a fond farewell to The WB and UPN
I'd been bringing this up to people over the past few months, while hanging out, and I'm surprised at how few of you had actually heard the news. Since the network is about to launch in a few days, I thought I'd finally get around to explaining it to folks. At the beginning of 2006, it was announced that the two networks "The WB" and "UPN" would be merging into one channel. The new network will be known as "The CW," and it launches on Monday September 18th. The name comes from the first initial of the two parent companies that are merging their networks. "C" is for CBS/Paramount, owner of UPN. And "W" is of course for Warner Brothers, owner of The WB. For my Jpop friends, it's always gonna be a funny name, since we've known what "c/w" has really meant for years ^_^;
This was the biggest industry shocker in ages. It'd be the first time that a broadcast television network would cease operations, let alone two of them at once. (Or I mean, "Aside from the DuMont Network in 1955." But only TV geeks like me would know what the hell that means). In the case of WB and UPN, their ratings were never able to hold up to the four major networks. They've both had moderate hits here and there, but by the end of 2005 they had failed to be profitable for quite a while. So in merging, they decided to salvage the more popular shows from each network and make a fresh start. Particularly the ones with a cool and youthful image, which they would be asserting more strongly from now on.
The CW will be taking over the channel that currently hosts The WB in most markets (since that is the most-watched of the two merging channels). In the case of us in Chicago, that's WGN channel nine. As for UPN, their affiliates in most areas are actually owned by FOX (like in Chicago, with WPWR channel 50). At the announcement of The CW merger, FOX was angry that most of its affiliates hosting UPN would now be left without a network. In this, FOX created their own new network, called "My Network TV." The channel would build its prime-time programming around two telenovelas (daily soap operas) that were originally created by FOX for syndication. In most markets, including ours in Chicago, "MYTV" has already taken over UPN's old channel, and can be seen since two weeks ago.
UPN didn't get a send-off of any sort, since FOX started replacing its banners with "MYTV" ones earlier in the year. And while UPN shows have been airing all summer, MYTV actually premiered two weeks before The CW did. So UPN just sorta died in limbo, a few weeks back. However, with The WB, we're apparently getting a cool "network farewell" this Sunday. They are airing the pilot episodes from The WB's biggest hits over the years. Felicity, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Dawson's Creek. Starting at 5/4c, a nice five-hour block. During the commercial breaks, they will air all of the old WB ad campaigns, as well as commercials for the DVD or syndicated releases of old WB shows. It's the end of an era, with the next day seeing the launch of The CW. I wish I could be home to watch it, I guess I'll set up a tape to record -_-
People seem to be scared of actually reading anything anymore, but here's some fascinating stuff from Wikipedia. There's some TV geek lingo here and there, but don't let it scare you. It's a fascinating history lesson, and it had me enthralled. Plus, it tells a great deal more than I personally have patience to type:
Wikipedia - The CW
Wikipedia - The WB
Wikipedia - UPN
Wikipedia - DuMont
This was the biggest industry shocker in ages. It'd be the first time that a broadcast television network would cease operations, let alone two of them at once. (Or I mean, "Aside from the DuMont Network in 1955." But only TV geeks like me would know what the hell that means). In the case of WB and UPN, their ratings were never able to hold up to the four major networks. They've both had moderate hits here and there, but by the end of 2005 they had failed to be profitable for quite a while. So in merging, they decided to salvage the more popular shows from each network and make a fresh start. Particularly the ones with a cool and youthful image, which they would be asserting more strongly from now on.
The CW will be taking over the channel that currently hosts The WB in most markets (since that is the most-watched of the two merging channels). In the case of us in Chicago, that's WGN channel nine. As for UPN, their affiliates in most areas are actually owned by FOX (like in Chicago, with WPWR channel 50). At the announcement of The CW merger, FOX was angry that most of its affiliates hosting UPN would now be left without a network. In this, FOX created their own new network, called "My Network TV." The channel would build its prime-time programming around two telenovelas (daily soap operas) that were originally created by FOX for syndication. In most markets, including ours in Chicago, "MYTV" has already taken over UPN's old channel, and can be seen since two weeks ago.
UPN didn't get a send-off of any sort, since FOX started replacing its banners with "MYTV" ones earlier in the year. And while UPN shows have been airing all summer, MYTV actually premiered two weeks before The CW did. So UPN just sorta died in limbo, a few weeks back. However, with The WB, we're apparently getting a cool "network farewell" this Sunday. They are airing the pilot episodes from The WB's biggest hits over the years. Felicity, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Dawson's Creek. Starting at 5/4c, a nice five-hour block. During the commercial breaks, they will air all of the old WB ad campaigns, as well as commercials for the DVD or syndicated releases of old WB shows. It's the end of an era, with the next day seeing the launch of The CW. I wish I could be home to watch it, I guess I'll set up a tape to record -_-
People seem to be scared of actually reading anything anymore, but here's some fascinating stuff from Wikipedia. There's some TV geek lingo here and there, but don't let it scare you. It's a fascinating history lesson, and it had me enthralled. Plus, it tells a great deal more than I personally have patience to type:
Wikipedia - The CW
Wikipedia - The WB
Wikipedia - UPN
Wikipedia - DuMont