Will S.T. "Enterprise" become apart of CBS? (1 Viewer)

[Dan Hitchman]

With the folding of UPN/Paramount TV into CBS broadcast control (due to the Viacom and CBS merger), and the unknown future of the UPN syndication structure due to News Corp. (owners of Fox Broadcasting and 20th Century Fox studios) gobbling up the stations carrying UPN programming do you think CBS will continue to run "Star Trek: Enterprise" for its full seven year stint? UPN programming has always been wobbly in the ratings anyway.

This could also effect Buffy and Roswell, also aquired by UPN from Warner Brothers.

And if so, do you think we'll be seeing it soon or in the near future on our regular CBS station affiliates in glorious widescreen HDTV as part of the regular prime time line up?? Do you also think this would effect the show's storyline and structure?

Thoughts, comments?

Dan

 

[Jason Seaver]

Whoa... Cite a source, please! I thought UPN had actually gotten stronger footing recently; when was the announcement made that the network was being folded?

 

[Glenn Overholt]

It wouldn't be like CBS would fold UPN up. It would just be an additional channel for them, so I don't think that it would make any difference, except that possibly areas that didn't have UPN at all might be able to see Enterprise on CBS on the weekends.

Glenn

 

[Jason Seaver]

OK, here's a source - Link Removed.
Now, if you look at the story, it should become very clear that UPN is not going anywhere; rather, its operations are being consolidated into CBS. Now, Viacom only has one set of employees handling ad sales, for instance, with the same people making programming decisions for each network. This will eliminate overhead (and jobs) and allow UPN to be run for less money, bringing it closer to profitability.
In theory, "Enterprise" could still wind up on CBS, much the same way shows have shuffled between NBC and Pax ("Mysterious Ways", "The Weakest Link", "Twenty-One"). However, from what I gather, Les Moonves (CBS-and-now-UPN head honcho) seems fairly pleased with UPN's programming, figuring it has carved out a niche for itself and just needs to be streamlined.
Indeed, if there are any programming changes, it seems likely that it will just be tweaks to make sure CBS and UPN aren't going for the same audience at the same time. I don't see that as being a problem now - both have comedies on Monday, and action/adventure shows Tuesday at 8pm, but targeting different demographics. There may also be some repurposing, the way WB runs "Charmed" on TNT as well as the WB network, or Fox repeats "24" on FX.
As to Fox buying up UPN stations, what basically happened was News Corp. purchased Chris-Craft, Paramount's partner in setting up UPN. Most of those stations are in areas where Fox already has affiliates, if not actual Owned & Operateds. ("O&O"s are where networks really make their money) So, it's actually in News Corp's interest to have a healthy UPN.

 

[Dan Hitchman]

New York Times article:
I hope this link works.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/11/bu...artner=NETZERO
Dan

 

[Jeff Kleist]

In Philly, UPN is run out of our CBS affiliate, having closed its own separate offices. It still has its own staff however.

PAX is run out of the NBC affiliate

 

[Jason Seaver]

That just means the two stations have the same owners; the UPN and WB (formerly Fox) stations in Portland, Maine are run by the same people, but there's no connection between the networks at a higher level.

 

[Todd Hostettler]

Well, so much for my dream of an Enterprise - Becker crossover episode.
"Set Phase pistols on exfoliate!!!! "

 

[Rob T]

In theory, "Enterprise" could still wind up on CBS, much the same way shows have shuffled between NBC and Pax ("Mysterious Ways", "The Weakest Link", "Twenty-One"). However, from what I gather, Les Moonves (CBS-and-now-UPN head honcho) seems fairly pleased with UPN's programming, figuring it has carved out a niche for itself and just needs to be streamlined.

Moonves was also just recently put in charge of UPN's programming.