Four years later and looking back(CW and MyNetTV)

[dustintv]

On the 24th it will have been four years since the announcement came that The WB and UPN were merging. Well, four years later the CW is barely coasting on remakes and leftovers and Fox's response in MyNetworkTV was such a spectacular success that it only exists in name only anymore and is no longer considered a network.

 

[tripinva]

Technically speaking, My Network TV is as much a network now as UPN was before the merger.

- Trip

 

[dave73]

I do watch CW, but I thought before WB & UPN merged, WB was the better network. I don't find CW & My Network to be good networks. If both networks fail (I believe both will), I wonder if most of the stations will go back to being independent. I personally believe WGN-TV would rather be independent than a network. WGN-TV has the rights to the air the Chicago White Sox & Cubs, Chicago Bulls, & Chicago Blackhawks. Unless WGN preempts network programming, they have to farm out their game broadcasts to WCIU in order to commit to CW programming. CW was Tribune's idea and not WGN themselves.

 

[JeeperOne]

And KWGN 2 here in Denver has already time-shifted CW Programming by an hour since becoming sister stations with FOX affiliate KDVR 31 & moving its newscast from 9:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the process.

KWGN (Unlike sister station WGN) doesn't carry live sporting events (They dropped that in order to commit to WB Programming several years ago).

Cheers

 

[arnoldevns]

My Network TV is doing just fine. It's just no longer listed in the network ratings because they decided to become a programming service to allow stations more flexibility. CW has largely crashed and burned. It's now trailing Ion in the ratings. CW spends a lot on programming and has little to show for it. Ion and My Network are inexpensive and have comparable ratings to CW.

 

[oldvnewschool]

My biggest concern with the CW isn't on primetime because they've found their niche with 90210, Melrose Place, Vampire Diaries, and Gossip Girl in which target demo their trying to get.

It's actually whether or not they will continue to run CW Daytime once The Tyra Banks Show ends; I haven't heard much on what they will do from their because if they give the

time back to their affiliates they're may not be enough programming to fill those 2 hours in a competitive market that it is already.

As for My Network TV, I think it status will depend on whether or not the WWE will re-sign with them for another year. I believe this is a contract year for them on Smackdown.

And with WWE wanting to launch a new channel in a couple of years, I can't see them staying on that network in the near future.

Although I do find it funny that they still can be trailing My Network & Ion when they surpassed NBC for fourth place in the 18-49 demo last season.

 

[Markxxx]

I don't know if you can directly compare it. Times have changed a bit. Comedy programs have dried up and the WP and UPN had a decent set of those. OK they weren't classics, but they were enjoyable.

Now with reality and drama being the dominant players it's hard to directly compare them.

Fortunately in Chicago, we have WCIU which is probably the best example of how to program a local independent station I've ever seen, so even if WGN lost the CW, I'm not sure how good it'd be.

 

[mescutia]

CW was Tribune's idea and not WGN themselves.

You mean WGN being a CW affiliate, not the concept of the CW, right? :grin:

 

[johnnyu]

I wish the old independent stations would come back. TV was better then before CW and My whatever it is???????? Baltimore, Washington and York,Pa. had better tv on the independent stations that later joined these silly networks.

 

[stationless listener]

Even if/when those stations lose their "network" affiliations, they won't go back to where they were back in the '70s and '80s. For example, the indies were known for airing cartoons in the afternoons. Now the cartoons, even those classic ones, are on cable channels. Same with the classic show reruns, although with the chaos that I hear about concerning TV Land, etc., perhaps some of the classic shows may come back to OTA TV. What could happen is that new media companies take over the stations and start broadcasting more local programming to suit the tastes of the specific communities. If Tribune could be persuaded to purchase WWOR, that would create an interesting duopoly. They could then start to program WWOR much better that it has been under FOX management. And then they get to benefit from the games that the Yankees and Mets release for OTA broadcasts, as well as Giants and Jets preseason.

As for WWE, they should have done that years ago. The money that they wasted on the XFL should have been invested on starting up their own rassling channel. It has been proven that there are enough fans to keep it going. Certainly, TBS, Spike, USA and even Galavision, among others, have hugely benefited from being associated with rassler programs over the years. But then people who can't afford cable would be disappointed that they won't get to see the Undertaker.

 

[dave73]

Even if/when those stations lose their "network" affiliations, they won't go back to where they were back in the '70s and '80s. For example, the indies were known for airing cartoons in the afternoons. Now the cartoons, even those classic ones, are on cable channels. Same with the classic show reruns, although with the chaos that I hear about concerning TV Land, etc., perhaps some of the classic shows may come back to OTA TV. What could happen is that new media companies take over the stations and start broadcasting more local programming to suit the tastes of the specific communities. If Tribune could be persuaded to purchase WWOR, that would create an interesting duopoly. They could then start to program WWOR much better that it has been under FOX management. And then they get to benefit from the games that the Yankees and Mets release for OTA broadcasts, as well as Giants and Jets preseason.

WGN-TV would benefit by going back to being independent. They were an independent station for nearly 40 years before becoming a WB affiliate in 1995 (as part of Tribune signing many of their stations to WB, and later, CW). While WGN-TV won't likely go back to airing cartoons in the afternoon, I could see more talk shows, and maybe news magazine shows that might not be airing in Chicago now. Primetime would be movies from 7-9pm, like it was before becoming a WB affiliate. They already have a lot of talk shows in the mid to late morning & afternoon. With weekends being given back to affiliates, WGN has started going back to their roots of movies in the evenings (sports on nights they have the rights to certain teams). I don't know about WTTV/WTTK in the Indianapolis market, or KTLA in Los Angeles.

 

[recto101]

Look at KOFY in SF once they lost their WB affiliation they became an independent station again. But its success is yet to be determined after 4 years. KOFY put classic shows again along with ABC7 News at 9 from KGO.

 

[Madmansam]

Look at KOFY in SF once they lost their WB affiliation they became an independent station again. But its success is yet to be determined after 4 years. KOFY put classic shows again along with ABC7 News at 9 from KGO.

Unfortunately they still air a great amount of Infomercials, especially in the overnights and in the morning. They need to move The 700 Club from 9:AM to possibly 6:AM, then expand their Classic TV Shows lineup. They have Retro Night on Sunday eves with Jim Gabbert as host. (Former owner of KOFY). They also have a Late Night Horror Show called Creepy Kofy Movie Time. If I was the programmer, I would definately expand the Classic TV offerings and reduce the Informercials as well as those two trashy talk shows (Jerry Springer and Steve Wilkos).

 

[anotherguyTN]

Whatever happens with CW and MNTV will probably have little effect on what happens on their stations during the rest of the day. They're still independent during those times already. The stations that fill the daytime with trash talk and infomercials (Which is the biggest majority of them) will still be that way. Prime time might become more movies and/or classic TV if there is some sort of syndication package made available, but the other option could be more of the same garbage as in the daytime.

 

[ding12]

It's actually whether or not they will continue to run CW Daytime once The Tyra Banks Show ends; I haven't heard much on what they will do from their because if they give the

time back to their affiliates they're may not be enough programming to fill those 2 hours in a competitive market that it is already.

NBC 10 in Philadelphia airs "Paid Programming" every day at 12:30 following a "Deal or No Deal" episode. If that's suitable for an NBC station, the standards for My or CW affiliates would have to be even more lax. The stations can just slide their AM schedule into the daytime, and run infomercials, The 700 Club and Joyce Meyer in the morning. That's anyways what WBFF Fox 45 Baltimore has been doing for years.

If FOX does start late night TV, they could shift some syndicated shows to the MyNetwork affiliate, if they happen to co-own it. Getting Seinfeld, or The Simpsons reruns might be a boost for the MY station, which would then shift some other programming into daytime possibly.

 

[vchimpanzee]

WGN-TV would benefit by going back to being independent. They were an independent station for nearly 40 years before becoming a WB affiliate in 1995 (as part of Tribune signing many of their stations to WB, and later, CW). While WGN-TV won't likely go back to airing cartoons in the afternoon, I could see more talk shows, and maybe news magazine shows that might not be airing in Chicago now. Primetime would be movies from 7-9pm, like it was before becoming a WB affiliate. They already have a lot of talk shows in the mid to late morning & afternoon. With weekends being given back to affiliates, WGN has started going back to their roots of movies in the evenings (sports on nights they have the rights to certain teams). I don't know about WTTV/WTTK in the Indianapolis market, or KTLA in Los Angeles.[/color]

I discovered just last week they have "Bewitched" reruns in the afternoon. I got a season pass. I've already enjoyed what I've seen so far. The broadcast networks have nothing this good that's also family-friendly.

I can't believe I get WGN with the basic package.

 

[vchimpanzee]

My biggest concern with the CW isn't on primetime because they've found their niche with 90210, Melrose Place, Vampire Diaries, and Gossip Girl in which target demo their trying to get.

It's actually whether or not they will continue to run CW Daytime once The Tyra Banks Show ends; I haven't heard much on what they will do from their because if they give the

time back to their affiliates they're may not be enough programming to fill those 2 hours in a competitive market that it is already.

As for My Network TV, I think it status will depend on whether or not the WWE will re-sign with them for another year. I believe this is a contract year for them on Smackdown.

And with WWE wanting to launch a new channel in a couple of years, I can't see them staying on that network in the near future.

Although I do find it funny that they still can be trailing My Network & Ion when they surpassed NBC for fourth place in the 18-49 demo last season.

On The CW, I still watch "Smallville" though to me, it's not as good as it once was. But it's a higher quality show because they're focusing on Clark becoming Superman now rather than on romance with Lana and other topics that had nothing to do with his progress toward the eventual goal.

I still watch "90210" because some of the characters are interesting, though it's not like it was when it started. It's a shame about "Everybody Hates Chris".

I'm going to try "Life UnXpected" because it has been compared to "Gilmore Girls", though I expect to be happier with NBC's "Parenthood".

As for My Network, I watch the Thursday movies and some specials. I once believed I would Like "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" but it was too much of a time commitment. I can't add any new shows now without really wanting to. I enjoyed "World's Funniest Moments" and "Under One Roof".

 

[cowboybud]

WGN-TV would benefit by going back to being independent. They were an independent station for nearly 40 years before becoming a WB affiliate in 1995 (as part of Tribune signing many of their stations to WB, and later, CW). While WGN-TV won't likely go back to airing cartoons in the afternoon, I could see more talk shows, and maybe news magazine shows that might not be airing in Chicago now. Primetime would be movies from 7-9pm, like it was before becoming a WB affiliate. They already have a lot of talk shows in the mid to late morning & afternoon. With weekends being given back to affiliates, WGN has started going back to their roots of movies in the evenings (sports on nights they have the rights to certain teams). I don't know about WTTV/WTTK in the Indianapolis market, or KTLA in Los Angeles.[/color]

I discovered just last week they have "Bewitched" reruns in the afternoon. I got a season pass. I've already enjoyed what I've seen so far. The broadcast networks have nothing this good that's also family-friendly.

I can't believe I get WGN with the basic package.

That's "WGN America", not Chicago's WGN.

 

[dave73]

WGN-TV would benefit by going back to being independent. They were an independent station for nearly 40 years before becoming a WB affiliate in 1995 (as part of Tribune signing many of their stations to WB, and later, CW). While WGN-TV won't likely go back to airing cartoons in the afternoon, I could see more talk shows, and maybe news magazine shows that might not be airing in Chicago now. Primetime would be movies from 7-9pm, like it was before becoming a WB affiliate. They already have a lot of talk shows in the mid to late morning & afternoon. With weekends being given back to affiliates, WGN has started going back to their roots of movies in the evenings (sports on nights they have the rights to certain teams). I don't know about WTTV/WTTK in the Indianapolis market, or KTLA in Los Angeles.[/color]

I discovered just last week they have "Bewitched" reruns in the afternoon. I got a season pass. I've already enjoyed what I've seen so far. The broadcast networks have nothing this good that's also family-friendly.

I can't believe I get WGN with the basic package.

That's "WGN America", not Chicago's WGN.

You beat me to the answer. Anyway,WGN America isn't available on Chicagoland cable systems (is available on satellite though nationally). Besides, unless they could work out a deal with Weigel Broadcasting, WGN wouldn't be able to get the Chicago rights to Bewitched, or many other second run syndicated shows, since Weigel has the Chicago rights to many of those shows (including Bewitched).

 

[dustintv]

My Network TV is doing just fine. It's just no longer listed in the network ratings because they decided to become a programming service to allow stations more flexibility. CW has largely crashed and burned. It's now trailing Ion in the ratings. CW spends a lot on programming and has little to show for it. Ion and My Network are inexpensive and have comparable ratings to CW.

Sure My Network TV is doing fine as the programming strip of reruns they are now, but really the whole network crashed and burned from the start, it's just taken the CW a little longer to crash and burn. Ion provides no new programming either because they crashed and burned as well.