WB and UPN to end in the fall

CBS and Time Warner are ending the WB and UPN networks this year and will start a joint network this fall. I don't know what this means for shows like Everwood, Everybody Hates Chris, Gilmore Girls, Smallville, What I Like About You, Reba, Twins, Related, etc. It will be interesting to see what becomes of this action.

CBS Corp. and Time Warner Inc.’s Warner Bros. said Tuesday they will close their respective UPN and WB networks, and jointly launch a new channel in fall 2006.

The new CW network will be a 50-50 joint venture of the two companies.

The companies expect the station to reach 95 percent of the country.

Tribune Co. said its 16 UPN broadcast stations signed 10-year affiliate agreements with the new network. Similarly, CBS said its 12 UPN stations signed 10-year affiliate deals.

The two station groups reach 48 percent of the country. The companies expect the remainder of the affiliates to come from a combination of WB and UPN stations.

The CW will use The WB’s current scheduling model, which consists of Monday through Friday nights from 8-10 p.m. ET; Sundays from 7-10 p.m. ET; Sunday from 5-7 p.m. ET outside of primetime. It will also include a Monday through Friday afternoon block from 3-5 p.m. ET and a 5-hour Saturday morning animation block.

Currently, the WB serves as the JP Sports affiliate in Northern Kentucky.