The Paducah Sun from Paducah, Kentucky • 17

The Paducah Sun 5B Tuday, March 7, 2006 Network shake-up trickles down to local stations We are excited once again to be part of the birth of anew network. -David Smith 0 A' soon after Warner Bros, and CBS said Jan, 24 that they were closing The WB and UPN in September and creating The CW, 1 WDKA officials referred questions to Sinclair President and CEO David Smith, who did not return telephone messages Monday, Smith stated in a news release that the new programming is creative and offers considerable Internet opportunities, "We are excited once again to be part of the birth of a new network," Smith said in the release. "Given the great success of Fox over the years, and their demonstrated lory of thinking outside the box, we believe that over time this new network model will become a standard in the industry." Both MyNetwork and The CW are in a race for fifth place among TV networks, and both are courting 18- to 34-year-old viewers, particularly women. Smythe said he doubts that night soaps will carry the load long-term; "I think that's a way of getting started quickly," he said. "My guess is they'd try to move into some regular programming." from the programming of The CW network he said.

'They would be foolish to do that, in my opinion. The market probably wouldn't like it." Smythe said he doubts The CW will turn down significant promotion of WQWQ on KFVS, as well as by radio and newspaper. Corporate executives are expected to decide later this week which stations will get the programming, and a decision must be made soon to allow time to buy fall advertising, he said. If Smythe is right, WQWQ would get the best of the merged UPN-WB. The network's fall schedule won't be announced until May, but current programs including "Gilm-ore Girls" and "SmaUvUle" on The WB as well as "Veronica Mars" and America's Next Top Model" on UPN are expected to make the jump.

The Paducah station will retain popular programming such as UK basketball; UPN The Beat, a 9 p.m. weekday news program that competes with local NBC affiliate WPSD; and the Oprah Winfrey Show at 10 p.m. "We've had a lot of flexibility with that television station," Smythe said. "That will not change at all." Although it is a low-power station, WQWQ reaches 175,000 cable subscribers, as well as DirecTV watchers, Smythe said, adding that Oscars see ratings slide to 3-year low MarketWatch hOS ANGELES Figures from Sunday night's Academy Awards telecast indicated ratings for the awards extravaganza were down versus the past two years but still ahead of 2003's ratings. ABC said the awards show got a 27.1 household rating, reflecting the percentage of total households watching the telecast.

It also attracted a 40 share, representing the percentage of homes with televisions on that were tuned to the awards show. By comparison, the show got a 30.1 household rating with a 43 share in 2005; in 2004 it received a 29.8 rating and a 43 share. In 2003, right after the U.S. went to war in Iraq, the show got a 25.5 rating and a 37 share. It was feared that ratings for this year's awards show, hosted by novice emcee Jon Stewart, could reach a new low.

Collectively, the five best-picture nominees had taken jn the lowest nominee-revenue total in years. Top-prize-winner "Crash set an inflation-adjusted new low in U.S. box-office receipts of $53.4 million in comparison with best-picture winners stretching back four decades. UPN 'Veronica starring Kris-ten Bell, is expected to move from the folding UPN to the new CW network this fall. some of which will probably move to WQWQ by virtue of The CW, a new network created from the remnants of CBS-owned UPN and Time Warner's The WB.

Because, UPN-affiliate WQWQ is owned by Ray-com America the same firm that owns CBS-affiliate KFVS in Cape Girardeau, Mo. chances are good that WQWQ will get The CW, said Mike Smythe, general manager for both stations. "My assumption is they would not want to shortchange this market MATCH POINT CS noy Woody Allen 'M THURSDAY 07:00 FRIDAY gi 97:0019:45 CINEMARK PADUCAH Digital Sound in All Theaters ALL STADIUM SEATING 'Ahumjwm (PG) ftom laow (PG) 20S, 435. 70S, 930 200,440,720, 1000 'UinMVWUT(PGI3) DuiMoyi(PG13) 310. 520.

730, 940 345,550,755,1005 16BioasPG13) CuoGiox(G) 250,515,740,1010 325,535 'tm itmw-s lioa Purr (ft) Tw fm tumm (PG) 300,525,750,1015 255,505,715,930 Doogu(G) Fwivmu(PG13) 325,530 230,725 Mama's amiit Rewhon Fihai DtsntUTiON 3 (R) (PG13) 745,955 210,250,435,515,700,740, lie Mowu's Housi 925,1005 (PG13) 'Ruhmnc ScmeB (R) 500,950 735,1015 Sun '06 With both UPN and The WB folding and two new networks forming, changes are coming to the local TV lineup. By Jo Walker Sun Business Editor Jwalkerpaducahsun.com,, One Paducah television station is headed for an experimental, sexy night soap opera format while another apparently will get the best programming offered from a new network formed by CBS Corp. and Warner Bros. Entertainment. Starting Sept.

5, former WB affiliate WDKA will switch to MyNet-workTV, carrying 12 hours of original night soap programming Monday through Saturday. Patterned after Spanish TV's telenovas, the new English-speaking soaps "Desire" arid "Secrets" will feature a 13-week, 65-episode story line on weeknights, recapped Saturdays by a segment highlighting the previous weeks' stories of both programs. "Desire," scheduled to air at 7 p.m., follows two brothers on the run from the mafia who. both fall in love with and passionately battle for the same woman. Airing at 8 p.m., "Secrets" takes an in-depth look at the dreams, successes and tragedies found every day in the fashion industry.

The soap operas will replace Warner Bros, programming, i Please mail entries to: Special Publications Editor 408 Kentucky Ave. P.O. Box 2300 Paducah, KY 42002-2300 Or email them to: dmoohe (5) paducahsun.com "We joined Energy Fitness the first of January and have found it to be very rewarding. Not only have we lost weight and firmed toned up, has helped our health. Also, the new Circuit workout is great.

love it Energy Fitness is a great atmosphere i 7 1 SATURDAY 4:15,70 49:45 1 SUNDAY '9 1:30, 4:15 47:00 PS'jf and the equipment and personnel are fantastic." Jimmy 4 Unda Brown Energy Fitness members riu food Located In the Uvingwell Centre 114 mile behind Wal-Mart Lowes) 2343 New Holt Road Paducah 270-554-7222 J) he thinks an agreement eventually will be reached with Dish Network. Smythe said The CW is certainly ahead of MyNetwork in terms of programming because the night soap format is unproven for English-speaking viewers. And soaps are seemingly harder to follow unless seen in succession, he said. Although they broadcast out of Paducah, both WQWQ and WDKA have business offices in Cape Girardeau. A full-power, station, WDKA is among 17 stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group the nation's largest owner of, television stations that will become MyNetwork affiliates.

Together, the stations cover about 12 percent of American viewers. Sinclair is owned by News which launched Fox, one of the four largest broadcast networks. News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch rushed to announce MyNetwork $1.50 $3.29 n.19 UBbelievaMe Value Compare us to other products you use daily. sot: mm 1 Send us your stories! "Triumph Over Forty" Send us your stories, comments and photos concerning the greatest accomplishments you've mode after the age of forty.

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