Title: UPN To Shut Down?
jamiegeist - January 25, 2006 01:31 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
Merging with The WB to form new network -- how will this impact Smackdown?
The Hollywood Reporter and several other news sources are reporting that "The WB Network and UPN will merge in the hope of making the two smaller broadcast networks into a bigger power, according to sources familiar with the situation."
Dawn Ostroff, UPN president, will oversee the combined venture, which will be known as The CW Network according to Reuters and AP reports. It will launch in the fall with 30 hours of programming, seven days per week, according to AP. Operations and programming will merge, the network will be a 50-50 venture between CBS Corp. and Warner Bros. Entertainment, and Tribune Broadcasting is expected to be the primary station group, with CBS Corp.'s existing affiliation deals with WWOR New York and KCOP Los Angeles (both owned by News Corp.) expiring in September.
Last week at the Television Critics Association Winter Tour, Ostroff said -- regarding "Friday Night SmackDown!" -- that the network fully expected to have wrestling on its schedule come next fall. Currently UPN and The WB do not program Saturday prime-time, and UPN does not program Sunday nights. We'll have more on this as it develops. |
And an article on Smackdown's future:
| QUOTE |
The new CW Network being formed by CBS Corp. and Warner Bros. Entertainment will likely include Smackdown as part of its prime-time programming, according to a press release issued today by CBS.
An excerpt:
The CW will incorporate The WB's current scheduling model, which consists of a 6 night-13 hour primetime lineup including Monday through Friday nights from 8-10 (EST/PST); Sundays from 7-10 (EST/PST); Sunday from 5-7 (EST/PST) outside of primetime as well as a Monday thru Friday afternoon block from 3-5 (EST/PST) and a 5-hour Saturday morning animation block. Together, the network will program 30 hours a week over seven days for its affiliated stations.
As the top creative executive, Ostroff will have available a line-up of some of the most popular programming that appeals to young adults in the media business. These programming assets range from hit reality series such as "America's Next Top Model" and The WB's "Beauty and the Geek," to hit dramas like The WB's "Smallville," "Gilmore Girls," "Supernatural," and UPN's "Veronica Mars" as well as UPN's hit comedies "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Girlfriends" and The WB's hit comedy "Reba." In addition the WWE's "Smackdown," which has been a mainstay at UPN, is expected to play a role in the schedule.
Additionally in the release (which you can read by clicking above), between Tribune-owned, CBS-owned and other current WB and UPN affiliates, "the full distribution of the new network is expected to exceed 95% of the country." |
eStragand - January 25, 2006 04:52 AM (GMT)
About the same as Sears and KMart merging. Two shitty/mediocre companies coming together.
This just means less openings for some of the stuff UPN has run in the past-- classics like "Homeboys in Outer Space" and "Platypus Man".
SamoaRowe - January 25, 2006 04:55 AM (GMT)
The WB used to have a really strong line-up, but really fell apart these past few years. While WB was crumbling, it seemed that UPN was slowly moving towards respectability (emphasis on slowly).
This new network should be interesting. As long as they keep Smackdown, I'm fine.
Scrooge McSuck - January 25, 2006 05:01 AM (GMT)
I haven't watched the WB since they canned Jamie Fox and especially The Wayans Brothers. THEY DIDN'T EVEN GET A LAST EPISODE!
SamoaRowe - January 25, 2006 05:05 AM (GMT)
I haven't watched the WB since Buffy moved to UPN.
Oh wait... I've seen Charmed a few times at my girlfriend's house.
So what will happen to Charmed!
Scrooge McSuck - January 25, 2006 05:07 AM (GMT)
Who cares, Charmed sucks. :)
SamoaRowe - January 25, 2006 05:08 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Scrooge McSuck @ Jan 24 2006, 11:07 PM) |
| Who cares, Charmed sucks. :) |
Eh, it's alright. I don't watch it unless I have to though. The older episodes looked cool.
Anyhow, it looks as though Smackdown will be picked up by this new network, so we can all rest well.
Scrooge McSuck - January 25, 2006 05:10 AM (GMT)
Phew... thank God for that. If I couldn't see a weekly dosage of The Boogeyman, I don't know what I'd do.
SamoaRowe - January 25, 2006 05:12 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Scrooge McSuck @ Jan 24 2006, 11:10 PM) |
| Phew... thank God for that. If I couldn't see a weekly dosage of The Boogeyman, I don't know what I'd do. |
Don't worry, if Smackdown ever goes down the tubes, Boogeyman would probably be one of the stars to show up on Raw right away.
Scrooge McSuck - January 25, 2006 05:22 AM (GMT)
Boogeyman vs. Kane! SMELL THE WORKRATE!
SamoaRowe - January 25, 2006 05:27 AM (GMT)
Now that you mention it, I still haven't seen the Boogeyman wrestle. Every time I've caught Smackdown since he debuted, all he has done is freak someone out with his crazy antics.
From what I've heard, he sucks in the ring.
Scrooge McSuck - January 25, 2006 05:33 AM (GMT)
I only saw him wrestle Simon Dean. The match was literally 2 moves, so it'sa unfair to judge him by that.
Big F'N Swigg - January 25, 2006 05:44 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (SamoaRowe @ Jan 24 2006, 10:55 PM) |
The WB used to have a really strong line-up, but really fell apart these past few years. While WB was crumbling, it seemed that UPN was slowly moving towards respectability (emphasis on slowly).
This new network should be interesting. As long as they keep Smackdown, I'm fine. |
I honestly feel that it's the other way around. The WB has made itself a stronger presence with Gilmore Girls, Smallville, and the several different primetime soap opera shows.
UPN's only had Everybody Hates Chris. And I might give them Veronica Mars. MAYBE
dynamite kido - January 25, 2006 05:47 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Scrooge McSuck @ Jan 24 2006, 11:33 PM) |
| I only saw him wrestle Simon Dean. The match was literally 2 moves, so it'sa unfair to judge him by that. |
Actually, it's fair if they only have him do 2 moves because that's all he can do.
Scrooge McSuck - January 25, 2006 05:52 AM (GMT)
I highly doubt that's grounds for ripping someone a new one. We'll see after the Rumble how bad he is, unless JBL squashes him in 2 minutes (or vice versa).
jamiegeist - January 25, 2006 05:55 AM (GMT)
Charmed isn't horrible. My wife watches it........alot. And occasionally when I feel like watching TV and she is owning the TV after work, I'll slide in for a couple episodes. She has 2 DVD sets, and then records the syndicated ones on WB and TNT on our DVR. So whenever I watch, I have no fuckin clue what it going on, cause she jumps around so much.
Rose McGowan is super bone-able though, and it is usually pretty entertaining to be honest.
Mad Dog - January 29, 2006 12:52 AM (GMT)
Charmed went against the original premise after the first season though. Just saying. Buffy was a superior show to it.
prof_plague - January 30, 2006 03:34 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (SamoaRowe @ Jan 24 2006, 11:05 PM) |
I haven't watched the WB since Buffy moved to UPN.
Oh wait... I've seen Charmed a few times at my girlfriend's house.
So what will happen to Charmed! |
I think Charmed is on its last season anyhow. I think it was supposed to go off air last season, but WB wanted another season because the show was still making money; although the show no longer makes sense.