CBS Corp. and Warner Bros. Ent. today announced plans to launch The CW, a new major network to compete with CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX. Scheduled to debut this fall, the new broadcasting outlet will mean the end of both CBS’s UPN and Warner Bros.’ The WB. The CW will incorporate programming from both outgoing networks, including the Saturday Morning block currently known as Kids’ WB!
Warner Bros. and CBS will each have 50% ownership of joint venture. UPN president Dawn Ostroff will become president of entertainment for The CW, while The WB’s chief operating officer, John Maatta, assumes the role of chief operating officer of the new network.
Major market distribution for The CW will be assured via 10-year affiliation agreements signed by Tribune Broadcasting and the CBS Corporation’s UPN affiliates. The combination of Tribune’s 16 major market stations and the 12 CBS-owned UPN major market affiliates give The CW instant coverage in 48% of the country. The remainder of the network’s distribution system will be a combination of selected current UPN and The WB stations. The full distribution of the new network is expected to exceed 95% of the country.
CBS Corp. president and CEO Leslie Moonves comments, “The CW will be able to draw from the creative talent and production resources from the top two television production studios in the business, while also seeking programming from all sources’independent producers or other studios.’
“This new network makes sound business and creative sense at every level for our viewers, advertisers, affiliates and for the shareholders of our companies,” adds Barry Meyer, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Ent. “Every key constituency of the network will now greatly benefit from this combination by being part of a highly rated, competitive, 5th broadcast network that is financially sound.’
The CW will mirror The WB’s current scheduling model, which includes a 5-hour Saturday morning animation block. All together, the network will program 30 hours per week for its affiliated stations, offering such hit shows as The WB’s Smallville, Gilmore Girls and Supernatural, as well as UPN’s Veronica Mars, Everybody Hates Chris and Girlfriends.
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