UPN affiliate KTUD-TV, Channel 25 has dropped out of the running for the new network The CW, the station has announced.KTUD, owned by Las Vegas TV Partners, a partnership of Greenspun Broadcasting and New York-based Catalyst Investors, will revert to its origins as an independent station, effective at the end of August or early September, when UPN ceases broadcasting. To fill air time "there's a good possibility of sports or local programming," said Steve Carlston, president and managing partner of KTUD. "We're proud of what we've done and will continue to be a strong broadcaster. It creates an environment to let us become stronger, because we have to. It's the best move for us."That leaves Sinclair Broadcasting's local independent station, KFBT-TV, Channel 33 with the inside track on the new network. The CW, a combination of The WB and UPN, is expected to feature current hits such as "Smallville," "Gilmore Girls" and "America's Next Top Model."Rob Weisbord, general manager of KVWB-TV, Channel 21 and KFBT, says Sinclair is still in negotiations with The CW to carry the network on KFBT. "It's a matter of two big companies talking it out," Weisbord says. "It's a 10-year agreement and nobody wants to make a mistake on a 10-year deal."Sinclair has taken the new Fox spinoff network called My Network TV, and plans to carry it on KVWB.Current plans are for The CW to retain The WB's schedule of a six night, 13-hour prime time lineup, plus Sundays from 5 to 7 p.m., a weekday afternoon block from 3 to 5 p.m. and a five-hour Saturday morning animation block. The new network will program a total of 30 hours a week over seven days.
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TV: KTUD UPN Las Vegas declares their independence
- Thread starter Demodave
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T
The Writings on the Wall
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Question: Why wouldn't the CW just go to the current WB affiliate in Las Vegas instead of KFBT 33? That is so stupid for the current WB affiliate to take My Network TV and the independent sister station to take the CW.
It's all about money. Sinclair is still negotiating the deal for CW. And from what I hear, the real profit margin for CW stations is fairly small.And Las Vegas history has shown that Sinclair won't jump until the deal is right for them. For example...the lack of KVWB's HD signal on Cox. Sinclair wants cash for it and Cox won't pay for the right to retransmit the OTA HD signal. Sinclair won't budge on this; even if it could mean higher viewership.
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