Semi-OT: New Broadcast Network!

[JDWeil]

In a major announcement, Warner Brothers Ent. an CBS Corp. have announced the creation of a new broadcast television nwtwork by combining the WB and UPN to form the CW Network. Beginning this fall, both UPN and the WB will cease operations and the CW will take over at this point.. Here's the full story: (http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/index.htm?cnn=yes)

[Sogturtle]

JD~

Well, Ted Turner FINALLY got his old wish of killing off the WB!!! And considering what Warner's has ended up doing with their other joint ventures... Wonder how they'll justify this to the stock-holders?

[Daff Doc]

This is good news! Sweeping two bad channels into ONE bad channel! Now if only they can fill up that extra broadcast space with something watchable.:)

What if Roy Disney can issue that classic Disney channnel?

[Daff Doc]

JD~

Well, Ted Turner FINALLY got his old wish of killing off the WB!!!

Was he singing "Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit.":D

[Geezil]

To heck with "WWE Smackdown"! I can't wait for the premiere of "CSI: Tierra del Fuego"!!!! :rolleyes:

[UncleJunior]

I don't mind Mr. geezil's remarks despite me being a WWE fan. Though its been not as good as the past.

Now comes the fun part of what shows will survive this merger.

[Argus]

The fun part is going to be what happens when these stations lose their affiliations. (Could this be a way for the Paramount cartoons to somehow get TV airtime?)

[Studio Toledo]

The fun part is going to be what happens when these stations lose their affiliations. (Could this be a way for the Paramount cartoons to somehow get TV airtime?)

I'm knida being reminded of the fact that both UPN and WB are on two different formats in my town. WB is carried on a cable-based channel offered exlusively by my cable company, and UPN is being run on a crappy low-power UHF station whose signal doesn't reach my house much.

I would expect the CW network to probably be picked up by the cable channel, while the UHF station would probably have to make due with the PIN infomercials and Urban America TV stuff they've been showing for years, so I don't see any progress here, though it would be interesting to see how this might affect stations in larger markets that have relied on their affiliate for the longest without any thought to what their future would be like? Kinda like to see WKBD going back to be an independent again!

[Chow Hound]

so I don't see any progress here

I see progress in the fact that many crappy TV shows will have to be cancelled to fit two terrible networks into one terrible network. Not that I think any of the other major networks are any better; I despise them all at this point.

[Geezil]

[...]I would expect the CW network to probably be picked up by the cable channel, while the UHF station would probably have to make due with the PIN infomercials and Urban America TV stuff they've been showing for years, so I don't see any progress here, though it would be interesting to see how this might affect stations in larger markets that have relied on their affiliate for the longest without any thought to what their future would be like? Kinda like to see WKBD going back to be an independent again!

Sadly, it appears that the American Independent Network, which earned its proud niche in the GAC Hall of Fame by giving us Cartoon Junction, won't be there to feed the need. Its Web domain is up for grabs, which would signify that AIN itself has gone the ultimate way of all things. :(

[JDWeil]

I'm knida being reminded of the fact that both UPN and WB are on two different formats in my town. WB is carried on a cable-based channel offered exlusively by my cable company, and UPN is being run on a crappy low-power UHF station whose signal doesn't reach my house much.

I would expect the CW network to probably be picked up by the cable channel, while the UHF station would probably have to make due with the PIN infomercials and Urban America TV stuff they've been showing for years, so I don't see any progress here, though it would be interesting to see how this might affect stations in larger markets that have relied on their affiliate for the longest without any thought to what their future would be like? Kinda like to see WKBD going back to be an independent again!

Well, here in the New York area, the WB and UPN are carried on separate local channels (WPIX and WWOR). I'm guessing that WPIX will carry the new CW Network since it has the production facilities and that WWOR is actually owned by Fox so it it will probably go independent.

[corey3rd]

I doubt vintage cartoons will be the priority for programmers looking to fill up the slate. We're dealing with 2 networks that only provided 2 hours a night worth of footage. So most stations might go for the old stop gap of running films at night - that used to be what indie channels did back in the 70s.

WPIX gets CW.

[Studio Toledo]

I see progress in the fact that many crappy TV shows will have to be cancelled to fit two terrible networks into one terrible network. Not that I think any of the other major networks are any better; I despise them all at this point.

When you put it that way, yeah, I guess that's for the best. I never even watch both WB and UPN at all, though my brother has to make it a thing of taping shows like "7th Heaven" while he's working.

[Chow Hound]

I wonder if we're starting to see a reversion to pre-cable indie channels? Wouldn't that be nice?

[Studio Toledo]

Well, here in the New York area, the WB and UPN are carried on separate local channels (WPIX and WWOR). I'm guessing that WPIX will carry the new CW Network since it has the production facilities and that WWOR is actually owned by Fox so it it will probably go independent.

Thinking about it some more, WKBD is owned by CBS anyway, and they could easily become a CW O&O if possible, leaving WDWB hunting around for some content if needed.

[Studio Toledo]

I wonder if we're starting to see a reversion to pre-cable indie channels? Wouldn't that be nice?

I think so.

It would be kinda like the time Toledo had WUPW-TV36 as an indie until it had to pick up FOX in '87. I miss those days.

[corey3rd]

I wonder if we're starting to see a reversion to pre-cable indie channels? Wouldn't that be nice?

thanks to the DVD revolution we can create the indie channel of your youth by buying the programming. And wouldn't you be better watching the uncut episdoes without 10 minutes of ads every 30 minutes?

I doubt any of the orphan channels are going to revert to the gold old days. They'll keep their days filled with gab, lawyer and paid programming. And they'll find some cheap shows to run at night. I doubt they'll return to the days of running AIP packages and Elvis marathons. And a few will grab PAX. And maybe a couple of the stations will decide to go Spanish language.

I know around here that a few of the local pro teams are eyeing ways to get space on these channels to run their games since they've been pushed back to Fox Sports Net.

[Chow Hound]

thanks to the DVD revolution we can create the indie channel of your youth by buying the programming. And wouldn't you be better watching the uncut episdoes without 10 minutes of ads every 30 minutes?

Yes, and I've pretty much done that. But I think it's necessary for the survival of classic shows (cartoons included) that each generation gets exposed to them. If that doesn't happen, our favorite golden oldies won't keep getting re-released in each succeeding media format. I don't plan on upgrading past DVD, but it would be nice to think that someday my kids could go and buy the shows I grew up with on the old indie channels.

I doubt any of the orphan channels are going to revert to the gold old days. They'll keep their days filled with gab, lawyer and paid programming. And they'll find some cheap shows to run at night. I doubt they'll return to the days of running AIP packages and Elvis marathons. And a few will grab PAX. And maybe a couple of the stations will decide to go Spanish language.

I know around here that a few of the local pro teams are eyeing ways to get space on these channels to run their games since they've been pushed back to Fox Sports Net.

*SIGH* You're probably right. :(

[Studio Toledo]

thanks to the DVD revolution we can create the indie channel of your youth by buying the programming. And wouldn't you be better watching the uncut episdoes without 10 minutes of ads every 30 minutes?

I doubt any of the orphan channels are going to revert to the gold old days. They'll keep their days filled with gab, lawyer and paid programming. And they'll find some cheap shows to run at night. I doubt they'll return to the days of running AIP packages and Elvis marathons. And a few will grab PAX. And maybe a couple of the stations will decide to go Spanish language.

I know around here that a few of the local pro teams are eyeing ways to get space on these channels to run their games since they've been pushed back to Fox Sports Net.

That's so true.

Can't say if WNGT in my town is going to convert anytime soon, and we have yet to see a PAX or Univision channel just yet spring up.

[frizfrelengfan]

The extra channel will probably become a shopping channel, or an infomercial channel, or a Spanish-language channel.

[ltnut]

I'd agree that this will actually only affect 2 hours on most stations that lose out and it will probably be filled with either movies or more of the same syndicated junk like is already on these stations at other times of the day. I doubt if there will be any classic TV added in very many places.

In Memphis UPN and WB are both already on WLMT 30, so all that will probably happen is that the merger will free up the block from 10 PM to midnight (which is when the WB is carried), which will probably be filled with either more trash talk and courtroom shows, or reruns of more recent sitcoms.

In Jackson, TN WB is on Charter Cable channel 2 and UPN is on WJKT 16. I'd guess that CW will end up on WJKT and channel 2 will hopefully be freed up for something else on Charter.

Also, why would ANY station that loses their affiliation want to go to PAX/i? They'll probably be going under in the near future as well, and some of those stations might be the real chance for the return of more classic TV and cartoons.