The New "fifth" Network
On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Time Warner announced they would shut down both UPN and The WB that fall. In place of these two networks, a new "fifth" network, jointly owned by both companies, would launch, with a lineup of the most popular programming of both networks. The network was given the name "The CW Television Network" ("CW" representing the first initials of CBS and Warner).
The CW immediately announced ten-year affiliation agreements with 16 WB affiliates owned by Tribune Broadcasting, and 11 UPN owned-and-operated stations under CBS ownership, giving the new network coverage of all of the top 13 markets and 48% of the country. The remaining affiliates were to be drawn from the pool of stations affiliated with UPN and The WB.
It was immediately clear that media markets with Tribune stations would receive CW affiliation, leaving Fox Television Stations, UPN's second largest affiliate group (after UPN O&Os), with no prime-time network. Rumors began to circulate that Fox would plan its own network for those stations and others left out in the merger. The rumors proved true, and Fox launched its own network, MyNetworkTV, a programming service meant to fill the two nightly prime time hours that opened up on its UPN-affiliated stations after the start of The CW. Fox also offered the service to other stations.
Read more about this topic: 2006 United States Broadcast TV Realignment
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