• Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version.
  • Super Maintenance

    Xenforo Cloud upgraded our forum to XenForo version 2.3.4. This update has created styling issues to our current templates.

    Starting January 9th, site maintenance is ongoing until further notice, but please report any other issues you may experience so we can look into.

    We apologize for the inconvenience.

  • X/Twitter

    Due to recent news involving X, formerly Twitter and its owner, the staff of SuperHeroHype have decided it would be best to no longer allow links on the board. Starting January 31st, users will no longer be able to post direct links to X on this site, however screenshots will still be allowed as long as they follow Hype rules and guidelines.

    We apologize for any inconvenience.

What Killed UPN and The WB TV Networks?

The CW needs to dump Dawn Ostroff. That's a given. What helped Fox become the power network it is today is the fact that they shocked everyone when they acquired NFL Football after the 1994 season ended. It started a huge chain reaction. Fox had some of those same stations that UPN and WB had prior to the addition of NFL football. Once NFL football came on board, several stations from the Big 3 (NBC, ABC, CBS) went to Fox. I know that here in Dallas, what is now the CW station was once Fox, what is now the CBS affiliate was once an Indy station and what is now the Fox affiliate is was once the CBS affiliate.

Of course, the leftovers became UPN and WB and then the CW and MyNetwork. The only way for the CW to survive is if they dump Ostroff and go with a different direction. Acquiring TV broadcast rights to a major sporting event might save the CW.
 
and some of the CW affiliates are re-establishing their own station identities again....WPIX in NY was indie for a while, then it became WB11 and CW11 for a bit and it switched back to WPIX last December
 
and some of the CW affiliates are re-establishing their own station identities again....WPIX in NY was indie for a while, then it became WB11 and CW11 for a bit and it switched back to WPIX last December

Same here in Dallas. KDAF went from FOX 33 to WB 33 to CW 33 and now "The 33"

I do think that NFL football saved the Fox network. I don't have any doubts about that. Sure Fox cancels shows a whole lot, but I don't think they would be in the position to do that without football.
 
Same here in Dallas. KDAF went from FOX 33 to WB 33 to CW 33 and now "The 33"

I do think that NFL football saved the Fox network. I don't have any doubts about that. Sure Fox cancels shows a whole lot, but I don't think they would be in the position to do that without football.

I agree...no one saw it coming or didn't believe it would happen, or that Fox couldn't handle it and BAM....well they can do that with football and American Idol (I hate it, but that show pays for other shows)
 
I agree...no one saw it coming or didn't believe it would happen, or that Fox couldn't handle it and BAM....well they can do that with football and American Idol (I hate it, but that show pays for other shows)

If the CW had any smarts (which they don't) they could have followed the Fox route and made a bid for a sporting event that could end up saving their network. But they won't do that. Instead they will continue to appeal to the female demographic as long as Dawn Ostroff is in charge.

They'll probably bid for the WNBA in the future. It would fit right into their demographic. It won't save their network though.
 
They'll probably bid for the WNBA in the future. It would fit right into their demographic. It won't save their network though.
Don't be absurd. The WNBA doesn't fit into any demographic. It'd have to have viewers to fit into a demographic. :hehe:
 
While I'm not a fan of the teen girl dramas, it isn't that bad of an idea to cater to that audience, it's probably the most coveting by advertisers. Why do you think Titanic is the highest grossing movie of all time, teen girls swooning over Leonardo DiCaprio, why is Twilight such a success, teen girls. I think the real reason 90210 isn't a big success yet is it focuses too much on the girls in the show, they need a teen heart throb for the girls to swoon at, same with Melrose Place. Look at Grey's Anatomy, big success with all it's Mc nicknamed male doctors.

Also Smallville needs to be cancelled the show has been running on fumes for 3-4 years at least now.

The problem with teen shows are that they run hot for about two years then they start running out of gas followed by a massive drop in the ratings when the next hearthrob comes along. Teen audiences are extremely fickle and don't stay with shows.

Prime-time soaps have always been a short-term fix not part of the long-term development of a network. while they may appeal to young audiences and bring up ad rates short term, they have next to no syndication or repeat value, which means the network can't sell packages of their programs off to other local channels as a revenue stream to raise funds for other shows. Long-term this is gonna hurt CW the same way it hurt WB.

Smallville may be running on fumes but it's the CW's highest rated show. It deserves better than a Friday night death slot. It should be built up this season and given a proper sendoff with no less a two-hour series finale sweeps event where Clark finally puts on the costume. It's the kind of thing that would give fans of the show and loyal CW viewers a reason to keep watching the network.

Outside of Gilmore girls no show on the CW has ever been given a proper Series Finale. Viewers were steamed about the way Everybody Hates Chris and the Game were dumped this year, to do this to a show featuring "Superman" a major DC property would further alienate viewers and deter people from watching the CW.

I really would love to see CW get a major sport deal like NFL or even UFC. But I'd really love to see them fire Ostroff and focus on developing content for everyone including revenue building shows like sitcoms and sci-fi series that will grow the network, not this teen stuff that will be out of style in two years and impossible to sell to syndicators. No one's buying the original 90210 and Melrose, in syndication why make new ones?
 
Dawsons Creek got a proper finale, I think

Dawson's was a WB show. Most of the original WB shows I used to watch got proper finales.

The Wayans Bros
Jamie Foxx
Sister, Sister
The Steve Harvey Show
Felicity
Unhappily Ever After
Sabrina The Teenage Witch

But most of the longer running CW/WB shows especially the ones Ostroff hated or didn't fit into her demographics just got left out there like:
Angel
Reba
The Game
Everybody Hates Chris- rushed kinda/sorta finale

I'd hate to see this done to Smallville. Nothing short of Welling putting on the costume will be a satisfying close to the show's loyal viewers. Plus, this ending sets up the show for a nice long revenue producing syndicated run.
 
As long as Ostroff is in charge, there will be nothing to save the CW. They are not what Fox was 15 years ago. I mentioned earlier that I believe that the NFL going to Fox ended up saving that network. Look at Fox now. I know that Fox has a history of canceling shows before they get a proper ending, but they would not be in that position if they did not take a huge risk and bid for the NFL, which in essence, saved their network.

The CW may not have long to cancel shows before they get proper endings if there is nothing to "save" the network from extinction. Thanks to the NFL, Fox has now been around for 23 years. The CW is currently three years old (launching September 2006). It might not last five years.
 
As long as Ostroff is in charge, there will be nothing to save the CW. They are not what Fox was 15 years ago. I mentioned earlier that I believe that the NFL going to Fox ended up saving that network. Look at Fox now. I know that Fox has a history of canceling shows before they get a proper ending, but they would not be in that position if they did not take a huge risk and bid for the NFL, which in essence, saved their network.

The CW may not have long to cancel shows before they get proper endings if there is nothing to "save" the network from extinction. Thanks to the NFL, Fox has now been around for 23 years. The CW is currently three years old (launching September 2006). It might not last five years.

Have to agree with you on this. Fox getting the NFL rights from NBC in 94 was a game changer. Thanks to the revenue and the influx of viewers from the NFL Fox was able to buy channels, and develop the revenue streams to buy content that made themselves into a serious contender.

Didn't hurt that they were expanding their audiences with shows like The Simpsons, (Fox's first big national hit) Counterprogramminng NBC's Must See TV Thursdays with Martin, Living Single and New York Undercover. Oldskool 90210 and Melrose were finding their stride and cult shows like the X-files were getting their audience, but the NFL allowed them to become a competitor on a national scale. Giants Fans like me HAD to watch Fox to get NFC games. (Summerall and Madden in the broadcast booth made many a Sunday for me.) Picking up American Idol in 2000 along with extending their NFL rights have made FOX the number 3 network, even supplanting NBC from its established place in the network hierarchy.

CW doesn't have anything close to competing with any of the big four like that. I'm not giving it long, especially with Ostroff sending the ship towards the iceberg with her craptacular line-up. Nothing she's offering viewers currently is going to be a breakout hit of the Simpsons or even BTVS level to elevate the network to "must see" prominence.

In another three years we'll probably be hearing about the end of the CW as it joins the DuMont network, PTEN UPN the WB and My Network TV in the network graveyard.

Just waitng for PAX/Ion to die next....:hehe:
 
The CW needs to dump Dawn Ostroff. That's a given. What helped Fox become the power network it is today is the fact that they shocked everyone when they acquired NFL Football after the 1994 season ended. It started a huge chain reaction. Fox had some of those same stations that UPN and WB had prior to the addition of NFL football. Once NFL football came on board, several stations from the Big 3 (NBC, ABC, CBS) went to Fox. I know that here in Dallas, what is now the CW station was once Fox, what is now the CBS affiliate was once an Indy station and what is now the Fox affiliate is was once the CBS affiliate.

Of course, the leftovers became UPN and WB and then the CW and MyNetwork. The only way for the CW to survive is if they dump Ostroff and go with a different direction. Acquiring TV broadcast rights to a major sporting event might save the CW.

I think the problem with the CW acquiring a major sports package is that it would seem rather counterproductive with CBS Sports. Since the CW isn't fully an independent entity (it and CBS are under the same mangerial umbrella), it in return, would likely create a conflict of interest with CBS proper.
 
and some of the CW affiliates are re-establishing their own station identities again....WPIX in NY was indie for a while, then it became WB11 and CW11 for a bit and it switched back to WPIX last December

Ha, I remember WPIX from when we had DISH Network. Also got the WB stations in LA and Denver. It was awesome.

Dawson's was a WB show. Most of the original WB shows I used to watch got proper finales.

The Wayans Bros
Jamie Foxx
Sister, Sister
The Steve Harvey Show
Felicity
Unhappily Ever After
Sabrina The Teenage Witch

But most of the longer running CW/WB shows especially the ones Ostroff hated or didn't fit into her demographics just got left out there like:
Angel
Reba
The Game
Everybody Hates Chris- rushed kinda/sorta finale

I'd hate to see this done to Smallville. Nothing short of Welling putting on the costume will be a satisfying close to the show's loyal viewers. Plus, this ending sets up the show for a nice long revenue producing syndicated run.

Didn't 'THE GAME' get pick up by BET? It always seems to be on round 5pm on BET when I work out at the rec center.
 
Did BET pick it up, or are they just airing reruns?
 
Tia Mowry said on Twitter everything is in limbo on The Game. She's still waiting to find out what's going on with it. It may get picked up by BET in 2010 but I don't expect it. Still waiting for that Black Panther series to show up there.

If it did get picked up the budget would get slashed and it wouldn't be the same show. But I would have really liked to seen a proper series finale for that show. It was one of the better perfomers in CW's sorry lineup.
 
Interesting. Good information. I always wondered what happened to the WB & UPN.....
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top
monitoring_string = "afb8e5d7348ab9e99f73cba908f10802"