NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Struggling TV networks WB and UPN will merge into a single new youth-oriented broadcaster this fall in a surprise deal announced on Tuesday that reshapes the landscape of U.S. television.
The new CW network will debut in September 2006 as a 50-50 joint venture of UPN parent company CBS Corp. and Time Warner Inc., which controls the WB, shrinking the field of major U.S. commercial TV networks from six to five. The WB frog is said to be inconsolable.
CW McCALL, who sang the song CONVOY a long time ago, is said to be beside himself. He is also said to be beside the person next to him.
UPN and the WB, both formed 11 years ago, have each struggled to build ratings with programming aimed at younger viewers than the 18-to-49-year-old audience regarded as the advertising sweet spot for the Big Four broadcasters -- ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.
CW will essentially follow the strategy of its predecessors, targeting viewers aged 18 to 34, especially females.
New shows proposed are My First Thong, a light hearted romp through Victoria's Secret; You've Got a Zit!, a new reality show that awards disaster points to girls about to go out on 'important' dates; You're Not A Slut If You're In Love, in which girls explore sexual hijinx; and Why Doesn't He Call? - a psychologist eats ice cream with the girls at a weekly pajama party.
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