Only five networks next year? Think again.

[Placebo Effect 0]

We've already gone through everything about CW, but now there's another player in the game, FOX's My Network TV.

 

FOX TO LAUNCH MY NETWORK TV

Released by FOX

 

New Station-Friendly Primetime Option Set for September

 

Primetime Dramas “Desire” and “Secrets” to Inaugurate My Network TV Debut

 

NEW YORK – February 22, 2006 - FOX will launch My Network TV, a new primetime program network scheduled to debut this fall. Fox Television Stations, Inc., and Twentieth Television will operate the new venture. The announcement was made today at a press conference in New York by Peter Chernin, President and Chief Operating Officer, News Corporation; Roger Ailes, Chairman of Fox Television Stations; and Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television Stations.

 

Upon launching on Tuesday, September 5th, 2006, My Network TV will feature quality primetime programming from 8:00-10:00pm (EST/PST) Monday through Saturday, totaling 12 hours of original content per week. Providing broadcasters a viable and station-friendly option for primetime, involving no reverse compensation, My Network TV will position stations with operational flexibility through an appealing affiliation term and attractive inventory split, further building asset value.

 

Fox Television Stations’ WWOR/New York, KCOP/Los Angeles, WPWR/Chicago, KDFI/Dallas, WDCA/Washington, D.C., KTXH/Houston, WFTC/Minneapolis, KUTP/Phoenix, WRBW/ Orlando and WUTB/Baltimore will serve as anchor affiliates of My Network TV, representing 24% of the United States. Supported with powerful branding and marketing initiatives that tie-in locally, the service will maintain and strengthen affiliates’ community brand recognition with a complete look and feel of a national network that empowers localism.

 

Regarding the announcement, Mr. Chernin stated, “No other media company comes close to Fox when it comes to launching new networks and gauging audience appetites. Over the past 20 years, we’ve proved it time and again with FBC, FX, Fox News Channel and National Geographic Channel among many others. And with My Network TV, we think we’ve come up with a unique format that will resonate with today’s consumer and a model that can be profitable from day one.”

 

Mr. Ailes added, “Backed by the strongest media company in the world, My Network TV is a viable alternative brought to you by proven winners who know quality programming. Independent stations are in need of a solid option for primetime and we believe no other company is providing this service to the market.”

 

Commented Mr. Abernethy, “We’re thrilled to be launching My Network TV this fall. We consider this to be a station-friendly alternative that will deliver more local inventory to its affiliates, uphold each station’s localism and feature quality programming supported by strong branding and marketing. We are looking forward to signing additional affiliates in the coming weeks.”

 

Twentieth Television’s new hour-long scripted dramas “Desire” and “Secrets” will inaugurate My Network TV. Structured in a 65-episode story arc stripped Monday through Friday for 13 weeks, “Desire” and “Secrets” are based on the worldwide success of the telenovela format. “Desire” chronicles the destruction of a family and the bonds of brotherhood take center stage when two brothers on the run from the mafia find themselves in a heated battle of passion, betrayal, deceit and murder over the woman they both love. “Secrets” goes deep behind-the-scenes to focus on the glamorous, yet sometimes brutally ruthless fashion industry, in which greed, lust and blind ambition surround a violent corporate takeover of the business’ hottest company. Principal photography on the dramas will commence early March.

 

Twentieth Television is aggressively developing additional programs and proven formats spanning reality, drama, comedy, game, news, movies and talk for My Network TV as the network develops, while also exploring opportunities with its sister companies. The company is opening its doors to all other major Hollywood studios to negotiate future programming concepts. Programs currently in development include:

 

• “Catwalk” (Twentieth Television) -- The ultimate search for the next “It” supermodel begins by crossing the country to discover 30 of the hottest, hippest and freshest faces who will compete for the once in a lifetime opportunity to be catapulted into stardom.

 

• “Celebrity Love Island” [Granada (“Nanny 911”)] -- Six gorgeous celebrity and six non-celebrity singletons are thrown together in a fantasy island setting, where a star-studded search for love takes place.

 

• “On Scene” (Fox News) -- This crime investigative series will cover all angles, examine all of the evidence and trace every single clue of the most compelling crimes committed today.

 

• “America’s Brainiest” (working title) [Celador (“Who Wants to Be A Millionaire”)] -- This quiz show, based on the hit British program, will find the country’s smartest individuals and reveal them in an exciting format.

 

• In addition, Twentieth Television is in advanced negotiations with FremantleMedia North America (“American Idol”) on an international format.

 

So, uhhh, they start innovative by doing a ballsy, soap operaish setup for their two new shows.

 

And the rest? America's Top Model Ripoff, I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here meets Temptation Island, news crap, and British game show remake.

 

Keep in mind the network's only premiering in 10 markets.

[bob_barron 0]

Why waste the money?

[Placebo Effect 0]

Why waste the money?

 

FOX's network head said the network will probably be profitable right out the door.

 

I guess that's what happens when you only have two real shows to produce.

[RedJed 0]

This sounds like one of the worst TV ideas ever, even making the XFL concept sound great in theory. This is going to fail miserably I fear. Why do another Fox network channel, when, well you already have one?!! Just plain stupid.

 

Whats even more bizzare about this is that unless WFTC in Minneapolis lost its UPN license (which would become WC or whatever the fuck its going to be) recently, then this press release isnt even correct that they will be an affiliate. Which means I hopefully wont even get close to having this channel in the first place.

 

Just the name alone is lame enough for this to bomb.

[Art Sandusky 0]

No, this is going to work. Really. This is scary for other reasons.

[gWIL 0]

I won't have it.

[Placebo Effect 0]

This sounds like one of the worst TV ideas ever, even making the XFL concept sound great in theory. This is going to fail miserably I fear. Why do another Fox network channel, when, well you already have one?!! Just plain stupid.

 

Whats even more bizzare about this is that unless WFTC in Minneapolis lost its UPN license (which would become WC or whatever the fuck its going to be) recently, then this press release isnt even correct that they will be an affiliate. Which means I hopefully wont even get close to having this channel in the first place.

 

Just the name alone is lame enough for this to bomb.

 

Does WFTC have WB?

[Hawk 34 0]

The other day, Rudo in some other thread somewhere said TV was going to be heading towards a new shift in viewing pattersn as we have shifted from reality shows and back to well written dramas. I guess telenovela's will be that new trend?

 

It'll probably work. After-all, everyone thought a remade Star Search would bomb....

[Art Sandusky 0]

It's further homogenizing local fare. Fuck this shit.

[RedJed 0]

This sounds like one of the worst TV ideas ever, even making the XFL concept sound great in theory. This is going to fail miserably I fear. Why do another Fox network channel, when, well you already have one?!! Just plain stupid.

 

Whats even more bizzare about this is that unless WFTC in Minneapolis lost its UPN license (which would become WC or whatever the fuck its going to be) recently, then this press release isnt even correct that they will be an affiliate. Which means I hopefully wont even get close to having this channel in the first place.

 

Just the name alone is lame enough for this to bomb.

 

Does WFTC have WB?

 

Right now WFTC is still a UPN affiliate. My assumption was that once the merger happens, they would become WC, but maybe the Minneapolis current WB affiliate will now?

 

Can someone explain to me how they think this channel will actually succeed?

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

KCOP/Los Angeles

 

What's going to happen with SmackDown!?

[Guest Vitamin X]

KCOP was channel 5 in L.A., I thought? UPN was channel 13...

[Guest]

WB is KTLA 5, KCOP is UPN13. I don't get all the KTTV type stuff either.

[Guest El Satanico]

The name is great

 

"Did you hear about My Network TV?"

"You bought a network?"

"No, it's My Network TV"

"You've created your own Network?"

 

And the hilarity is bound to continue for eons.

[spman 0]

This channel will probobly take the place of the extra network slot which will be open on most cable systems when UPN and WB merge to become one network.

[Placebo Effect 0]

The name is great

 

"Did you hear about My Network TV?"

"You bought a network?"

"No, it's My Network TV"

"You've created your own Network?"

 

And the hilarity is bound to continue for eons.

 

And then there can be a pair of shows named Who and What...

[Mole 0]

The other day, Rudo in some other thread somewhere said TV was going to be heading towards a new shift in viewing pattersn as we have shifted from reality shows and back to well written dramas. I guess telenovela's will be that new trend?

Which I love more than anything.

 

More well written dramas = no life for me.

[Guest Vitamin X]

WB is KTLA 5, KCOP is UPN13. I don't get all the KTTV type stuff either.

 

Ah, that's right. And there's also KCAL 9 (home of a pretty good newscast, every Laker game not nationally televised, and endless reruns of COPS).

 

What the fuck did KTLA have before they became a WB syndicate? More reruns of COPS?

[2GOLD 0]

The name is great

 

"Did you hear about My Network TV?"

"You bought a network?"

"No, it's My Network TV"

"You've created your own Network?"

 

And the hilarity is bound to continue for eons.

 

Drop the network and then they can be confused with MTV. Doesn't sound like either one of them will have programming worth watching but at least MNTV will have the excuse of just starting.

[Art Sandusky 0]

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE SHIELD COULDN'T POSSIBLY GET ANY MORE INTENSE...

[The Czech Republic 0]

It's further homogenizing local fare. Fuck this shit.

Local television has been homogenized to the max for like ten years now. WGN still has its own news (the morning news is top-rated in Chicago I think) and the Cubs, but other than that, channel 9 is basically just judge shows and syndicated sitcom reruns. Not even the good ones, like M*A*S*H. Late 90s shit, like Becker, Friends, Will & Grace, and Raymond. Aside from the fact that they had a massive over-the-air signal when over-the-air signals meant a fucking thing, they're basically indistinguishable from channels 26 and 50 in Chicago, and channels 18 and 24 in Milwaukee, or any pair of WB/UPN affiliates on the UHF dial in any market. I don't think they've done much local programming at all since The Bozo Show went off the air, and the number of Cubs games they air has been going down from the 150s to like the 70s, it seems. Even the Braves are cutting back on TBS, to like, shit I dunno, 50some. What the fuck? So much for the last vestiges of local Atlanta programming. More sanitized Sex & The City reruns for all!

[Vyce 0]

I have to imagine that these primetime soap operas are heavily influenced by the Spanish soaps, which run on the Spanish stations (like Telemundo, Galavision, etc.) during the prime hours and draw incredible ratings.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Yes, that's exactly what telenovelas are.

 

Let's just hope they're better than that, and not poorly acted while lazily shot on video.

[Art Sandusky 0]

It's further homogenizing local fare. Fuck this shit.

Local television has been homogenized to the max for like ten years now.

FURTHER homogenizing. Geez.

 

Fox is buying Turner South now also. Am I the only person that's petrified by this?

[The Czech Republic 0]

It's further homogenizing local fare. Fuck this shit.

Local television has been homogenized to the max for like ten years now.

FURTHER homogenizing. Geez.

 

Fox is buying Turner South now also. Am I the only person that's petrified by this?

TO THE MAX SO IT CANNOT GO FURTHER GEEEEEEEZ

 

 

Yeah, that's a strange union there.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Well, it will help them out as far as increasing the FOX empire, I guess.

 

FYI, the new network from the WB/UPN merger is called "The CW."

 

Man, I remember when channel 18 in Milwaukee was still in indy, before they joined WB. It really wasn't that great...cartoons in the afternoon, syndicated shows and then usually a movie from 7-9 or something every night.

[Slayer 0]

The name is great

 

"Did you hear about My Network TV?"

"You bought a network?"

"No, it's My Network TV"

"You've created your own Network?"

 

And the hilarity is bound to continue for eons.

"You want a Sierra Mist Free?"

"Sure."

"That'll be a dollar."

"But you said it was free!"