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Major Changes In Store For UPN/CBS
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You can write tvguide.com by going to the link above, and clicking the Thanks to Sue for this information as well :) Article: CBS Prez Will Also Run UPN In a corporate shakeup, CBS President Leslie Moonves yesterday was given the Moonves, who has helped turn CBS around since arriving at the network six Until now, UPN had come under control of the Paramount Television Group, a
Pointedly, Dean Valentine, current president of UPN and the network's top "Dean's still running the network," Folta said. The announcement "doesn't For how long, though, remains to be seen. In September, Valentine sued Despite ratings increases this season, the general industry view is For CBS, operating UPN creates built-in efficiencies in staffing and ad It also gives CBS a chance to recycle some programming between the networks. "We really can't go into any specifics now," Folta said yesterday. "If it More information regarding Leslie Moonves from PBS: Thanks to RoryRules for this as well :) http://www.tv-now.com/daily/news.htm December 12, 2001 Jonathan Frakes: It's a good thing that Paramount began principal photography on Star Trek: Nemesis earlier this week with Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Frakes and most of the original cast of the television hit in place. This new Trek film will highlight the stormy relationship between Captain Picard's crew and the Romulans as everybody battles to avoid the destruction of Earth. Frakes' other space-themed show, Roswell, is in serious trouble, especially with CBS now in charge of programming for the UPN. The new work will help him take his mind off of Liz and Max. He won't have time to feel the mighty blow of the ax. CBS, UPN to Integrate Operations LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Viacom will bring together the operations of its two broadcast networks, CBS and UPN, under one extra-large banner starting in January. The move, announced Monday (Dec. 10) by Viacom president/COO Mel Karmazin, will bring UPN under the CBS Television Unit, which includes the programming, sports and news divisions of CBS; distribution unit CBS Enterprises; and Viacom's 34 owned-and-operated TV stations. CBS president/CEO Leslie Moonves will head up the unit, overseeing the operations of both networks. The process will begin in January. Although Viacom is as yet mum on details of the integration, it's unlikely viewers will be seeing a "WWF Smackdown"/"Judging Amy" crossover any time soon; the two networks will maintain their separate personalities and affiliate relationships. The merge is being done to increase efficiency within Viacom and to boost ad sales across the two networks. With that increased efficiency, Viacom hopes to build on UPN's improved performance this season. The weblet's ratings in the November sweeps period were the best in its history among total viewers and the demographic groups it targets. "We are excited about the many possibilities to accelerate UPN's growth and are confident that these innovations will significantly benefit our audiences, affiliates and Viacom shareholders," Moonves says. Viacom is declining comment on just how the integration will proceed, saying only that details will be announced in the next few weeks. UPN president/CEO Dean Valentine, whose job is analogous to Moonves' at CBS, was not mentioned in the Viacom press release announcing the integration. Valentine, who joined UPN in 1997, sued his own network in September, claiming he is owed up to $22 million in bonus payments based on the network's performance during his tenure. Also Monday, Kerry McCluggage, chairman of the Viacom-owned Paramount Television Group, announced he will step down at the end of January. McCluggage, who's been with Paramount since 1991, was instrumental in the January 1995 launch of UPN and in broadening the reach of Paramount's stations group, which now covers about a quarter of the country. "It has been a privilege to work with an executive of Kerry's caliber," says Jonathan Dolgen, chairman of the Viacom Entertainment Group. "He built the Paramount Television Group into a truly preeminent force in the production of distribution of quality television." Paramount produces numerous series, including "Frasier" and "Ed" for NBC, "JAG" and "Becker" for CBS, and syndicated stalwarts "Judge Judy" and "Entertainment Tonight." |