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wb-upn merger

C

coops48

Guest
Shall we discuss the merger of the WB and UPN. Who benefits most, ch. 17 or ch. 57. Does NBC-10 continue to "power" the WB News at 10. Which will become the CW affiliate...57 or 17? Will we have a true independent station...could it mean the return of the "Million Dollar Movie" or "Hogan's Heroes"? :)))))) Talk amongst yourselves and post some insightful and entertaning comments.
 
Ch 17 Benefits

<blockquote>NEW YORK (AP) - Two small, struggling television networks, UPN and WB, will merge to form a new network called The CW, executives from the companies that own them said Tuesday.

The announcement was made by executives from CBS Corp., which owns UPN, and Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc., which owns WB. ...

The new network will launch in the fall, the executives said, and both UPN and WB will shut down. It will be a 50-50 partnership between Warner Bros. and CBS, and the network will be carried on stations owned by the Tribune Co., which is a minority owner of the WB network. ...</blockquote>
WB17 is also a Tribune station.

In all likelihood, NBC10 will produce news for CW17 for the length of the contract. After that, I'd bet CBS3 takes over.

Look for infomercials, home shopping or preachers on channel 57. Viacom and Time-Warner already own cable channels showing nothing but old TV shows and old movies.

The good news: this likely means the end of the morning train wreck, also known as 57 WakeUPNews. This mess was doomed from the outset, an example of corporate group-think run amok. Now it dies because of corporate maneuvering and does not get fail outright.
 
> Shall we discuss the merger of the WB and UPN. Who benefits
> most, ch. 17 or ch. 57. Does NBC-10 continue to "power" the
> WB News at 10. Which will become the CW affiliate...57 or
> 17? Will we have a true independent station...could it mean
> the return of the "Million Dollar Movie" or "Hogan's
> Heroes"? :)))))) Talk amongst yourselves and post some
> insightful and entertaning comments.
>
Looks like 57 will be the survivor here, as the CBS release makes no metion of the Tribune Station in Philadelphia:

"The 16 Tribune affiliated stations will include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Houston, Miami, Denver, St. Louis, Portland, Indianapolis, San Diego, Hartford, New Orleans and Albany. The 12 CBS Station Group television markets will include Philadelphia, San Francisco, Atlanta, Detroit, Tampa, Seattle, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, West Palm Beach, Norfolk, Oklahoma City and Providence"

Wonder if Tribune will be forced to sell 17? Even if they could still own it, it probably wouldn't make much sense to hang on to it anyway -- in essence they would compete against themselves and lose money doing it. If Trib sells out, there's probably not much hope for a true "independent" station. More likely we would get yet another shopping channel or a station with all "brokered" programming". I wouldn't think we could expect much beyond a low overhead, turnkey operation. (Even though I am sure you could get a great deal on those old "Hogan's Heroes" strips!)

Any other scenarios?
 
CH. 57 will be the CW affiliate

The press release on the National board mentions that CW will be carried on a CBS-owned station in Philadelphia, i.e. channel 57.
 
> "The 16 Tribune affiliated stations will include New York,
> Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Washington, D.C.,
> Houston, Miami, Denver, St. Louis, Portland, Indianapolis,
> San Diego, Hartford, New Orleans and Albany. The 12 CBS
> Station Group television markets will include Philadelphia,
> San Francisco, Atlanta, Detroit, Tampa, Seattle, Sacramento,
> Pittsburgh, West Palm Beach, Norfolk, Oklahoma City and
> Providence"
>

Living in New England, I can tell you about two of these stations:

"HARTFORD" is WTXX-TV/DT channel 20/D 12 of Waterbury/Hartford, CT. Tribune owns WTIC-TV (FOX) channel 61 of Hartford. That station never lost its FOX affiliation since it was/is one of the strongest-performing FOX affiliates in the entire country. Channel 20 is their "sister" station to the point to where they simulcast FOX 61's 10 PM newscast and run ads for FOX 61's programming (and vice-versa). Both stations run the occasional University of Connecticut men's basketball game not already airing on ESPN, CBS, etc. Channel 20 became this market's WB affiliate on 1/1/2001 after swapping affiliation with channel 59 of New Haven. That station changed their call letters from WBNE-TV to WCTX-TV at the same time.

"PROVIDENCE" is WLWC-TV channel 28 of New Bedford, MA. They are currently a primary UPN affiliate and a secondary WB affiliate. They are operated by Viacom's Boston division (WBZ/WSBK).<P ID="signature">______________
#13 Dan Marino...2005 Football Hall Of Fame Inductee :)</P>
 
> Wonder if Tribune will be forced to sell 17? Even if they
> could still own it, it probably wouldn't make much sense to
> hang on to it anyway -- in essence they would compete
> against themselves and lose money doing it.

According to the press release, Tribune won't own any of the new network. They've simply contracted to carry it in some markets. So Tribune won't be competing with itself in Philadelphia.

17 could be saved if Fox chooses to start up a second network for its orphaned UPN affiliates, but otherwise it's a pretty bleak picture. I do wonder if it would be worth it for Tribune to try and establish an indie on 17, or would they be better off just selling to one of the Spanish-language operators?
 
Re: CH. 57 will be the CW affiliate

So will Ch17 become PHI17 again? Philadelphia's movie station again? Boy I miss those days when both PHI17, and Philly57 would always have movies on.
 
Re: CH. 17 will be the CW affiliate

> So will Ch17 become PHI17 again? Philadelphia's movie
> station again? Boy I miss those days when both PHI17, and
> Philly57 would always have movies on.
>
according to the news conference, tribune stations would become cw affiliates so it looks like Philly 57 will be Philadelphia's new independent station come September.
 
CH.57 WILL BE CW

The 16 Tribune affiliated stations will include New
> York, Los Angeles,
> Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Houston, Miami,
> Denver, St. Louis,
> Portland, Indianapolis, San Diego, Hartford, New Orleans and
> Albany. The 12
> CBS Station Group television markets will include
> Philadelphia, San Francisco,
> Atlanta, Detroit, Tampa, Seattle, Sacramento, Pittsburgh,
> West Palm Beach,
> Norfolk, Oklahoma City and Providence. Together, these top
> two station groups
> cover the top 13 television markets, 20 of the top 25
> television markets and
> have a total coverage area of more than 48% of the country.

While tribune-owned stations were mentioned, our cbs-owned was DIRECTLY mentioned. pretty sure that translates to CW57. there goes the So Philly. So U! branding right out the window.
 
CW 57, practice saying it!

> The press release on the National board mentions that CW
> will be carried on a CBS-owned station in Philadelphia, i.e.
> channel 57.
>

USA today also reports that in Philadelphia the CBS owned station, channle 57, will carry the CW schedule, not Tribune owned channel 17.
 
> > Wonder if Tribune will be forced to sell 17? Even if they
> > could still own it, it probably wouldn't make much sense
> to
> > hang on to it anyway -- in essence they would compete
> > against themselves and lose money doing it.
>
> According to the press release, Tribune won't own any of the
> new network. They've simply contracted to carry it in some
> markets. So Tribune won't be competing with itself in
> Philadelphia.
>
> 17 could be saved if Fox chooses to start up a second
> network for its orphaned UPN affiliates, but otherwise it's
> a pretty bleak picture. I do wonder if it would be worth it
> for Tribune to try and establish an indie on 17, or would
> they be better off just selling to one of the
> Spanish-language operators?
>

The key is there is enough syndicated programming for 6 traditional commercial stations in the market. And running any of those 6 commercial stations would be more profitable than running Spanish in Philadelphia, 18th largest Spanish market. If Philly was a top 10 Spanish market, maybe it would be another case.

WPHL wouldn't go home-shopping or Spanish-only.

I think Tribune might sell WPHL, though.

But, WPHL would remain as an indy. Maybe even Sixers, Phillies and Flyers over the air games could wind up back on WPHL.

I'd also think NBC would be a fit choice as an owner, giving them a duopoly of 10 and 17.

WPHL-1 could be the solid indy. And, WPHL already relies on Ch.10 for news.

WPHL-DT2 could be Telemundo feed, or a relay of WWSI. WWSI's over the air signal stinks, and now they aren't even on DirecTV. I don't think the Allentown PA cable systems even carry WWSI, so many people are Telemundo-less.

Or, it's possible FOX would pick it up, and WPHL be once again more aligned with WWOR in nature, over WPIX.
 
> > > Wonder if Tribune will be forced to sell 17? Even if
> they
> > > could still own it, it probably wouldn't make much sense
>
> > to
> > > hang on to it anyway -- in essence they would compete
> > > against themselves and lose money doing it.
> >
> > According to the press release, Tribune won't own any of
> the
> > new network. They've simply contracted to carry it in
> some
> > markets. So Tribune won't be competing with itself in
> > Philadelphia.
> >
> > 17 could be saved if Fox chooses to start up a second
> > network for its orphaned UPN affiliates, but otherwise
> it's
> > a pretty bleak picture. I do wonder if it would be worth
> it
> > for Tribune to try and establish an indie on 17, or would
> > they be better off just selling to one of the
> > Spanish-language operators?
> >
>
> The key is there is enough syndicated programming for 6
> traditional commercial stations in the market. And running
> any of those 6 commercial stations would be more profitable
> than running Spanish in Philadelphia, 18th largest Spanish
> market. If Philly was a top 10 Spanish market, maybe it
> would be another case.
>
> WPHL wouldn't go home-shopping or Spanish-only.
>
> I think Tribune might sell WPHL, though.
>
> But, WPHL would remain as an indy. Maybe even Sixers,
> Phillies and Flyers over the air games could wind up back on
> WPHL.
>
> I'd also think NBC would be a fit choice as an owner, giving
> them a duopoly of 10 and 17.
>
> WPHL-1 could be the solid indy. And, WPHL already
> relies on Ch.10 for news.
>
> WPHL-DT2 could be Telemundo feed, or a relay of WWSI.
> WWSI's over the air signal stinks, and now they aren't even
> on DirecTV. I don't think the Allentown PA cable systems
> even carry WWSI, so many people are Telemundo-less.
>
> Or, it's possible FOX would pick it up, and WPHL be once
> again more aligned with WWOR in nature, over WPIX.
>
Wouln't have Fox or NBC or Disney picked up channel 48 if they wanted a duopoly in Philly? It would have made more sense to put the CW on the Tribune station like they are in Boston and CBS could have 2 stations to program here, 3 & 57.
 
Both WPHL-TV in Philadelphia and WWOR-TV 9 in Secaucas, NJ will again become independent TV stations. I suspect Channel 17's 10PM will end also.
 
> > > > Wonder if Tribune will be forced to sell 17? Even if
> > they
> > > > could still own it, it probably wouldn't make much
> sense
> >
> > > to
> > > > hang on to it anyway -- in essence they would compete
> > > > against themselves and lose money doing it.
> > >
> > > According to the press release, Tribune won't own any of
>
> > the
> > > new network. They've simply contracted to carry it in
> > some
> > > markets. So Tribune won't be competing with itself in
> > > Philadelphia.
> > >
> > > 17 could be saved if Fox chooses to start up a second
> > > network for its orphaned UPN affiliates, but otherwise
> > it's
> > > a pretty bleak picture. I do wonder if it would be
> worth
> > it
> > > for Tribune to try and establish an indie on 17, or
> would
> > > they be better off just selling to one of the
> > > Spanish-language operators?
> > >
> >
> > The key is there is enough syndicated programming for 6
> > traditional commercial stations in the market. And
> running
> > any of those 6 commercial stations would be more
> profitable
> > than running Spanish in Philadelphia, 18th largest Spanish
>
> > market. If Philly was a top 10 Spanish market, maybe it
>
> > would be another case.
> >
> > WPHL wouldn't go home-shopping or Spanish-only.
> >
> > I think Tribune might sell WPHL, though.
> >
> > But, WPHL would remain as an indy. Maybe even Sixers,
> > Phillies and Flyers over the air games could wind up back
> on
> > WPHL.
> >
> > I'd also think NBC would be a fit choice as an owner,
> giving
> > them a duopoly of 10 and 17.
> >
> > WPHL-1 could be the solid indy. And, WPHL already
> > relies on Ch.10 for news.
> >
> > WPHL-DT2 could be Telemundo feed, or a relay of WWSI.
> > WWSI's over the air signal stinks, and now they aren't
> even
> > on DirecTV. I don't think the Allentown PA cable
> systems
> > even carry WWSI, so many people are Telemundo-less.
> >
> > Or, it's possible FOX would pick it up, and WPHL be once
> > again more aligned with WWOR in nature, over WPIX.
> >
> Wouln't have Fox or NBC or Disney picked up channel 48 if
> they wanted a duopoly in Philly? It would have made more
> sense to put the CW on the Tribune station like they are in
> Boston and CBS could have 2 stations to program here, 3 &
> 57.
>

A weak 48 would have not been very profitable for FOX, and making a 7th viable commercial station would have been oversaturation of stations to amount of syndicated product.

In the 7 TV markets that had both Tribune WBs and CBS UPNs, including (Philly Boston, Miami, Seattle, Dallas, Atlanta, New Orleans) Tribune got 4 while CBS got 3 stations for The CW.

I really think Tribune passed keeping an affilition on WPHL, the largest TV market of those 7, with intention of making it salable. It was underperforming as a station.

Anyways, what's interesting atleast for most of last decade was that Channel 17 was the more established station and sent a better signal in the Philadelphia and NJ areas. It used to carry local sports as well.

It still has better cable positioning than Ch.57 on most Comcast systems as well.

Now, it will quicker become the weaker, though it's probably already so in that direction. Maybe, Ch.17 will pick up local sports programming again, however.
 
> Both WPHL-TV in Philadelphia and WWOR-TV 9 in Secaucas, NJ
> will again become independent TV stations. I suspect
> Channel 17's 10PM will end also.
>

NBC10 is running their 10PM newscast.

WB17 will have to find some programming in their daytime and primetime blocks.

Maybe they'd run infomercials in the morning, and delay the Jerry Springer and Maury blocks pushing them towards afternoons, early evenings.

And, copy TBS and run a barrage of sitcoms like Friends, Sex and the City, Will&Grace from 6pm to late night.
 
Re: CH.57 WILL BE CW

> The 16 Tribune affiliated stations will include New
> > York, Los Angeles,
> > Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Houston, Miami,
>
> > Denver, St. Louis,
> > Portland, Indianapolis, San Diego, Hartford, New Orleans
> and
> > Albany. The 12
> > CBS Station Group television markets will include
> > Philadelphia, San Francisco,
> > Atlanta, Detroit, Tampa, Seattle, Sacramento, Pittsburgh,
>
> > West Palm Beach,
> > Norfolk, Oklahoma City and Providence. Together, these top
>
> > two station groups
> > cover the top 13 television markets, 20 of the top 25
> > television markets and
> > have a total coverage area of more than 48% of the
> country.
>
> While tribune-owned stations were mentioned, our cbs-owned
> was DIRECTLY mentioned. pretty sure that translates to CW57.
> there goes the So Philly. So U! branding right out the
> window.
>
WPSG-TV 57 will definitely be the new CW affiliate. A look at Tribune's website confirms that Tribune owns 19 stations affiliated with the WB and 16 of those will join the CW. It also confirms that Philadelphia will be a CBS-owned market. It goes on to say that Tribune will air syndicated programming on its remaining "3 independent stations". Channel 17 will be Philadelphia's first independent commericial station since 48 was sold. Lets just hope it will be a return of the "PHL-17" we remember from the 1980s!
 
Re: CH.57 WILL BE CW

> >
> WPSG-TV 57 will definitely be the new CW affiliate. A look
> at Tribune's website confirms that Tribune owns 19 stations
> affiliated with the WB and 16 of those will join the CW. It
> also confirms that Philadelphia will be a CBS-owned market.
> It goes on to say that Tribune will air syndicated
> programming on its remaining "3 independent stations".
> Channel 17 will be Philadelphia's first independent
> commericial station since 48 was sold. Lets just hope it
> will be a return of the "PHL-17" we remember from the 1980s!
>

And a return to "Universal 9-esque" programming for WWOR (Forget the RKO days...the programming sucked, save for select few shows)
 
Re: CH.57 WILL BE CW

> > >
> > WPSG-TV 57 will definitely be the new CW affiliate. A
> look
> > at Tribune's website confirms that Tribune owns 19
> stations
> > affiliated with the WB and 16 of those will join the CW.
> It
> > also confirms that Philadelphia will be a CBS-owned
> market.
> > It goes on to say that Tribune will air syndicated
> > programming on its remaining "3 independent stations".
> > Channel 17 will be Philadelphia's first independent
> > commericial station since 48 was sold. Lets just hope it
> > will be a return of the "PHL-17" we remember from the
> 1980s!
> >
>
> And a return to "Universal 9-esque" programming for WWOR
> (Forget the RKO days...the programming sucked, save for
> select few shows)
>
maybe we'll see the return of "wee willie webber's colorful cartoon club" and "the dialing for dollars movie" or "dr. schock jr. theatre"
 
Re: CH.57 WILL BE CW

> > > >
> > > WPSG-TV 57 will definitely be the new CW affiliate. A
> > look
> > > at Tribune's website confirms that Tribune owns 19
> > stations
> > > affiliated with the WB and 16 of those will join the CW.
>
> > It
> > > also confirms that Philadelphia will be a CBS-owned
> > market.
> > > It goes on to say that Tribune will air syndicated
> > > programming on its remaining "3 independent stations".
>
> > > Channel 17 will be Philadelphia's first independent
> > > commericial station since 48 was sold. Lets just hope
> it
> > > will be a return of the "PHL-17" we remember from the
> > 1980s!
> > >
> >
> > And a return to "Universal 9-esque" programming for WWOR
> > (Forget the RKO days...the programming sucked, save for
> > select few shows)
> >
> maybe we'll see the return of "wee willie webber's colorful
> cartoon club" and "the dialing for dollars movie" or "dr.
> schock jr. theatre"

Or maybe that WPHL-TV 17 will return as either "17, 17, The Great Entertainer, or PHL-17, and that maybe "Dancin on Air" will return to the airwaves on Channel 17. I think that that show could return and can be promoted and marketed to a new generation of teenagers and young adults. Maybe they can bring back the old voice-over guy on Channel 17 from the 1980's as well. He still does voice-overs to this day. He currently does a couple voice-overs in commercials for Colonial Penn Life Insurance. And yes, Hogan's Heroes was a great show to watch in the 80's on 17, as well as the A-Team, both were abandoned when 48 flipped to all-Christian/Gospel almost two years ago. Plus I wouldn't mind seeing a return of sports programming to 17, along with NBC-10 powered news, and movies. I'm sure that 17 still has a strong movie library. I sure hope that they don't become another Christian, Home Shopping, or Spanish Language station. We have so many of those here already.
 
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