The WB/UPN Merger

[Emerald Ghost]

Is there a thread on this already? If so, could you link me? I looked on the first two pages but no luck.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11006886

I didn't know UPN and the WB were considered "small". Interesting!

*edit, ah I found it now. The joys of the miraculous search tool.

[Callie]

Ah yep, my newspaper editor/ TV obessed friend pointed that out to me a month or so ago. The CW.

Houston is keeping Channel 39 (old WB station). Austin is unknown, but the WB station is most likely, since we already have issues with UPN here.

I think it's a good move. Each brings some good property to the joint venture. UPN specializes in the young male market, WB in the young female market. They won't beat out the big four by any means, but they will no longer be competing against each other for viewers and that should help.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The only one who will have to worry about them as a Network is Fox. Thats thier closest target. The big 3 aren't scared for now. But as the CW Network grows and builds....perhaps in 5 years they will.

[EZMOHR]

I realized something this year. For the first time in like forever, I watched nothing on the WB or UPN. (Except local reruns of shows.) I'm sure the new CW will keep the local channel 20 (WB) station.

[Donald M.]

I don't know if I want to be watching a network whose name I cannot help pronouncing as "The Cwuh" because I find it amusing.

Okay, for Veronica Mars I can do it.

[CaptainAwesome]

If you have two mounds of crap (upn & the WB) and you put them togeather, you just have one big mound of crap. Except for the ocassional bits of corn(Veronica Mars) and nut(formerly: Angel) that are lodged in there, why do they expect The CW to be any better? Bah, network executives and thier money grubbing!

[Voncaster]

Finally all the shows I don't watch together on one channel.


Actually since I don't have cable that means 1 less channel...of re-runs I might watch. All in all I don't see this as an earth shattering change.

[Valmore]

Finally all the shows I don't watch together on one channel.

Actually since I don't have cable that means 1 less channel...of re-runs I might watch. All in all I don't see this as an earth shattering change.

You don't need cable - WB and UPN are both network channels and CW will also be a network channel. It just depends on if you have a local affiliate close enough for your reception.

[Forefinger]

The only way this affects me is that I might have to reset my DVR to record Smallville and WWE Smackdown. Those are the only shows that I watch on either of those networks.

[KenK]

I think most affiliates will have the CW on their former WB channel. Here in DC, our UPN channel has gone back to being DCA 20, as opposed to UPN 20. It's only UPN 20 now during primetime programming on weeknights.

[Deathstroke]

I think most affiliates will have the CW on their former WB channel. Here in DC, our UPN channel has gone back to being DCA 20, as opposed to UPN 20. It's only UPN 20 now during primetime programming on weeknights.


Here in the Boston area, the current WB station will become CW, while the UPN station goes back to being WSBK TV-38.

[Nate Grey]

I just want to know which shows they're keeping and which ones they're dropping after the merger. I think its a safebet that Everybody Hates Chris and Smallville have nothing to worry about, though.

[adamthered]

From a few of the articles I've read, it seems like they are most interested in:

Veronica Mars, Everwood, Smallville, Supernatural, Gilmore Girls, Everybody Hates Chris, Next Top Model, and Smackdown.

I think these are all really strong shows to build their new network around. I want to see Veronica Mars go on for a few more years. At least get her through college and possibly see her teaming with her dad as equal partners.

[LtMarvel]

St. Louis had the top-rated WB station in the country. UPN has only been on the air there for a couple of years. Not much of a choice there....good-bye WB11, hello CW11!

[kalorama]

I haven't really watched a UPN show since Voyager went off the air. Although that's partly because I don't have cable and since I moved a year ago, I can't get clear reception on the UPN stations. That notwithstanding, I really don't see anything in their lineup I'd be particularly interested in.

My guess is that most markets will retain the WB stations as the CW because it seems like, for the most part, the current WB stations have a stronger signal and a broader reach (since the WB came into being first and thus got first pick of the stations).