UPN: Difference between revisions

| headquarters = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] {{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}

* [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]] (1996–20052000–2005)

| closed_date = {{End date|2006|9|15}}<br/>({{Age in years and days|1995|1|16|2006|9|15}})

The '''United Paramount Network''' ('''UPN''') was an American [[terrestrial television|broadcast]] [[television network]] that operated from 1995 to 2006. It was originally owned by [[Chris-Craft Industries]]' subsidiary, [[BHC Communications#United Television|United Television]]. [[Viacom (1952–20061952–2005)|Viacom]] (through its [[Paramount Television]] unit, which produced most of the network's series) turned it into a [[joint venture]] in 1996 after acquiring a 50% stake in the network, and subsequently purchased Chris-Craft's remaining stake in 2000. On December 31, 2005, UPN was kept by [[CBS Corporation]], which was the new name for Viacom when it split into two separate companies. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and [[Time Warner]] jointly announced on January 24, 2006, that the companies would shut down UPN and competitor [[The WB]] to launch a new joint venture network later that year.<ref name="UPN, WB merge">{{cite news |title = UPN, WB to Merge Into CW Network |url = https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/upn-wb-merge-cw-network-83687/ |last = Crupi |first = Anthony |work = [[AdWeek]] |date = January 24, 2006 |access-date = February 12, 2017 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064454/http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising/upn-wb-merge-cw-network-83687 |archive-date = March 4, 2016 }}</ref> UPN ceased broadcasting on September 15, 2006, with The WB following two days later. Select programs from both networks moved to the new network, [[The CW]], when it launched on September 18, 2006.<ref name="UPN, WB merge"/><ref>{{cite web |title = 'Gilmore Girls' Meet 'Smackdown'; CW Network to Combine WB, UPN in CBS-Warner Venture Beginning in September |url = https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ |last = Seid |first = Jessica |work = [[CNN Money]] |date = January 24, 2006 |access-date = February 12, 2017 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170316043531/http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ |archive-date = March 16, 2017 }}</ref>

InParamount thehad wake of the successful [[Universal Studios]] ''[[ad hoc]]'' [[Broadcast syndication|syndication]] package ''[[Operation Prime Time]]'', which first featured a [[miniseries]] adaptation of [[John Jakes]]' novel ''[[The Bastard (miniseries)|The Bastard]]'' and went on to air several more productions, Paramountlong had earlierplans contemplatedfor its own television network with the [[Paramount Television Service]]. Set to launch in early 1978, it would have run its programming for only one night a week. Thirty "Movies of the Week" would have followed ''[[Star Trek: Phase II]]'' on Saturday nights. Plans for the new network were scrapped when sufficient advertising slots could not be sold, though Paramount would contribute some programs to ''Operation Prime Time'', such as the mini-series ''[[A Woman Called Golda]]'', and the weekly pop music program, ''[[Solid Gold (TV series)|Solid Gold]]''. ''Star Trek: Phase II'' was reworked as the theatrical film, ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'', absorbing the costs already incurred from the aborted television series.

In 1993, [[Time Warner]] and [[Chris-Craft Industries]] entered into a [[joint venture]] to distribute programs via a [[prime time]] programming service, the [[Prime Time Entertainment Network]] (PTEN), which is UPN's partial parent. Chris-Craft later became a partner in UPN, and Time Warner launched The WB in a joint venture with the [[Tribune Media|Tribune Company]] at roughly the same time.

UPN launched on January 16, 1995, initially carrying programming only on Monday and Tuesday nights from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern]] and [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific Time]].<ref>{{cite news |title = The Media Business: 2 Would-Be Networks Get Set for Prime Time |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/09/business/the-media-business-2-would-be-networks-get-set-for-prime-time.html |first = Bill |last = Carter |newspaper = The New York Times |date = January 9, 1995 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015094720/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/09/business/the-media-business-2-would-be-networks-get-set-for-prime-time.html |archive-date = October 15, 2015 }}</ref> The first telecast, the [[Caretaker (Star Trek: Voyager)|two-hour pilot episode]] of ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'', was an auspicious start, with 21.3 million viewers; however, ''Voyager'' would neither achieve such viewership levels again, nor would any of the series premiering on UPN's second night of broadcasting survive the season. In contrast, The WB debuted one week earlier, on January 11, with four series – only one of which, ''[[Muscle (TV series)|Muscle]]'', would not survive its first season. The first comedy series to premiere on UPN were ''[[Platypus Man]]'', starring [[Richard Jeni]], and ''[[Pig Sty]]'', with both shows airing Monday nights in the 9:00&nbsp;p.m. hour; both received mixed reviews,. and neitherNeither lasted long. <ref>{{cite news |title = UPN Network Cancels 3 of Its 4 Programs |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/18/arts/upn-network-cancels-3-of-its-4-programs.html |first = Lawrie |last = Mifflin |newspaper = The New York Times |date = May 18, 1995 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015094847/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/18/arts/upn-network-cancels-3-of-its-4-programs.html |archive-date = October 15, 2015 }}</ref>

Other early UPN programs included the action series ''[[Nowhere Man (American TV series)|Nowhere Man]]'', starring [[Bruce Greenwood]] and ''[[Marker (TV series)|Marker]]'', starring [[Richard Grieco]]; the comic western ''[[Legend (TV series)|Legend]]'' starring [[Richard Dean Anderson]]; the sci-fi themed action series, ''[[The Sentinel (TV series)|The Sentinel]]''; and ''[[Moesha]]'', a sitcom starring R&B musician [[Brandy (entertainer)|Brandy Norwood]]. Of the network's early offerings, only ''Star Trek: Voyager'', ''Moesha'' and ''The Sentinel'' would last longer than one season. As a result of the lack of viewership, UPN operated on a loss and had lost $800&nbsp;million by 2000.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = Why Won't Anyone Pull the Plug on UPN? |url = https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2000/04/03/why-wont-anyone-pull-the-plug-on-upn |first = James |last = Surowiecki |magazine = [[The New Yorker]] |date = April 3, 2000 |access-date = January 17, 2010 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218170110/https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2000/04/03/2000_04_03_032_TNY_LIBRY_000020545 |archive-date = December 18, 2008 }}</ref>

UPN completed its prime time expansion in the 1998–99 season, with Thursdays and Fridays as the last nights of programming to be added to the network's evening slate. That season saw the debut of ''[[The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer]]'', a sitcom set during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] that centered on a black English nobleman who becomes the valet to [[Abraham Lincoln]]; even before its premiere, the series was riddled by controversy and protests from several African American activist groups (including the Los Angeles chapter of the [[NAACP]], who picketed outside [[Paramount Studios]] one week before the originally scheduled [[television pilot|pilot episode]]) and some advertisers for its perceived lighthearted take on [[Slavery in the United States|American slavery in the 19th century]], protested against the premise of the series. Despite whatthe publicity ''Desmond'' received from itsthe controversial topicalityapproach it applied to its topic, the series suffered from low ratings (with the first episode on October 5, 1998, placing 116th out of 125 programs aired that week on network television) and was canceled after four episodes.<ref>{{cite news |title = Racism Is Not 'Diary's' Crime |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-02-ca-28389-story.html |first = Howard |last = Rosenberg |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |date = October 2, 1998 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015094649/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/oct/02/entertainment/ca-28389 |archive-date = October 15, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Candy Maker Pulls Its Ads from Controversial Comedy |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-13-fi-32006-story.html |first = Greg |last = Braxton |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |date = October 13, 1998 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015094959/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/oct/13/business/fi-32006 |archive-date = October 15, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = 300 Protest at Studio Against TV Comedy Set in Slavery Era |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-01-me-28286-story.html |first = Greg |last = Braxton |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |date = October 1, 1998 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015094615/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/oct/01/local/me-28286 |archive-date = October 15, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = They Vote by Remote: As UPN debuts 'Desmond Pfeiffer,' Viewers Tune in Other Channels |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-07-ca-29945-story.html |first = Greg |last = Braxton |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |date = October 7, 1998 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015094510/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/oct/07/entertainment/ca-29945 |archive-date = October 15, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = 'Desmond Pfeiffer' Is Deep-Sixed |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-nov-07-ca-40123-story.html |first = Greg |last = Braxton |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |date = November 7, 1998 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015094549/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/nov/07/entertainment/ca-40123 |archive-date = October 15, 2015 }}</ref>

Six months afterbefore the company announced its $36&nbsp;billion merger with (the original) [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation|CBS Corporation]], in March 1999, Viacom applied a contractual clause that would – within a 45-day grace period – force Chris-Craft to either buy Viacom out of UPN, or have the former sell its ownership stake in the network to Viacom. Three days later on February 8, Chris-Craft subsequently filed a lawsuit against Viacom in the [[New York Supreme Court]] to block the latter's merger with CBS, claiming that a pact signed between the two partners in 1997 had prevented either from owning "any interest, financial or otherwise" in "any competing network," including CBS, for a four-year period through January 2001. On March 17, New York Supreme Court judge Herman Cahn ruled against Chris-Craft's move for a permanent [[injunction]] to curtail the Viacom-CBS merger and the enforcement of Viacom's ultimatum.<ref>{{cite news |title = Viacom Makes 2 Offers to BHC on TV Venture |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/04/business/viacom-makes-2-offers-to-bhc-on-tv-venture.html |newspaper = The New York Times |date = February 4, 2000 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171103205351/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/04/business/viacom-makes-2-offers-to-bhc-on-tv-venture.html |archive-date = November 3, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = BHC Sues UPN Partner Viacom over CBS Deal |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-feb-09-fi-62554-story.html |first = Sallie |last = Hofmeister |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |date = February 9, 2000 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015095028/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/feb/09/business/fi-62554 |archive-date = October 15, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Chris-Craft Loses UPN Ruling |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/17/business/chris-craft-loses-upn-ruling.html |newspaper = The New York Times |date = March 17, 2000 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015095032/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/17/business/chris-craft-loses-upn-ruling.html |archive-date = October 15, 2015 }}</ref>

Unable to find a suitable partner, on March 20, Chris-Craft allowed Viacom to buy out its 50% stake for $5&nbsp;million, giving Viacom full control of the network.<ref>{{cite news |title = Viacom Buys Chris-Craft's Stake in UPN for $5 Million |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/21/business/viacom-buys-chris-craft-s-stake-in-upn-for-5-million.html |first = Bill |last = Carter |newspaper = The New York Times |date = March 21, 2000 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151117102355/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/21/business/viacom-buys-chris-craft-s-stake-in-upn-for-5-million.html |archive-date = November 17, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = Viacom Wins UPN so Let the Digestion Begin |url = http://www.medialifemagazine.com:8080/news2000/mar00/news20321.html |periodical = [[Media Life Magazine]] |date = March 2000 |access-date = May 4, 2013 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130617235807/http://www.medialifemagazine.com:8080/news2000/mar00/news20321.html |archive-date = June 17, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = UPN Deal Done; Viacom Buys out Chris-Craft Share |url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62239976.html |first1 = Melissa |last1 = Grego |first2 = Joe |last2 = Schlosser |periodical = Broadcasting & Cable |date = April 10, 2000 |access-date = June 22, 2013 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140611025706/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62239976.html |archive-date = June 11, 2014 }}</ref> This gave UPN the rare distinction of being one of the only broadcast networks to not have had [[owned-and-operated station]]s (O&O) in the three largest media markets, New York City, Los Angeles, and [[Chicago]] (with The WB – the only network that never have had an O&O – being the only other, as minority owner [[Tribune Broadcasting]] owned most of its charter affiliates including those in [[WPIX|all]] [[KTLA|three]] [[WGN-TV|markets]], while majority owner Time Warner only owned [[WPCH-TV|WTBS-TV]], an independent station that originated then-[[superstation]] [[TBS (TV network)|TBS]]). With Viacom taking full ownership control of UPN, KCOP-TV and WWOR-TV lost their statuses as O&Os and automatically became affiliates of the network, with the network's ''[[de facto]]'' owned-and-operated flagship stations becoming [[Philadelphia]] outlet [[WPSG]] (now aan [[The CW|CW]]independent affiliatestation) and [[San Francisco]] outlet [[KPYX|KBHK-TV]] (now KPYX, anotheralso CWan affiliateindependent). In addition, neither Chris-Craft or Viacom had ever held ownership of Chicago affiliate [[WPWR-TV]], which had been the largest UPN station that was not owned-and-operated by the network before the Viacom buyout.

Shortly afterward, Viacom shortened the network's official name from the "United Paramount Network" to the three-letter initialism, "UPN". Viacom also proposed a rebranding of UPN into the "'''Paramount Network'''", using a prototype logo based on Paramount's mountain logo, which served as the basis for the "P" triangle in the network's original logo that was used until September 2002.<ref>{{cite news |title = Media Talk: UPN Will Become Paramount Network |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/31/business/media-talk-upn-will-become-paramount-network.html |first = Jim |last = Rutenberg |newspaper = The New York Times |date = July 31, 2000 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015094613/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/31/business/media-talk-upn-will-become-paramount-network.html |archive-date = October 15, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = UPN Network Will Carry On Without Its 'U' |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-26-ca-59125-story.html |first = Greg |last = Braxton |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |date = July 26, 2000 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015094628/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jul/26/entertainment/ca-59125 |archive-date = October 15, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = UPN's Name in 2001: Paramount Network |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-26-fi-59235-story.html |agency = Associated Press |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |date = July 26, 2000 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015095147/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jul/26/business/fi-59235 |archive-date = October 15, 2015 }}</ref> This idea was abandoned after many affiliates protested, citing that the rebranding might confuse viewers and result in ratings declines, alongside the costs of rebranding their stations with a new image and new network (and possible call sign changes). Several years later, cable television network Spike (part of Viacom) re-brandedrebranded as [[Paramount Network]].

When the network launched in January 1995, UPN introduced a weekend morning cartoon block called ''[[UPN Kids]]'' (later called "The UPN Kids Action Zone" during the 1998–99 season). In 1997, UPN added two teen-oriented series to the lineup with reruns of the syndicated ''[[Sweet Valley High (TV series)|Sweet Valley High]]'' (based on the young adult book series by [[Francine Pascal]]) and a new series, ''[[Breaker High]]'' (which co-starred a then-unknown [[Ryan Gosling]]); both shows filled the weekday morning block for the 1997–98 season, while they were also included alongside the animated series on Sunday mornings. Unlike other networks, UPN gave its affiliates the option of running its weekend children's program block on either Saturdays or Sundays. In January 1998, the network entered into a deal with [[Saban Entertainment]] to program the Sunday morning block (with shows such as ''[[The Incredible Hulk (1996 TV series)|The Incredible Hulk]]'', ''[[X-Men: The Animated Series|X-Men]]'' and ''[[Spider-Man (1981 TV series)|Spider-Man]]'' joining the lineup).<ref>{{cite web |title = Marvel, Saban Set Kids Shows for UPN |url = https://variety.com/1998/tv/news/marvel-saban-set-kids-shows-for-upn-1117467216/ |last = Katz |first = Richard |work = Variety |date = January 29, 1998 |access-date = August 21, 2009 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131212115808/http://variety.com/1998/tv/news/marvel-saban-set-kids-shows-for-upn-1117467216/ |archive-date = December 12, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = UPN Serves up Superheroes |url = https://variety.com/1998/tv/news/upn-serves-up-superheroes-1117468038/ |last = Katz |first = Richard |work = Variety |date = February 24, 1998 |access-date = August 21, 2009 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015094918/http://variety.com/1998/tv/news/upn-serves-up-superheroes-1117468038/ |archive-date = October 15, 2015 }}</ref>

From UPN's inception until 2000, the network also offered a hosted movie series called the ''UPN Movie Trailer'' to its stations. The weekend block featured mostly older theatrically released action and comedy films, often those from the [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] film library. The ''Movie Trailer'' block was discontinued in 2000 to give stations that opted for them room for a two-hour block of select UPN series that aired in primetime during the past week. There were also three Paramount-branded blocks that aired on Viacom's UPN owned-and-operated stations between 1995 and 2000: the ''Paramount Teleplex'' as the main brand for movies at any given timeslot, the ''Paramount Prime Movie'' for primetime features, and the ''Paramount Late Movie'' for films airing in late night timeslots. From 2002 to 2006, UPN offredoffered a movie block (airing on Saturdays or Sundays depending on the affiliates) called ''Hot Weekend Movie'', which carried movies (theatrical, made-for-TV and direct-to-video) from the [[Metro-Goldwyn Mayer]] library.

This would be a continuation of the trend of networks using such naming schemes, which originated at Fox (and even earlier by the Canadian [[CBC Television|CBC]]), and was also predominately used at CBS (which has most of its owned-and-operated stations, with a few exceptions, brand using a combination of the network's name and over-the-air channel number) and The WB (with the exception of its Tribune Broadcasting-owned affiliates in Los Angeles and Chicago, and certain other stations); NBC and ABC also use similar branding schemes, but not to the same broad level outside their O&Os. While the "Big Three" networks do not require their affiliates to have such naming schemes (though some affiliates choose to adopt it anyway) and only on the network's O&Os is the style required, UPN mandated it on all stations – though in one case, [[Milwaukee]] affiliate [[WVTVWCGV-DT2TV|WCGV]] branded as "Channel 24" from 1998 to 2001, excluding UPN imagery from its station branding (WCGV, which previously branded as "UPN 24", had disaffiliated from the network for eight months in 1998 due to a compensation dispute; it received a rare waiver from the network to air a marathon of the last half of [[Star Trek: Voyager (season 4)|season four of ''Star Trek: Voyager'']] which it had not aired in August 1998, before the fifth season's premiere in September.<ref>{{cite web |title = Sinclair Pulling More UPN Affiliations |url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-20115938.html |first = Joe |last = Schlosser |periodical = Broadcasting & Cable |date = January 5, 1998 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151246/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-20115938.html |archive-date = September 24, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = UPN, Sinclair Make Up |url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-50228020.html |first = Steve |last = McClellan |periodical = Broadcasting & Cable |date = August 3, 1998 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924155249/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-50228020.html |archive-date = September 24, 2015 }}</ref>).