The list of new CW Network affiliates has been updated. This is the new U.S. TV network that will replace the WB and UPN in September.
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March 7th, 2006
Updated list of CW Network Affiliates
February 26th, 2006
‘Supernatural’ moves to WB Thursdays March 16
After taking a couple weeks off during the month of February, the dark fantasy thriller, Supernatural, is set to return to The WB this week before moving to Thursday nights at 9 p.m. (8 central) starting March 16.
The network is paring the show up with Smallville, a move many expect to be ported over the the new CW network in September.
With this consolidation, The WB (and the new CW network) will have a 2-hour female friendly fantasy block on Thursday nights to counter program crime shows, reality programs, news magazines and sitcoms on the other networks.
With the casting of hunky heartthrobs Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, a strong following among women was to be expected by the network. But according to Nielsen results, Supernatural’s dark tone, witty dialogue and action also has been drawing a sizable male audience.
Although nothing is official at The CW, Supernatural is considered a shoo-in.
February 26th, 2006
CW switches lead hunks on new Aquaman series, adds Ving Rhames and former Miss Universe to cast
Just days after taking over the reins of the soon-to-shutter WB network, development honchos at the new CW network are already tweaking shows in development for next year.
Making news this week, CW execs are taking a closer interest in the new Smallville spin-off, Mercy Reef. In a move that bodes will for the show’s chance for being picked up, network programmers replaced one blond hunky actor for another hunk.
This is the show that will feature a young Aquaman character, called A.C. (short for “Arthur Curry”). This version of A.C. debuted in a highly-rated episode of Smallville this past fall with former American Idol heartthrob Alan Ritchson playing the role. Ritchson-as-eye-candy made such a splash in the media and ratings, that the WB quickly ordered a pilot for a new south Florida-based Aquaman series.
They quickly dumped Ritchson, who although he looked the part, did not have the acting chops to carry a series. They opted instead to cast former Abercrombie & Fitch model, Will Toale. The WB has had repeated success with casting A&F models in its shows, most notable is former A&F model Tom Welling as Smallville’s Clark Kent.
But as CW execs started looking over WB shows in development, they took an interest in the Aquaman show and its cast. The first move was to recast supporting characters with well-known name-brands such as Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible, Dawn of the Dead) as MacCaffery, A.C.’s mentor and former Miss Universe from Puerto Rico, Denise Quinones, as Rachel, A.C.’s love interest, to draw a more upscale and ethnically diverse urban audience (the primary target for The CW Network).
The final step was to recast the lead character himself. CW execs ditched Toale for Justin Hartley (pictured), who has spent the past four years building a sizable fan base as Nicholas Crane on the supernatural NBC soap, Passions.
Although the CW has taken a high interest in the series, Mercy Reef has not officially been added to the 2006-2007 network lineup.
January 24th, 2006
Book of shadows closes on ‘Charmed’ after 8 seasons
Eight years was enough for the WB network’s popular Charmed series. Time Warner and Tribune, the owners of The WB announced Tuesday that they were shuttering their network.
The WB will be merged with the UPN network to form a new network called “The CW” – which will be made up of some current WB and UPN shows as well as new fare.
The WB said among current shows headed for CW are Smallville and Supernatural. But notably absent is WB Sunday night staple, Charmed.
Since Charmed is not heading to the new CW Network, the current, eighth season of the witchy series will be its last.
January 24th, 2006
Smallville, Supernatural picked up for 2006-2007, Charmed canceled
The companies that own The WB and UPN called it quits. Both networks are to be shuttered in September 2006. The two companies will be merging and forming a new network called “The CW.”
IN a backhanded way, the announcement of the new network included renewal announcements for two science fiction/fantasy mainstays of The WB will be a part of the new CW line up.
The WB’s “Smallville,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Supernatural,” and UPN’s spy-fi-type show “Veronica Mars” will all be part of the new fall lineup on CW according to CW’s new head honcho, Dawn Ostroff, in a press release.
The press release also left off The WB’s other popular fantasy show, Charmed, which will end its run as The WB signs off the air as a network.
The full press release announcing the new CW network follows::
CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment Form New 5th Broadcast Network
January 24, 2006Dawn Ostroff Is Tapped As President of Entertainment At The New Network;
John Maatta Will Be Chief Operating OfficerEach Company To Hold 50% Interest In The CW Television Network
Tribune Broadcasting and CBS Corporation Stations Agree To 10-Year Affiliation Agreements Covering 48% Of The Country
New Television Network To Utilize the Best Programming from CBS Corporation and Warner Bros.
The WB and UPN to Cease Operations in September 2006
January 24, 2006 – CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced their intent to form a new 5th network, The CW, to be launched in the fall of 2006. The new broadcasting network will be a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation, with each company owning 50%. In an important strategic move that secures major market distribution for The CW, it was announced that Tribune Broadcasting and the CBS Corporation’s UPN affiliates have agreed separately to sign 10-year affiliation agreements with the new network.
The announcement for the new network was made today in New York by Leslie Moonves, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation and Barry Meyer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros. Entertainment. The Tribune Broadcasting affiliation agreements were announced by Dennis FitzSimons, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tribune Company.
At the same time, it was announced that CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment will cease operations of their respective networks — UPN and The WB. The WB and UPN will continue to broadcast their respective network schedules independently until the fall.
The combination of Tribune’s 16 major market stations and the 12 CBS-owned UPN major market affiliates give The CW instant coverage in 48% of the country. The remainder of the network’s distribution system will be a combination of selected current UPN and The WB stations. The full distribution of the new network is expected to exceed 95% of the country.
Dawn Ostroff, currently President of UPN, will become President of Entertainment and John Maatta, currently Chief Operating Officer of The WB, will become Chief Operating Officer of The CW.
“This new network will serve the public with high-quality programming and maintain our ongoing commitment to our diverse audience,” said Moonves. “It will clearly be greater than the sum of its parts, delivering excellent demographics to advertisers, and building a strong new affiliate body. Additionally, The CW will be able to draw from the creative talent and production resources from the top two television production studios in the business, while also seeking programming from all sources — independent producers or other studios. With this move, we will be creating a viable entity, one well-equipped to compete, thrive and serve all our many publics in this multi-channel media universe. I’d like to thank Dawn Ostroff and all the talented people at UPN who have worked so hard. For many years UPN had financial losses, but under CBS’s guidance, UPN has been able to effect a dramatic creative turnaround in a short period of time.”
“This new network makes sound business and creative sense at every level — for our viewers, advertisers, affiliates and for the shareholders of our companies,” said Meyer. “Every key constituency of the network will now greatly benefit from this combination by being part of a highly rated, competitive, 5th broadcast network that is financially sound. As we form this new joint venture, we are also very pleased that in Dawn and John we have a management team of great creative vision and business acumen, one that will help to guide it successfully forward.”
“This is a very exciting day for Time Warner and its shareholders in the creation of what we believe will be a very strong and viable 5th broadcast television network,” said Jeff Bewkes, President & Chief Operating Officer of Time Warner. “This new network will have all the strategic asset value as an outlet for our programming that The WB presented us, but with a much firmer and more secure financial present and future. The credit goes to Barry Meyer, who continues to have tremendous vision and extraordinary business acumen as the long time leader of Warner Bros. Entertainment, a company that we are proud to say continues to be number one in its class.”
“This is a great day for Tribune and its shareholders, and we are pleased to be the lead affiliate group of what will be a strong network,” said FitzSimons. “We could not have had a better partner than Warner Bros. and Barry Meyer since we together launched The WB 11 years ago. Now, with the ownership role of CBS Corporation and the leadership of Leslie Moonves added to the mix, Tribune’s viewers and advertisers will benefit from an even stronger programming lineup.”
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.
The CW will incorporate The WB’s current scheduling model, which consists of a 6 night-13 hour primetime lineup including Monday through Friday nights from 8-10 (EST/PST); Sundays from 7-10 (EST/PST); Sunday from 5-7 (EST/PST) outside of primetime as well as a Monday thru Friday afternoon block from 3-5 (EST/PST) and a 5-hour Saturday morning animation block. Together, the network will program 30 hours a week over seven days for its affiliated stations.
As the top creative executive, Ostroff will have available a line-up of some of the most popular programming that appeals to young adults in the media business. These programming assets range from hit reality series such as “America’s Next Top Model” and The WB’s “Beauty and the Geek,” to hit dramas like The WB’s “Smallville,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Supernatural,” and UPN’s “Veronica Mars” as well as UPN’s hit comedies “Everybody Hates Chris” and “Girlfriends” and The WB’s hit comedy “Reba.” In addition the WWE’s “Smackdown,” which has been a mainstay at UPN, is expected to play a role in the schedule.
In addition, The CW will also broadcast the schedule of children’s programming now known as Kids’ WB!, a 5-hour original programming block on Saturday mornings from 7:00 am-Noon, considered primetime for kids. Kids’ WB! has been the broadcast network ratings champion since Fall 2000, capturing 16 consecutive sweep victories as the Number One Saturday morning kids’ broadcaster.
All programming, marketing, scheduling, publicity and research functions will report to Ostroff.
Maatta will be responsible for the network’s business operations. Bill Morningstar, The WB’s Executive Vice President of Advertising Sales will become the head of sales reporting to Maatta.. Other responsibilities that will report to Maatta include business affairs, network distribution, legal, finance and human resources.
Meyer added: “This could not have happened without the tremendous energy and talent of Bruce Rosenblum, President of Warner Bros. Television Group and Nancy Tellem at CBS who worked tirelessly and cohesively together to make this new network a reality. I would also like to thank Dennis FitzSimons, who saw the great opportunity this new network presents for the Tribune Company and who continues to be one of the great professionals and broadcasters in the business today.”
Moonves added: “This idea becomes a reality only when a great station group like Tribune comes on board with us and delivers the powerful reach a new network requires. With formidable flagship Tribune stations in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, a great CBS line-up of owned and operated UPN stations, and strong affiliates from every available market, The CW launches as a strong competitor to the Big Four, and that’s good for our business, for the viewing audience, and for free, over the air broadcasting. It is also good news for our shareholders, who will benefit from a much stronger business model, improved economics for our stations and new opportunities for our production businesses.”
CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and UPN), cable television (Showtime), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Paramount Television and King World), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), theme parks (Paramount Parks), digital media (CBS Digital Media Group and CSTV Networks) and consumer products (CBS Consumer Products). For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, a fully-integrated, broad-based entertainment company, is a global leader in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of all forms of entertainment and their related businesses. Warner Bros. Entertainment, a Time Warner Company, stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry, from feature films to television, home video/DVD, animation, comic books, interactive entertainment and games, product and brand licensing, international cinemas and broadcasting.
TRIBUNE (NYSE:TRB) is one of the country’s top media companies, operating businesses in publishing and broadcasting. It reaches more than 80 percent of U.S. households and is the only media organization with newspapers, television stations and websites in the nation’s top three markets. In publishing, Tribune operates 11 leading daily newspapers including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Newsday, plus a wide range of targeted publications such as Spanish-language Hoy. The company’s broadcasting group operates 26 television stations, Superstation WGN on national cable, Chicago’s WGN-AM and the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Popular news and information websites complement Tribune’s print and broadcast properties and extend the company’s nationwide audience.