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The New CW Network

What do you get when you combine “Gilmore Girls” and “Girlfriends?”  You’ll find out in September when Warner Brothers Entertainment and CBS Corporation merge to form a new broadcast television network called CW, which will broadcast shows from both UPN and WB.

Targeted for a younger audience, CW (‘C’ stands for CBS and ‘W’ stands for Warner) will show programs such as UPN’s “Everybody Hates Chris” and “America’s Next Top Model,” as well as WB’s “Smallville” and “Beauty and the Geek,” according to money.cnn.com.

Chairman of CBS, Leslie Moonves, told CNN that, “This new network will serve the public with high-quality programming and will maintain our outgoing commitment to our diverse audience.”  The primetime shows will appeal mainly to those between the ages of 18-34.

CTV.com explained that WB and UPN have been struggling with financial problems and have been behind its competitors, such as Walt Disney Co.’s ABS, General Electric Co.’s NBC, CBS Corp.’s CBS and New Corp.’s Fox, in the Nelson ratings.

CW will be broadcast on 16 stations owned by Tribune Co. and will reach 47 percent of the country in 20 of the top 25 markets, according to David Ho of Austin360.com.  The new line will be announced in May.

Despite challenges in the past with low ratings, WB has appealed to younger audiences with shows like “Everwood,” while UPN increased rating with the sitcom “Everybody Hates Chris.”

According to news.monstersandcritics.com, the current president of UPN, Dawn Ostroff will become the entertainment president of the new network.

“I believe that when networks merge and forge new programming, so to does their clientele,” said Howard University broadcast journalism major, Brandon Barber.  “It may be a positive and lucrative venture for CW, it would enable viewers to experience and watch something they wouldn’t otherwise watch on television.”