PAX and UPN - in doubt

[Brett]

Regarding UPN:

http://www.nydailynews.com/business/story/64249p-59862c.html

NewsCorp (FOX) owns the top 3 market UPN affiliates, but Viacom owns UPN. This causes problems. Does Viacom want to put quality product on UPN if its FOX that benefits from this? On the other side, FOX wants a product or will can UPN on its stations. Buffy has been cancelled, and UPN needs another show.

PAX sold two stations - one in Fresno and other in Albuquerque recently. They have increased infomercials and now run infomercials all afternoon on the stations they run.

(Will PAX sell WPPX in Wilmington.Philadelphia to Univision?) Univision and NBC/Telemundo want to purchase stations for either Telefutura(for Univision) or Telemundo(for NBC) clearances. WB though is doing fine.

[Mark Holtz]

Important note from the article: The two sides are currently in talks to extend their affiliation agreement, which ends at the end of the 2003-04 TV season.

[Cyclone]

I really do have a hard time mustering up concern for either of these networks. Let them die if they must. Something better will come along and pick up their affiliates.

[Mark Holtz]

I predict that 2003-2004 will be the year of the network shakeout.

* PAX's schedule outside of prime time now consists of infomercials. Good-bye to a network that was supposed the alternative to family-friendly programming.
* After August 2003, UPN will no longer carry the Disney Afternoon lineup. Buffy has been cancelled. The contract between UPN and Fox-owned UPN stations expires after 2003-2004 season. And, UPN has only two shows that are notable left: Enterprise (which, unfortunately, is going downhill despite the actors) and Smackdown! Enterprise could be picked up by CBS.... maybe.
* NBC has already announced that 2003-2004 will also be the final season for two of it's most expensive sitcoms: Friends and Frasier
* Saturday night programming, last I looked, sucked. UPN and WB leave that night to their affiliates. ABC is using it as a movie night. NBC is using it as Law and Order repeat night. Fox airs Cops which is cheap to produce and America's Most Wanted which the Fox stations want to keep on the air to fulfil public affairs programming requirements. Only CBS is producing original programming on Saturday nights.
* Then, there is Friday night programming. This is UPN's movie night, and already WSBK has announced that they will be pre-empting the programming for Red Sox games.
* UPN doesn't even have Sunday night programming.
* And Hearst-Argyle, which owns some ABC stations, suggests giving the 10-11 PM hour back to the local stations.

[AJ2086]

I hope UPN goes under, I want Channel 59 to be independent again.