Re: UPN's Fate (was Re: Bruins TV changes???)

[Mark <bostonradio@yahoo.com>]

--- Tony Abruzzese <abruzzese@biochem.bumc.bu.edu> wrote:
> I am confused...
> 
> The above rumor has been cropping up for the past few weeks. I was under
> the
> impression that the permission for the CBS/Viacom merger was contingent,
> for
> anti-trust reasons, upon the continued viability/maintenance of the
> United
> Paramount Network... specifically, that CBS/Viacom was not allowed to to
> close
> down UPN and in the event of a divestiture, the network had to be sold
> as a
> viable operation (such as it is).

Right, Viacom/CBS has 1-year waiver from the FCC to sell UPN as it is.
However, as soon as the deal closed in early May, Viacom's lawyers petitioned
the FCC to waive 2-network rule to permit Viacom to retain UPN. Even
if FCC allows Viacom to retain UPN later this year, there's still lots of
speculation that Viacom will move to shut down the money-losing network
altogether.

While Sumner+Mel are asking the FCC to lift the 2-network ban,
Rupert has begun proceedings to raise the 35% reach rule(the CC deal
puts News Corp at 40.6%).

All UPN contracts for the 20 CC stations(18 UPN affils, 1 ABC and 1 NBC)
involved in the FOx deal expire on Jan.1st. Fox said that these stations
may seek other network(NBC,ABC,CBS or WB)  affiliation. Some
of the smaller stations in the deal will likely be traded or swapped.
News Corp might have to sell one of the 2 NYC stations because it owns
NY Post and one of the two Salt Lake City stations because both are in
top 4(based on market revenue).

-Mark
-Mark

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