UPN and WB networks are merging

[Boyd Ostroff]

http://today.reuters.com/business/ne...WARNER1-DC.XML

Struggling TV networks WB and UPN will merge into a single new youth-oriented broadcaster this fall in a surprise deal announced on Tuesday that reshapes the landscape of U.S. television. The new CW network will debut in September 2006 as a 50-50 joint venture of UPN parent company CBS Corp. and Time Warner Inc., which controls the WB

[Chris Hurd]

Wow, I missed this earlier. Maybe the merger will help improve their content!

[Keith Loh]

Both networks have had their missteps and each of them separately used to have tentpole shows that just dried away like Josh Wedon's series and the Star Trek franchise. It's a smart move to consolidate but what do they have left and what are they developing?

[Chris Hurd]

If they could bring back Firefly, that would make my day. Serenity only left me wanting more.

[Keith Loh]

I feel the same. I didn't catch onto "Firefly" the first time but after watching the movie and the DVD in that order I was left hungry for more. That is really a disappointment knowing you missed something and it may never come back. Let me anticipate a bigger fan than me by noting that Whedon has talked about doing a TV movie but, as we know, that may just remain talk. The last thing I heard is that Whedon is very busy with other feature work.

That said, my TV plate is already very full. I really don't know if I have patience for TV that isn't like HBO- no commercials and made for adults.

[J. Stephen McDonald]

Great! Now there's one less channel among those I never watch.