"CW" network??? WB/UPN gone?

[newsmark]

Re: UPN21/WB33 Questions/Comments about Merger...

> Upn 21 started out as an independent 25 years ago. It was
> also a network back up for NBC a few times. It will back
> CBS11 KTVT. UPN was just a sad network. The Star Trek
> Franchise is the only thing that had a respectable aaudience
> and income. The sitcoms were the pits, unfunny uncreative
> poorly acted and written. It ws only a matter of time,
> looking at its ratings. The bulk of the programs will be
> WB's Smallville, Gilmour Girls, Supernatural,Charmed. Its
> news may move to 10 p now though.
>
No move for the News at Nine. CBS Pres. Les Moonves said in his news conference yesterday that The CW will program 7-9 pm (Central) Monday-Friday, and 4-9 p.m. on Sunday.

As I recall, Channel 21 also ran NYPD Blue when Channel 8 turned it down and ran Prime Time Texas instead.

 

[adguy]

Re: Houston/Austin/San Antonio scenarios for The CW

> > WB 33 will become the CW affiliate in Dallas. WB 33
> > is owned by Tribune. What is now UPN 21 will be left
> > without a network affiliation.
>
> In Houston, Tribune's KHWB/39 will get the CW network, which
> means Fox O&O KTXH "UPN 20" will have to find other
> programming. This is good for the news department at 39, as
> they've been rather worried about Tribune possibly giving
> them the axe. A stronger network leading into their 9pm
> newscast might mean a stay of execution.
>
> Wonder if KHWB would change their call to KHCW ? A quick
> search shows that call currently unused either on TV or
> radio.

I spoke to a Fox insider and he shared with me the shock and awe effect this announcement had on Fox. Nobody, all the way up to the Dennis Swanson level (Head of all the Fox O&O stations) had a clue this was in the works. This person confirmed that in Houston KHWB will indeed change its call letters to KHCW next fall. I checked and the domain name of KHCW.com has already been registered by a CBS group. As for KTXH Channel 20 in Houston my source tells me that they will be instructed to run various scenarios on how to convert KTXH from a UPN affil to an independent. I suspect that research will take them through several machinations from looking at the viability of running all sports and news with some syndicated fare all the way to selling it off completely. Knowing Fox as I do (Nine years management experience with the company) they will go with what is best for the bottom line and nothing else. If they can't convert their Fox Sports cable contracts with the Astros and Rockets to broadcast contracts or some variation in between cable & broadcast, they will sell KTXH and try to get several hundred million for it. Note this post come next fall and bank on this happening. That's only for this market. Each market has a different scenario and Fox has all of the their O&O stations with UPN duopolies scrambling to determine what to do. What a horrible pressure-filled work load! Glad it's them and not me anymore.
>
> In San Antonio it would appear KRRT/35 will be the CW affil,
> while in Austin KNVA/54 will pick up the network. This
> leaves Belo-operated UPN KBEJ/2 out in the cold for both
> markets...wonder if Belo would dump the operating agreement?
> Is Spanish in the future for Channel 2 in Central Texas?
>

 

[stdjsb25]

ETex CW Scenario: No Doubt About It!

The only outcome that will come out of this for East Texas will be that KYTX will get the CW affiliation.....namely because KYTX did just sign a long-term affiliation agreement with UPN, and I doubt that CW would choose KTPN/KCEB/KLPN with an extremely weak audience instead of KYTX, which has a larger audience.

I predict that ComCorp/White Knight will probably find a excuse to shutter or sell KCEB/KTPN/KLPN because it will cost them too much to reprogram and operate the stations, where they can take the revenue from selling 48/54/58 and putting it into getting both KETK and KFXK's DTV signals up and on the air, instead of complaining that it costs too much for the equipment. It costs too much because you're trying to operate three working stations in the same market plus a WB cable affiliate which will most likely go away this Fall.

ComCorp is going to be the biggest loser on this, while Max Media (CBS 19's owners) will be the biggest winners.

 

[stdjsb25]

Re: B/CS and Waco-Temple-Killeen Scenario

> This might actually prove troublesome for KBTX/KWTX which
> just fired up UPN-DT on Monday.
>

Then most likely, that'll be the CW affiliate. I doubt that CBS/Time Warner will take the affilation elsewhere....

As for a lot of these affilates, CBS/TW stands to lose tens, if not hundreds, of millions in startup costs alone, just to buy out the affiliation agreements of the stations that don't make the CW cut.

 

[arnoldevns]

KTVT will have nothing to do with KDAF

> Sounds to me like KTVT/KTXA is trying to downplay the facts
> that (1) KTXA will lose its network affiliation, and (2)
> KTVT is now also going to be aligned (at least in a business
> sense) with KDAF/33.
>
> A question that I would have is, if KTVT produces a local
> newscast for KTXA (which appears likely), would they also
> help contribute to KDAF's newscast? Or would the Tribune
> stations simply go on as before?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, had to get that out. There are soooo many people who are misinterpreting what this deal means.

Let's start with this: KTVT will have nothing to do with KDAF - PERIOD!!!!
Here's why: KTVT and KTXA are owned by CBS, KDAF is owned by Tribune.
CBS and Warner Brothers will jointly own CW.
Tribune gave up its ownership in the WB network to get a 10 year affiliation agreement for its stations with CW. There is no ownership linkage of any kind between KTVT/KTXA and KDAF.

Another dumb rumor put forth in some circles (D Magazine Frontburmer is one) is that KTXA will just go dark. As noted on the KTXA website, UPN programming only accounts for 6% of KTXA's programming. Finding two hours of syndicated or sports programming a night to fill that void will not be difficult. KTXA will be just fine as an independent.

 

[DougBroda]

Re: ETex CW Scenario: No Doubt About It!

> The only outcome that will come out of this for East Texas
> will be that KYTX will get the CW affiliation.....namely
> because KYTX did just sign a long-term affiliation agreement
> with UPN, and I doubt that CW would choose KTPN/KCEB/KLPN
> with an extremely weak audience instead of KYTX, which has a
> larger audience.

If so, it'd be a situation where a station that is only OTA as a digital subcarrier is picked over a regular OTA station (albeit a poorer one). And in today's market, I think that's definitely feasible and, in this market, likely(where it would have been inconceivable not long ago).

 

[DougBroda]

Re: B/CS and Waco-Temple-Killeen Scenario

> As for a lot of these affilates, CBS/TW stands to lose tens,
> if not hundreds, of millions in startup costs alone, just to
> buy out the affiliation agreements of the stations that
> don't make the CW cut.
>

Not that I've seen the contracts for UPN or WB affiliation, but notice how carefully every press release says not that UPN and the WB are merging, but that they are *folding* and a *new* network called the CW is being started. Methinks it is entirely possible that such is being done because of those affiliation contracts, and that maybe if the nets fold, no money or less money is due. Speculation, but certainly possible.

 

[osr]

Re: Houston/Austin/San Antonio scenarios for The CW

>
> Wonder if KHWB would change their call to KHCW ? A quick
> search shows that call currently unused either on TV or
> radio.

This is almost a certainty. Hopefully, but doubtfully, they will revert back to the heritage calls of KHTV that were on 39 for so many years. KHCW would be the most likely choice though.

 

[osr]

Re: Houston/Austin/San Antonio scenarios for The CW

>
> Wonder if KHWB would change their call to KHCW ? A quick
> search shows that call currently unused either on TV or
> radio.

This is almost a certainty. Hopefully, but doubtfully, they will revert back to the heritage calls of KHTV that were on 39 for so many years. KHCW would be the most likely choice though.

 

[KERCAlum]

Re: KTVT will have nothing to do with KDAF

> > Sounds to me like KTVT/KTXA is trying to downplay the
> facts
> > that (1) KTXA will lose its network affiliation, and (2)
> > KTVT is now also going to be aligned (at least in a
> business
> > sense) with KDAF/33.
> >
> > A question that I would have is, if KTVT produces a local
> > newscast for KTXA (which appears likely), would they also
> > help contribute to KDAF's newscast? Or would the Tribune
> > stations simply go on as before?
>
AAAAAA> AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>
> Sorry, had to get that out. There are soooo many people who
> are misinterpreting what this deal means.
>
> Let's start with this: KTVT will have nothing to do with
> KDAF - PERIOD!!!!
> Here's why: KTVT and KTXA are owned by CBS, KDAF is owned by
> Tribune.
> CBS and Warner Brothers will jointly own CW.
> Tribune gave up its ownership in the WB network to get a 10
> year affiliation agreement for its stations with CW. There
> is no ownership linkage of any kind between KTVT/KTXA and
> KDAF.
>
> Another dumb rumor put forth in some circles (D Magazine
> Frontburmer is one) is that KTXA will just go dark. As noted
> on the KTXA website, UPN programming only accounts for 6% of
> KTXA's programming. Finding two hours of syndicated or
> sports programming a night to fill that void will not be
> difficult. KTXA will be just fine as an independent.
>


Re-read my post. I said "KTVT is now also going to be aligned (at least in a business sense) with KDAF/33." I didn't imply that there would be any ownership linkage. Obviously, there won't be, since KDAF is still owned by Tribune. I was simply asking whether there would be any KTVT contribution to KDAF's news program. No need to fly off the handle, especially if you read things more carefully.

I do agree with your second assertion that "D Magazine's" rumor is dumb. Frankly, I could still see KTXA as a secondary outlet for CBS programming if KTVT carries Mavericks basketball games, although something like that won't happen that often...and now that KTXA is once again an indie, probably won't happen at all. No way will it go dark.<P ID="signature">______________
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." - Robert Heinlein

dan</P>

 

[Ranger]

Re: KTVT will have nothing to do with KDAF

The only connection that KTVT and KDAF have is that KTVT's parent company is a part owner of the network that KDAF has. Nearly no connection.

 

[gbranch]

Re: ETex CW Scenario: No Doubt About It!

Phil Hurley was on CBS19 news this morning (Wednesday) to talk about The CW. He stated that, although the new local affiliate has not been named, they are working on the agreement to be the new affiliate, and he was very confident that they would win out. Apparently, the new affiliate agreements have to be in place by May 1.

So, the most probable scenario is UPN18 becomes CW18, and KCEB picks up KLPN's independant programming. KTPN/KLPN will either go back to trimulcasting KCEB, or go dark.

 

[JeeperOne]

Smackdown on CW

Hi everyone:

> > Upn 21 started out as an independent 25 years ago. It was
> > also a network back up for NBC a few times. It will back
> > CBS11 KTVT. UPN was just a sad network. The Star Trek
> > Franchise is the only thing that had a respectable
> aaudience
> > and income.
>
> Smackdown is on UPN also ...has done well ..

Look for CW to pick this up DESPITE the fact it's a UPN program. I'd be FLOORED if they didn't.

Also, isn't Buffy The Vampire Slayer still on Network TV or is it syndie-only now?

Cheers

Pat in Denver
<P ID="signature">______________

http://patspodcast.blogspot.com/
Radio? Uhh.....What's THAT?? </P>

 

[sgthree]

Re: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

> Also, isn't Buffy The Vampire Slayer still on Network TV or
> is it syndie-only now?

Buffy ended two or three years ago. It's syndicated only now. FX airs it daily. Local stations used to air it on the weekends, not sure if they still do.