will it become independent again or cease to exist??? Plus the only UPN shows that are shoe-in's next fall are: America's Next Top Model Everybody Hates Chris Veronica Mars As for the WB, I expect ONLY the following to return next year: Gilmore Girls Supernatural One Tree Hill Smallville Reba This leaves plenty of room for new shows on the network, since both networks are very weak, in terms of long running shows.