Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Hit shows from both networks will remain on the schedule.
By GUY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- WBCB, the Mahoning Valley's WB Network television station, has committed to becoming an affiliate of the new CW Network. The station signed a long-term agreement with The CW last week.
The WB and UPN announced in January that they will merge to form The CW (the name comes from CBS and Warner Bros., the owners). However, some Fox-owned UPN stations in large markets have opted out to form My Network.
Markets that currently have both WB and UPN stations will have only one combined station after the merger, which will take effect in September. Youngstown, the nation's 102nd-ranked market in size, has only a WB affiliate.
WBCB will not change its call letters after the merger.
Both The WB and UPN are geared toward younger viewers, targeting the 18-34 demographic, and The CW affiliates will take the best programs from both networks.
"Each network had a handful of hits, and when you combine them you get established shows every night of the week," said Jack Grdic, marketing director of WFMJ-TV 21 and its sister station, WBCB.
"We've never had UPN here and it's a new opportunity," said Grdic. "Both networks skew toward young viewers, and UPN brings an urban element."
Lineup to be decided
It has not yet been determined which shows will stay and which will get the ax, but Grdic said a handful are likely to remain, including WB hits "Reba," "Smallville," "Girlfriends" and "Supernatural" and UPN shows "Gilmore Girls," "Everybody Hates Chris," "Veronica Mars" and "WWE Friday Night Smackdown." The CW is also evaluating pilots for several new shows.
Affiliates of The CW will air network programming Monday through Friday and Sunday during prime time, with a kids block weekday afternoons from 3 to 5 p.m. and children's cartoons on Saturday mornings. The remaining time slots will be filled by the affiliates with syndicated programs.
WBCB has already picked up "Seinfeld" and "Friends," which will air weekdays from 7 to 8 p.m., Grdic said.
Grdic noted that WBCB, which is not an airwaves broadcaster but instead transmits a digital signal, already is carried by every cable company in the Youngstown market. He said the station is also holding talks with Dish Network and DirecTV satellite systems.
The January merger announcement took the industry by surprise.
"We were surprised when we first heard about it," said Grdic. "It has been called the best-kept secret in television in years."