Never fear, Utah viewers. You won't be deprived of seeing your favorite shows on the CW television network.
As anticipated, now that Clear Channel Communications has completed its purchase of KUWB-Ch. 30, a long-term affiliation agreement with the new network has been worked out. It takes effect in September, when the new network — co-owned by CBS and Time-Warner — begins operations.
Of course, not all the current programming on the WB and UPN can make the transition to the CW. The new network will program 13 hours in prime time (7-9 p.m., Monday-Friday and 6-9 p.m. Sundays); the WB currently programs 13 hours; UPN currently programs 10.
We already know a couple of WB series — "7th Heaven" and "Charmed" — are in their final seasons. No official announcements on the others are expected before May, but here's what we might expect:
(Virtually) certain to return: "America's Next Top Model," "Beauty and the Geek," "Everybody Hates Chris," "Friday Night Smackdown," "Gilmore Girls," "Reba," "Smallville" and "Veronica Mars."
Probable survivors: "All of Us," "Girlfriends," "Half & Half" and "Supernatural."
On the bubble: "Everwood," "Pepper Dennis" and "What I Like About You."
Prime cancellation candidates: "The Bedford Diaries," "Cuts," "Eve," "Living With Fran," "Love Inc.," "Modern Men," "One on One," "Related," "Survival of the Richest" and "Twins."
This does not, of course, take into account new shows the CW is developing, which include an "Aquaman" action series; a comedy about a shy, nerdy, Midwestern teen; a sitcom that stars Wayne Brady; another that stars Nick Lachey; a drama from the creator of "Sex and the City"; and a teen soap from the creator of "Dawson's Creek."
THE BIGGEST QUESTION in local TV (now that the CW affiliation is officially settled) is — what will become of KPNZ-Ch. 24?
The station has struggled as a UPN affiliate. Without that affiliation, things could get worse.
It's possible that Ch. 24 could affiliate with My Network TV, a new entity being launched by Fox (because the nine UPN affiliates Fox owns were left out in the cold by the formation of the CW).
But whether there's going to be much of an audience in Utah for the programming My Network TV is going to launch with — two prime-time, Monday-Saturday, 65-episode, 13-week, English-language telenovelas — is far from certain.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL for a big TV station group to own stations that are affiliated with different networks. At the moment, Clear Channel owns stations that carry ABC, CBS, NBC, UPN, the WB and Telemundo.
It's not even unusual for a station group to operate different network affiliates in the same market. Clear Channel currently does that in 11 markets (including Salt Lake City).
In Bakersfield, Calif., it owns stations affiliated with three networks — NBC, the WB and Telemundo.
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com