Backchannelmedia

Sunday News; Lancaster, Pa.

By Stark, Eric; Ravings, Stark

For younger viewers, it's the best of both worlds: UPN and WB are combining to form the CW network.

The "C" in CW comes from CBS, which owns UPN, and the "W" comes from Warner Bros., owner of WB.

As of Monday, WLYH-TV UPN 15 will become CW 15 (Channel 2 for Comcast Lancaster, Channel 9 for Blue Ridge Cable and Channel 4 for Comcast Elizabethtown). Philadelphia's UPN 57 (Blue Ridge Channel 20 and Comcast Elizabethtown Channel 14) will become CW 57.

Technically, CW is a new network, but really it's a new name wrapped around your favorite shows. CW will keep the best programs from the two outgoing networks.

For fans of WB's "Gilmore Girls," your television show is still on, as are network mainstays "7th Heaven," "Smallville" and "Supernatural." They're still running, but on a different channel. UPN hits "Everybody Hates Chris," "America's Top Model" and "Veronica Mars" made the cut as well.

As a network, CW relates to 18- to 34-year-old viewers.

"These shows don't have to find an audience," WLYH Sales Director Scott Beaver said. "CW is clearly going after the 18-to-34 market, the MTV and Fox viewers."

UPN catered to urban markets and played well in Philadelphia and Baltimore. Some of the urban programming will air, but the lineup on CW will be less about race and more about theme nights, Beaver said, much like other networks, which reserve certain nights for drama and others for comedy.

The lineup is fairly diversified, with network programming from 8 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. Sunday's network shows air from 7 to 10 p.m.

Popular shows air Monday, including "7th Heaven" at 8 p.m. Tuesday is geared toward women, with hits like "Gilmore Girls" at 8 p.m. and "Veronica Mars" at 9. "America's Next Top Model" airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday, followed by "One Tree Hill" at 9. This Wednesday, CW will air a special two-hour "Top Model" from 8 to 10 p.m.

Thursday and Friday are for guys, with former WB shows like "Smallville" at 8 p.m. Thursday and "Supernatural" at 9, and "WWE Smackdown," a popular UPN professional wrestling show, airs from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday.

Sunday is a comedy night, highlighted at 7 p.m. by "Everybody Hates Chris."

WLYH will program the station on Saturday nights with shows such as the original "Star Trek," "CSI: Miami" and "Without a Trace."

At 9 p.m. this Monday, CW will air an hourlong preview of its network shows.

Beaver said WLYH will continue to air Philadelphia Phillies baseball games, a popular choice among local viewers.

Using already-established shows with niche followings should give CW a leg up, Beaver said.

"At the end of the day, people watch shows, not networks," he said.

Nittany Lion Hotline: Forty-five radio stations in four states will carry Penn State Sports Network's "AIG Nittany Lion Hotline Show" in 2006-07.

The hourlong call-in program airs Thursdays at 6:05 p.m. through mid-March. Men's and women's basketball will be broadcast later in the the year.

Coach Joe Paterno is on the program during football season. Fans can call (800) 52-LIONS (525-4667) to question the coaches.

Locally, the program airs on WLPA-AM 1490 in Lancaster, WLBR-AM 1270 in Lebanon, WSBA-AM 910 in York and WTKT-AM 1460 in Harrisburg.

(Copyright 2006 Lancaster Newspapers)

(c) 2006 Sunday News; Lancaster, Pa.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.