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Executives Still Determining Where New Warner Bros.-CBS Network Will Air Locally

Posted on: Monday, 6 March 2006, 15:00 CST

By Ken White

By KEN WHITE

REVIEW-JOURNAL

It was announced Tuesday that UPN and the WB will combine to form a new television network. But so far no decision has been made on where the network will air locally.

"We're not ruling anybody out," said Kenneth Werner, head of distribution for the WB. "We'll look at the overall picture. We're going to talk to whoever is interested (in getting the network) and see what they have to say."

Werner says the new network, which is a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corp., is looking at "signal strength, ratings and reverse compensation" in making the decision of whether WB affiliate KVWB-TV, Channel 21 or UPN affiliate KTUD- TV, Channel 25 will carry the CW.

That decision will have to be made in the next 60 days, Werner said.

"We need to build a strong affiliate base for the long term to compete" with NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox, he said.

The WB and UPN, which target younger viewers, so far have been also-rans in the ratings, compared with the Big Four.

The CW will have the WB's current schedule of a six night, 13- hour prime time lineup, Monday through Friday, plus programs on Sundays, an afternoon block Monday through Friday and a Saturday- morning animation block.

Together, the network will program 30 hours a week over seven days for its affiliates.

Based on criteria set up by the new network, KVWB may have the inside track on getting the new network, based on its ownership - Sinclair Broadcast Group is the largest television company in the country - and its status as a full-power station.

KTUD, a low-power station that reaches most of its viewers on Cox Cable, is owned by Las Vegas TV Partners, a company owned by Greenspun Broadcasting, which is part of Greenspun Corp., and New York-based Catalyst Investors.

Either way the new network goes, Tuesday's announcement "is still exciting for us," says Julie Neil, general manager of UPN affiliate KTUD.

"There's a lot of evaluation going on. We'll have to rebrand ourselves, regardless. We're in a strong, stable position whichever way it goes," Neil said. "There are a lot of options."

If KTUD does not get the network, it will revert to independent station status and have to program the time slots now covered by UPN.

Neither Rob Weisbord, general manager of WB affiliate KVWB-TV, Channel 21, nor Brian Greenspun, CEO of the Greenspun Corp., could be reached for comment.

The Greenspun Corp. also owns the Las Vegas Sun newspaper.

Source: Las Vegas Review - Journal

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