# And Then There Were Five: UPN, WB to Merge **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 24, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411 "2006-01-24T17:08:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/1 "2006-01-24T17:08:53Z")
The full story is [here](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060124/ap_on_en_tv/tv_network). In short, starting in the 2006-2007 season, UPN and WB will become a new network, called the CW, with WGN, WPIX, and KTLA as flagship stations. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/2 "2006-01-24T17:26:34Z")
I think they should call it WUP. This is great – I’ll be able to watch Veronica Mars without waiting for the DVD. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/3 "2006-01-24T17:38:53Z")
Better yet, WZUP… ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/4 "2006-01-24T17:40:29Z")
So what’s going to happen to WWOR and all the other redundant affiliates in markets with both UPN and WB? As long as they don’t mess with _Smallville_ it’s all groovy. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/5 "2006-01-24T18:06:12Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Better yet, WZUP… Better yet…WTF ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/6 "2006-01-24T18:12:25Z")
And for those scratching their heads over where the letters “CW” come from: Columbia Broadcasting System (which owns UPN) and Warner Bros. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/7 "2006-01-24T18:14:22Z")
I’m curious about the redundant affiliates too. I’d also like to know which shows will be carried over and which will be cancelled, since there isn’t room for all of them. But to paraphrase **friedo** , as long as they don’t mess with _Smallville_ or _Veronica Mars_, I’m fine. If they could stop calling new episodes “fresh”, I’d like that too. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/8 "2006-01-24T18:15:27Z")
Well, they can’t do worse than UPN or WB individually… or can they? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/9 "2006-01-24T18:35:06Z")
Im happy if this means I can watch WB shows without getting cable. (Tho I’m not 110% which shows I’m interested in, other than Smallville) And as previously mentioned Veronica Mars stays on the air. Brian ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/10 "2006-01-24T19:08:28Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > And for those scratching their heads over where the letters “CW” come from: Columbia Broadcasting System (which owns UPN) and Warner Bros. Better than the WC. 🙂 This is probably good news for me. The shows I watch on UPN and the WB are probably safe (Veronica and Supernatural). ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/11 "2006-01-24T20:19:08Z")
[http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs\_warner/index.htm?cnn=yes](http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/index.htm?cnn=yes) > [@cnn](#): > > The new network will broadcast such UPN shows as “America’s Next Top Model” and “Veronica Mars,” as well as WB programs “Beauty and the Geek” and “Smallville.” While certianly not an official statement of what will air, it is a good sign. With the possible xception of “everybody hates Chris”, the only UPN show I care about is VM. Brian ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/12 "2006-01-24T20:37:12Z")
I was just reading this. The article said they would be in 95% of the US market after the merger. For all the \*\*AD \*\* fans and \*\*Futurama \*\* fans maybe they would even give these shows extended/new life. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/13 "2006-01-25T01:47:22Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > So what’s going to happen to WWOR and all the other redundant affiliates in markets with both UPN and WB? The expectation seems to be that those stations become independent (that is, not affiliated with a network) stations, but it’s not fully certain yet. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/14 "2006-01-25T01:50:08Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Better than the WC. 🙂 I’m waiting the merger that will create: ABCNNBCBS ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/15 "2006-01-25T01:54:53Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I’m waiting the merger that will create: > > ABCNNBCBS I thought it was CNNBCBS, a division of ABC. [sub]If you see a celebrity, consider them armed and dangerous![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Achren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@Achren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achren)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/16 "2006-01-25T03:21:48Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > I was just reading this. The article said they would be in 95% of the US market after the merger. > For all the \*\*AD \*\* fans and \*\*Futurama \*\* fans maybe they would even give these shows extended/new life. > > Jim You’re thinking of FOX network. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/17 "2006-01-25T03:30:02Z")
> [@Governor Quinn](#): > > In short, starting in the 2006-2007 season, UPN and WB will become a new network, called the CW, with WGN, WPIX, and KTLA as flagship stations. **KTLA Predicts!** Future Date 2013: CBS, NBC, ABC, the CW, RCA, the CIA, the FBI, the NBA, R. Crumb and CPO Sharkey merge into a single network, simply called “The B,” which stands for “Broadcorparamounationamericolumbrothersystem.” And… _You Are There!_ ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/18 "2006-01-25T03:31:25Z")
> [@Achren](#): > > You’re thinking of FOX network. No, Fox gave up on these shows. I thought maybe the new larger CW network would possibly rescue them. Just a minor thought. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/19 "2006-01-25T13:22:35Z")
I had no idea that they were two separate networks… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411/20 "2006-01-25T13:58:54Z")
Big deal. All the cr@p get scraped into one big puddle, that’s all. :dubious: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-five-upn-wb-to-merge/341411.md?page=2)