Mikk

Source: Friend online who came across it on another board.

Official Press Release



The WB and UPN television networks in America are to be closed by their respective parent companies, Warner Bros. and CBS Corporation, who will then join forces to create a larger fifth terrestrial channel.

The new channel will aim for the 18-34 demographic, be called "The CW," and launch in the autumn after The WB and UPN cease operations in September 2006. It will be a 50-50 joint venture between Warner Bros. and CBS.

Dawn Ostroff, currently the president of UPN, will become the new channel's president of entertainment. John Maatta, chief operating officer at The WB, will continue in this role at The CW.

"This new network will serve the public with high-quality programming and maintain our ongoing commitment to our diverse audience," said CBS president and CEO Les 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."

The first round of carriage agreements for the new channel were also announced today. Tribune Broadcasting has signed a 10-year affiliation agreement to carry the network's programming, and current CBS-owned UPN affiliates will carry The CW from launch. At this stage, that gives the network coverage across 48% of the country. The CW will aim for over 95% coverage, gradually extending its reach before launch by striking agreements with selected current UPN and The WB affiliates around America.


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So looks as if Smackdown is screwed.

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Brandon

Sounds to me like they'd be willing to keep SD! around if they are targeting ages 18-34.

Joe Cool

CNN reports that a new television network, called The CW will replace the fifth and sixth ranked America networks of The WB and UPN. The announcement was made by Les Moonves, chairman of CBS, which is owned by Viacom, which owns UPN. The WB is owned by Warner Bros., making The CW a co-owned network.

Shows specifically mentioned by Moonves as staying on with the new network are Smallville, Gilmore Girls, Supernatural, Beauty and the Geek, and Reba from The WB, as well as Veronica Mars, America's Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, Girlfriends, and WWE Wrestling from UPN.

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Mr. Kennedy

This will hurt WWE though since it means they won't have as much leverage when negotiating for a new deal. I'm still hoping that USA Newtork will pick it up since they might get an even worse deal on The CW than they currently do.

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