WB and UPN to merge

Chairman Kaga

living in the past
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    I just saw this on Yahoo. I think it's being called CW.

    Here's a quote:

    '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.'

    That means WGN, WPIX, and KTLA for those of you that don't know. This is must-know news. Hopefully everyone is made aware of it.
     
    If it did it wouldn't be under the "KidsWB" moniker anymore. I'm guessing the block will be renamed if it stays. Though it does give a slight chance of this stuff coming back to weekdays. They first have to figure out what they're going to do with their higher profile shows I suppose. As a whole, this a really unexpected move, there's been no mention of this, no rumors, nothing. Should probably keep an eye on how all of this is going to play out.
     
    I find it just amusing considering how much the two networks have competed with each other throughout the decade and now...

    "By your powers unite!"

    My only issue is the Kids WB block. As long as that's left alone, I don't care because since Enterprise is canceled, don't care for UPN and WB has nothing to inspire me.

    But it makes a funny point, even if you fight and fight, eventually everyone will be one big company.

    It's the wave of the future. Hehehe.
     
    Darn, I was about to post this!

    We'll have to see what happens this fall...
     
    Yeah, just saw this on Earthlink news. My only concern is Kids WB. They said that there still will be 5 hours of "children's programing" on Saturday mornings. I hope it will stay mostly the same (They could get rid of Coconut Fred, Johny Test and The Lunitics).
     
    Some news from Michigan's broadcasters...

    I just checked the Michigan Buzzboard, and it appears that WDWB (Detroit's WB) will become independent again, and WKBD (the current UPN affiliate) will get the CW network. In the Lansing/Jackson area, I believe that WHTV (the current UPN affil for Jackson) might become CW affiliate. Lansing has a cable-only WB affiliate.
    In the Flint and Tri-Cities (Saginaw, Bay City, and Midland) area, which is expecting their own WB affiliate (WBSF) soon, I have no idea what it'll come to. (though it appears that WBSF has been dead on arrival from the beginning with continuous delays in getting the station started.

    -ottermi619-
    This is a real shocker, though I'd expect one of the networks to die and become all-informercial (similar to what PAX/i could have done)
     
    Pending change

    The CW will utilize The WB's present scheduling formula: Monday through Friday (3-5PM EST, 8-10PM EST), Saturdays (7AM-12PM animation block), Sundays (9AM-2PM [new Sunday animation block], 6PM-11PM)
    Click to expand...

    The way the merge will work is like this. They'll both be gone. There'll just be an extra local network carrying whatever (movies, talk shows, syndicated programming). So if the channel that the WB is on in my city becomes CW, then all that happens to the channel UPN was on is that it will lose network affiliation.
     
    a new lame-o name

    The name "CW" sounds pretty lame for a television broadcasting network, IMO. Same with "i".

    So if the channel that the WB is on in my city becomes CW, then all that happens to the channel UPN was on is that it will lose network affiliation.
    Click to expand...
    Or if there is only a WB or UPN (not both) in a particular market, then it will most likely become CW. I'm not sure about cable-only affiliates (such as WBL in Lansing)
    If your market has both over-the-air WB and UPN, have a good time guessing which will become CW.

    BTW, someone on the Buzzboard mentioned that it should have been "VW" (Viacom + Warner), but Viacom has split in two. The broadcasting networks and stations (O&Os) are part of the new CBS Corporation, while Viacom has the premium cable stations (MTV, BET, etc.) and Paramount Picutres (Paramount's television operation now is part of the new CBS)

    -ottermi619-
    Don't tell me this Viacom split-up was a disaster!
     
    I'd rather the WB affiliates take over CW than the UPN ones; generally they have cleaner visuals and are overall more professional. Like John said, since Enterprise is gone, UPN can rot, even though they could easily bring it back, loose ends tied up in the finale notwithstanding. It violated enough Trek canon as it is, we'd live with any half-baked excuse involving Riker and the holodeck just to have it.
     
    Oh man Oh man. This is important news. I just found out that WWE Smackdown (UPN's highest rated show) will still be part of the line-up. I'm confused as to how the schedules work. So there will be animation blocks on Satuday AND Sunday? Dang.
     
    As long as they're still gonna have Smackdown, it's fine with me. I wish they could just get rid of those stupid Loonatics in the line up... >>
     
    Filling you in

    https://www.michiguide.com/
    CBS and Warner Brothers have announced the end of the line for CBS' UPN and WB's The WB networks effective this fall as the two units will combine to form a new single entity to be coined "The CW". The new network will offer carry-over prime-time programming from both UPN and WB when it launches in September, along with keeping the children's afternoon and Saturday morning offerings currently called "Kids WB". The move will have the biggest impact on Metro Detroit's WDWB-TV 20, which will be left without a network affiliation once the WB ceases operations this summer. Current CBS-owned UPN affiliate WKBD-TV 50 will become the Motor City's home for The CW.

    Across the rest of Michigan, it is uncertain what the effect will be once the new network begins operations. Currently, Lansing/Jackson has a full-time UPN affiliate on WHTV-TV 18 and West Michigan viewers can see UPN shows on a series of low-power stations called 'The X' (based at WXSP-CA channel 15). UPN programs are also available on several other stations on a tape-delayed basis or as part of HD secondary channels. The WB has several cable-only outlets across the state in addition to an HD secondary channel offered by WEYI Saginaw and on a tape delayed basis on WZPX-TV 43 Battle Creek.
    Click to expand...

    Here's what'll (pretty much close to) officially will be happening in Michigan when it comes to CW.
     
    I am really disappointed that The WB is doing this. I hope that some of the good shows on these networks arent cut. Like Smallville, Gilmore Girls, Related, Supernatural, and such. Also UPN has some great ones too: America's Next Top Model and Veronica Mars. But maybe with all those shows under one network the ratings will be higher. Sucks for the WB though. They just hit their 10 year mark this year and now they are shutting down.
     
    they had no choice, I'm sure

    Just a few minutes ago, Tomasu-san wrote:
    I am really disappointed that The WB is doing this. I hope that some of the good shows on these networks arent cut. Like Smallville, Gilmore Girls, Related, Supernatural, and such. Also UPN has some great ones too: America's Next Top Model and Veronica Mars. But maybe with all those shows under one network the ratings will be higher. Sucks for the WB though. They just hit their 10 year mark this year and now they are shutting down.
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    It was either combine or one or both of them become full-time alll informercials.
     
    Not sure how much credit there is to this, but it's supposed to be one of 7 different lineups for later this year.

    Pending to change

    Sunday
    Rumored Charmed spinoff (1 hour)
    Girlfriends (2 episodes @ 1/2 hour each)
    Gilmore Girls (1 hour)

    Monday
    New Sitcom (1/2 hour)
    Beauty and the Geek (1/2 hour)
    Everwood (1 hour)

    Tuesday
    Veronica Mars (1 hour)
    One Tree Hill (1 hour)

    Wednesday
    Everybody Hates Chris (1/2 hour)
    Reba (1/2 hour)
    America's Next Top Model (1 hour)

    Thursday
    Smallville (1 hour)
    Aquaman (1 hour)

    Friday
    As of yet, unnamed one hour show
    Supernatural (1 hour)

    Saturday
    Smackdown! (2 hours)
    Smallville (new episode re run) (1 hour)

    Not much is known about the Saturday morning cartoon block, but shows that will be returning include Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Xiaolin Shodown and the Loonatics. For the Sunday animation block, the "Morning" half will run from 9AM to 12PM and will consist of DIC animation. The latter half of the block will consist of other shows that were on KidsWB.
    Click to expand...
     
    Last edited:
    At least DIC's still running their block...

    the "Morning" half will run from 9AM to 12PM and will consist of DIC animation. The latter half of the block will consist of other shows that were on KidsWB.
    Click to expand...
    I was wondering what would become of DIC's syndicated animation block
     
    Maybe Mario and Zelda will return...and possibly Sailor Moon Classic and R?
     
    No, never, not going to happen and the licenese for SM rand out and TOEI more or less said it's not going to sell it again.
     
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