UPN merges with WB...... The End of Black TV?
The WB has recently announced plans to merge with UPN to form the CW TV Network. The new network will be a 50/50 partnership between Time Warner and CBS. The ramifications of this are staggering to Black television shows.
The combined network will have new affiliate agreements with the 16 major market Tribune TV stations, including stations in New York, LA, and Chicago; and with the 12 CBS-owned UPN major market affiliates. The network expects to have coverage in 95% of the country by the time it launches as a combined network this fall.
The new network has announced plans to use the WB's schedule, which offers 13 hours of primetime programming over six nights a week, a 3-5 p.m. weekday block, and a five hour Saturday morning animation block.
What does this all mean to you and do you even care? Basically, UPN is the premiere station for black televison programming. The majority of it's line-up is driven by black shows (Girlfriends, Cuts, One-on-One, etc.) By going with the WB lineup (Everwood, Smallville, One Tree Hill, etc.) it pretty much negates what has been keeping UPN afloat.
In one swoope, could this be the end of Black-oriented programming as we know it?
The revolution is being televised.......be well.
The combined network will have new affiliate agreements with the 16 major market Tribune TV stations, including stations in New York, LA, and Chicago; and with the 12 CBS-owned UPN major market affiliates. The network expects to have coverage in 95% of the country by the time it launches as a combined network this fall.
The new network has announced plans to use the WB's schedule, which offers 13 hours of primetime programming over six nights a week, a 3-5 p.m. weekday block, and a five hour Saturday morning animation block.
What does this all mean to you and do you even care? Basically, UPN is the premiere station for black televison programming. The majority of it's line-up is driven by black shows (Girlfriends, Cuts, One-on-One, etc.) By going with the WB lineup (Everwood, Smallville, One Tree Hill, etc.) it pretty much negates what has been keeping UPN afloat.
In one swoope, could this be the end of Black-oriented programming as we know it?
The revolution is being televised.......be well.
