Good-bye UPN, WB; hello The CW

NEW YORK, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- UPN and the WB Network, both struggling U.S. broadcast operations, are being merged into a new network aimed at young, ethnic viewers.

To be known as The CW, it will be formed by CBS Corp. and Warner Bros., each of which will own half of what is expected to be the nation's fifth network, officials with both companies said Tuesday.

The CW, which debuts in the fall, will broadcast 30 hours of programming a week, including shows like "Smallville," "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Beauty and the Geek."

"The CW will be able to do something truly remarkable: program already hit shows every single day of the week, programs that consistently rank No. 1 or No, 2 in their time slots in the most coveted young adult demographic," said Leslie Moonves, head of CBS.

Meanwhile, Tribune Broadcasting and CBS' UPN affiliates agreed to sign 10-year affiliation agreements with the new network. The combination of Tribune's 16 major market stations and the 12 CBS-owned UPN major market affiliates give The CW instant coverage in 48 percent of the country.

Dawn Ostroff, currently president of UPN, will be entertainment president of the new network.