New Television Network

[Madness]

http://www.newscorp.com/news/news_277.html

FOX TO LAUNCH MY NETWORK TV

New Station-Friendly Primetime Option Set for September

Primetime Dramas “Desire” and “Secrets” to Inaugurate My Network TV Debut


NEW YORK – February 22, 2006 - FOX will launch My Network TV, a new primetime program network scheduled to debut this fall. Fox Television Stations, Inc., and Twentieth Television will operate the new venture. The announcement was made today at a press conference in New York by Peter Chernin, President and Chief Operating Officer, News Corporation; Roger Ailes, Chairman of Fox Television Stations; and Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television Stations.

Upon launching on Tuesday, September 5th, 2006, My Network TV will feature quality primetime programming from 8:00-10:00pm (EST/PST) Monday through Saturday, totaling 12 hours of original content per week. Providing broadcasters a viable and station-friendly option for primetime, involving no reverse compensation, My Network TV will position stations with operational flexibility through an appealing affiliation term and attractive inventory split, further building asset value.

Fox Television Stations’ WWOR/New York, KCOP/Los Angeles, WPWR/Chicago, KDFI/Dallas, WDCA/Washington, D.C., KTXH/Houston, WFTC/Minneapolis, KUTP/Phoenix, WRBW/ Orlando and WUTB/Baltimore will serve as anchor affiliates of My Network TV, representing 24% of the United States. Supported with powerful branding and marketing initiatives that tie-in locally, the service will maintain and strengthen affiliates’ community brand recognition with a complete look and feel of a national network that empowers localism.

Regarding the announcement, Mr. Chernin stated, “No other media company comes close to Fox when it comes to launching new networks and gauging audience appetites. Over the past 20 years, we’ve proved it time and again with FBC, FX, Fox News Channel and National Geographic Channel among many others. And with My Network TV, we think we’ve come up with a unique format that will resonate with today’s consumer and a model that can be profitable from day one.”

Mr. Ailes added, “Backed by the strongest media company in the world, My Network TV is a viable alternative brought to you by proven winners who know quality programming. Independent stations are in need of a solid option for primetime and we believe no other company is providing this service to the market.”

Commented Mr. Abernethy, “We’re thrilled to be launching My Network TV this fall. We consider this to be a station-friendly alternative that will deliver more local inventory to its affiliates, uphold each station’s localism and feature quality programming supported by strong branding and marketing. We are looking forward to signing additional affiliates in the coming weeks.”

Twentieth Television’s new hour-long scripted dramas “Desire” and “Secrets” will inaugurate My Network TV. Structured in a 65-episode story arc stripped Monday through Friday for 13 weeks, “Desire” and “Secrets” are based on the worldwide success of the telenovela format. “Desire” chronicles the destruction of a family and the bonds of brotherhood take center stage when two brothers on the run from the mafia find themselves in a heated battle of passion, betrayal, deceit and murder over the woman they both love. “Secrets” goes deep behind-the-scenes to focus on the glamorous, yet sometimes brutally ruthless fashion industry, in which greed, lust and blind ambition surround a violent corporate takeover of the business’ hottest company. Principal photography on the dramas will commence early March.

Twentieth Television is aggressively developing additional programs and proven formats spanning reality, drama, comedy, game, news, movies and talk for My Network TV as the network develops, while also exploring opportunities with its sister companies. The company is opening its doors to all other major Hollywood studios to negotiate future programming concepts. Programs currently in development include:

• “Catwalk” (Twentieth Television) -- The ultimate search for the next “It” supermodel begins by crossing the country to discover 30 of the hottest, hippest and freshest faces who will compete for the once in a lifetime opportunity to be catapulted into stardom.

• “Celebrity Love Island” [Granada (“Nanny 911”)] -- Six gorgeous celebrity and six non-celebrity singletons are thrown together in a fantasy island setting, where a star-studded search for love takes place.

• “On Scene” (Fox News) -- This crime investigative series will cover all angles, examine all of the evidence and trace every single clue of the most compelling crimes committed today.

• “America’s Brainiest” (working title) [Celador (“Who Wants to Be A Millionaire”)] -- This quiz show, based on the hit British program, will find the country’s smartest individuals and reveal them in an exciting format.

• In addition, Twentieth Television is in advanced negotiations with FremantleMedia North America (“American Idol”) on an international format.

The Fox Television Stations group, one of the nation’s largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, comprises 35 stations in 26 markets, covering nearly 45% of U.S. television homes. This includes five duopolies in the top 10 markets, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Washington D.C., as well as duopolies in Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix and Orlando.

A leader in the U.S. program production and distribution arena, Twentieth Television is a unit of Fox Television Stations, Inc., which is headed by chairman Roger Ailes while CEO Jack Abernethy oversees day-to-day operations. Twentieth Television provides a wide array of first-run and off-network programming, as well as feature film packages, to the syndication and cable marketplaces. First-run programs distributed by Twentieth Television include “Geraldo at Large,” the news strip hosted by Geraldo Rivera, and the popular court shows “Divorce Court” and “Judge Alex,” the number one new first-run program of the 2005-06 season. In addition to “Desire” and “Secrets,” the company is set to launch the new court show “Cristina’s Court,” hosted by Cristina Perez, in Fall 2006. Twentieth Television also oversees the domestic sales of one of the most extensive libraries of off-net programming in the entertainment industry. Last fall, the company launched the groundbreaking drama “24,” starring Kiefer Sutherland, and The Peabody Award-winning sitcom “The Bernie Mac Show” in off-net syndication.

Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation, is principally engaged in the development, production and worldwide distribution of feature films and television programs, television broadcasting and cable network programming. The unit’s studios, production facilities and film and television library provide high-quality creative content, and broadcasting and cable networks provide extensive distribution platforms for the Company's programs.

[vashti1999]

Originally Posted by Madness

Unfortunately, I don't see anything online yet about it.

Always google. You'll find stuff if you google.


NEW YORK, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. (NWS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday said it would introduce a new broadcast network that will air programming on television stations that were left without a network after the creation of Time Warner Inc.'s (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research). and CBS Corp.'s (CBSa.N: Quote, Profile, Research) CW channel.

The announcement of the new network, dubbed MyNetworkTV, comes a month after Time Warner and CBS created the CW and said they would shut down their respective WB and UPN networks.

The shutdown of those networks left about 10 stations owned by News Corp without a network. "From our perspective it created a unique and wonderful opportunity," News Corp. President Peter Chernin said at a press conference.

[Madness]

I got all the info actually from newscorp.com. check it out above.

[Pavan]

Terrible. Damn Fox just ruined my ideas of classic TV sitcoms/dramas in primetime again for WWOR.

[Madness]

Agreed! That's exactly what I wanted, too. I was hoping for some game shows maybe on the station as well. Something different.

[staypuftman2004]

Fox Sucks

[Madness]

Here's another slightly different article from the Associated Press( http://www.ap.org )

NEW YORK(AP) News Corp. announced Wednesday it would launch a new mini-network called My Network TV that will supply prime-time shows for the 10 local TV stations the company owns that were left without programming after UPN announced that it would close.

The new lineup will be centered around two serial dramas that will air six days a week with 13-week story lines, similar to the soap opera-esque "telenovela" format that has been a big success on Spanish-language networks like Univision.

The two shows, called "Desire" and "Secrets," will be one hour each, airing Monday through Saturday. Other daily, serialized shows are also in the works, including a quiz show, a reality show called "Celebrity Love Island" and a supermodel search show.

Putting daily, serialized dramas on the air in prime time is highly unusual. Fox executives said the two new shows had been in the works for several months, before the announcement about UPN shutting down was made.

The new lineup will launch on Sept. 5 on stations in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas with initial coverage of 24 percent of the United States, News Corp. said. Executives said they hoped to sign up other affiliates as well.

The 10 stations that will initially carry the new shows are owned by News Corp.'s Fox television station group, which has a total of 35 stations in 26 cities, many of which are affiliated with News Corp.'s main broadcast network, Fox. News Corp., whose media assets span the globe, is controlled by the Australian-born media baron Rupert Murdoch.

The 10 stations were left without access to prime-time programming when UPN, a struggling network owned by CBS Corp., announced last month that it would close down.

CBS is using shows from UPN to launch another new broadcast network together with Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros., which decided to shut down its own network The WB. Both UPN and WB had struggled for years.

Roger Ailes, the head of Fox's television station group, will be in charge of the new My Network TV operation. Ailes, known as a doggedly determined programming executive, built Fox News Channel into a powerhouse, leapfrogging CNN in the all-news category.


And here's what they have so far for a logo from FoxNews:

[NASHMAN]

Originally Posted by Madness

Here's another slightly different article from the Associated Press( http://www.ap.org )

NEW YORK(AP) News Corp. announced Wednesday it would launch a new mini-network called My Network TV that will supply prime-time shows for the 10 local TV stations the company owns that were left without programming after UPN announced that it would close.

The new lineup will be centered around two serial dramas that will air six days a week with 13-week story lines, similar to the soap opera-esque "telenovela" format that has been a big success on Spanish-language networks like Univision.

The two shows, called "Desire" and "Secrets," will be one hour each, airing Monday through Saturday. Other daily, serialized shows are also in the works, including a quiz show, a reality show called "Celebrity Love Island" and a supermodel search show.

Putting daily, serialized dramas on the air in prime time is highly unusual. Fox executives said the two new shows had been in the works for several months, before the announcement about UPN shutting down was made.

The new lineup will launch on Sept. 5 on stations in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas with initial coverage of 24 percent of the United States, News Corp. said. Executives said they hoped to sign up other affiliates as well.

The 10 stations that will initially carry the new shows are owned by News Corp.'s Fox television station group, which has a total of 35 stations in 26 cities, many of which are affiliated with News Corp.'s main broadcast network, Fox. News Corp., whose media assets span the globe, is controlled by the Australian-born media baron Rupert Murdoch.

The 10 stations were left without access to prime-time programming when UPN, a struggling network owned by CBS Corp., announced last month that it would close down.

CBS is using shows from UPN to launch another new broadcast network together with Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros., which decided to shut down its own network The WB. Both UPN and WB had struggled for years.

Roger Ailes, the head of Fox's television station group, will be in charge of the new My Network TV operation. Ailes, known as a doggedly determined programming executive, built Fox News Channel into a powerhouse, leapfrogging CNN in the all-news category.


And here's what they have so far for a logo from FoxNews:

This looks real good since I will be loking forward to seeing this new network on the UPN affiliates in my area since there are 2 between Fresno and Bakersfield where one is definitely joining CW and the other is going to be MyTV.

[staypuftman2004]

what show are going to be on MyTV?

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

Terrible. Damn Fox just ruined my ideas of classic TV sitcoms/dramas in primetime again for WWOR.

Believe me, this won't last long.

[Brent88]

This network is DOA. Look at the schedule...

Mondays
8:00 PM Desire (new episode)
9:00 PM Secrets (new episode)

Tuesdays
8:00 PM Desire (new episode)
9:00 PM Secrets (new episode)

Wednesdays
8:00 PM Desire (new episode)
9:00 PM Secrets (new episode)

Thursdays
8:00 PM Desire (new episode)
9:00 PM Secrets (new episode)

Fridays
8:00 PM Desire (new episode)
9:00 PM Secrets (new episode)

Saturdays
8:00 PM Desire: Recap Show
9:00 PM Secrets: Recap Show

and no this is not a joke...



Pav, I give it til Thanksgiving with this schedule and only 24% of the Country being able to see it... and I'm being very generous here.

[Pavan]

Desire/Secrets will be on other channels, too. Not just these 10 NewsCorp owned channels. For the other cities it'll be on in the daytime somewhere. I don't think this will count in the Nielsen's against network TV, since it is syndicated programming.

[SBTB Geek]

It seems like it's going to be a dumping ground for FOX. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, they cancel all of their good shows.

[James]

[staypuftman2004]

Fox network