Why no UPN Saturday Block?

[JM2]

Every one of the 6 networks have some sort of involvement in Sat blocks. That is, except for UPN. Why hasn't UPN gotten into the fray? Oh sure, they do offer a Sunday and Weekday block, but Saturdays seem to be a no no. Why is that? Is UPN afraid they'll get clobbered if they did try such a thing? Or is it the fact they're a sister network to CBS and therby Viacom wants to protect CBS's kid sked? Just wanting to know.

[Calhoun07]

What is on their Sunday and weekday block?

[Naraht]

Probably because
A) UPN isn't a real network...(I work for NBC, I'm biased =D )
B) Saturday Morning Toons are dieing. Read the articles on the News Section...
NBC & Fox are leasing the time, Kids WB is managing, mainly due to the4 fact that they have CN behind them...CBS & ABC aren't exactly rolling the the dough on Sat. Morns...
C) UPN is only good for Enterprise.

[pencilsharp]

UPN is only good for Enterprise.

And Smackdown! I know that this isn't a wrestling board, but what if Ric Flair's upcoming splinter group got some time on UPN's network on Saturday mornings? THAT would shock some cynics. Yo, Foley, wanna back that one? :)


I work for NBC, I'm biased =D

Just wanted to make that one clear. Not TNBC, I hope... :D

[Naraht]

Originally posted by pencilsharp


Just wanted to make that one clear. Not TNBC, I hope... :D

LOL!

I should be more specific..I work for an NBC Affiliate (KCBD in Lubbock, TX)

tNBC is junk. it's poorly layed out, poorly handled, poorly writen, and most importantly, poorly promoted.

As to wrestling...it's bad enough when I have to watch NBC Soaps...I have no desire to watch UPN soaps....

[James Harvey]

Well...no cartoons on UPN isn't all that bad considering their less than impressive live action fare. They had Sunday block that ran for three years, but was then overtaken by Disney. It also has a two hour weekday block which is rumored to be on the outs as well.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

They used to have one, 4 years ago. It had that wickedly cool "Teknoman" anime show back then. Too bad it was cut off after one season... *grumble*

[James Harvey]

UPN's Hulk cartoon was great! It only got an order of 21 episodes, but it was great. They only had 8 episodes for some strange reason in the second season which is a real shame. The show was really, really good. Second season was sorta hammy with She Hulk always wise-cracking - but the series was definatly enjoyable.

[Lonestarr]

Originally posted by calhoun07
What is on their Sunday and weekday block?

In my neck of the woods:

Sunday:
9am - The Weekenders
9:30am - Buzz Lightyear
10am - The Legend of Tarzan
10:30am - Recess

Weekdays:
3pm - Sabrina: TAS (ugh!)
3:30pm - Buzz Lightyear
4pm - The Legend of Tarzan
4:30pm - Recess

[Calhoun07]

Those are Disney owned toons. Why not Paramount owned toons?

[Pulpman]

While NBC and Fox are looking to farm out their Saturday mornings, UPN is actually looking at getting back into the fray. I forget the source, but I saw an article quoting some UPN official saying, in effect, that with Fox and NBC out of the kidvid business, there is an opening for UPN. And, of course, UPN is willing to accept smaller margins on programming. But, as I recall, the jury was out on whether this would mean new programming or UPN just buying more of Disney's 1 Too.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by calhoun07
Those are Disney owned toons. Why not Paramount owned toons?

He might have a station that airs both UPN and ABC shows. I used to have a station that aired mostly Fox shows, and UPN kid's shows on Sunday mornings. Since UPN doesn't have kid's shows, they probably set up blocks for kids and borrow cartoons from ABC.

[James Harvey]

The reason why they are Disney toons is becuase Disney bought those block times. They could have been Nick toons if Paramount ponie dup the dough. Heck, they coulda been WB cartoons if WB forke dover the dough. UPN lease dout their timeslots after the failure of their own shows, and Disney took a bite.

[JM2]

With CBS taking over management though, anyone forsee them running the Disney stuff for much longer? I would think that Nick would just grab the Timeslots and program Nick JR. If Nick doesn't get the FOX Saturday Block, mabye they could set up a deal with UPN to program a Boy targeted action orianted Saturday Block and air NICK JR Weekdays and Sundays provided that they already air Nick JR on CBS Saturdays.

[langden alger]

And Smackdown! I know that this isn't a wrestling board, but what if Ric Flair's upcoming splinter group got some time on UPN's network on Saturday mornings? THAT would shock some cynics. Yo, Foley, wanna back that one?


fellow wrestling fanatic here. i'll back that. woooooooooooooooooo!! lol...yeah, vince mcmahon taking over saturday morning. i gotta admit that it would be one very interesting experiance. :D love to see that happen.

[Pulpman]

Originally posted by langden alger
fellow wrestling fanatic here. i'll back that. woooooooooooooooooo!! lol...yeah, vince mcmahon taking over saturday morning. i gotta admit that it would be one very interesting experiance. :D love to see that happen.
4 1/2 words for ya: "Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n Wrestling." Nuff said.

[Vin]

Originally posted by Pulpman
While NBC and Fox are looking to farm out their Saturday mornings, UPN is actually looking at getting back into the fray. I forget the source, but I saw an article quoting some UPN official saying, in effect, that with Fox and NBC out of the kidvid business, there is an opening for UPN. And, of course, UPN is willing to accept smaller margins on programming. But, as I recall, the jury was out on whether this would mean new programming or UPN just buying more of Disney's 1 Too.

Maybe you read it here at TZN. I wrote the article a few weeks back. To read tge article about UPN getting into the kids biz, click here (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14064).

[langden alger]

4 1/2 words for ya: "Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n Wrestling." Nuff said.

good point lol....but there's been a pretty good amount of wwf changes since the ol' rock n wrestling days....so maybe they could make something actually watchable and wince free for todays tv..

[Joe Tully]

Originally posted by Pulpman
I forget the source, but I saw an article quoting some UPN official saying, in effect, that with Fox and NBC out of the kidvid business, there is an opening for UPN.

That's interesting, I was wondering if something like that would happen. I always assumed that UPN stayed out of Sat. Morning because it just couldn't compete. With the other networks getting out, it might have a chance.

I think that Hulk was the only decent show on their old Sunday Morning block. The only other one that I can remember is the Klasky-Csupo "Jumanji" which didn't appeal to me very much.