UPN television network
The United Paramount Network (UPN) was a television network that launched in 1995 as a collaboration between Paramount Pictures and Chris-Craft Industries, aiming to establish a fifth network in the United States. Initially drawing on established first-run syndicated shows, including notable titles like *Star Trek: Voyager*, the network enjoyed a successful debut, achieving its highest ratings right at launch. However, despite its initial promise, UPN struggled to maintain viewership and identity, oscillating between different target demographics, including family-oriented content, science fiction, and African American programming. The network faced operational challenges, including budget issues and conflicts between its partners, which contributed to its financial difficulties and eventual restructuring in 1999. UPN was eventually absorbed by CBS in 2000 and continued until it merged with the WB network in 2006 to form The CW. Despite its challenges, UPN's legacy includes paving the way for niche programming and a more diverse television landscape, particularly in genres like wrestling and science fiction. The merger with the WB led to the creation of a successful network that targeted previously underserved audiences, particularly teenage girls.
UPN television network
Identification Network television station
Date Aired 1995-2006
The UPN was the fifth major television network, competing with ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox.
The United Paramount Network (UPN) formed when Paramount partnered with Chris-Craft Industries. In 1994, Columbia Broadcasting System’s (CBS) Evan Thompson and Chris-Craft’s Herbert Siegel became 50/50 partners; hoping to re-create the recent success of the Fox network, they decided to begin a fifth television network.
Paramount was interested in starting what it hoped would be “the first network for the first century.” Because Paramount owned some established first-run syndicated shows—Entertainment Tonight, The Arsenio Hall Show, Friday the 13th: The Series, Moesha, and two Star Trek shows, The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine—the premiere season was expected to be successful. The plan was to run these syndicated shows and others developed in-house. On January 16, 1995, the UPN launched with the two-hour broadcast of Star Trek: Voyager, achieving what would be the highest ratings in the network’s history, outperforming the other four networks.
Following Fox’s lead, Paramount purchased a group of unaffiliated stations and contracted with other independent networks to become part of the UPN family. Paramount began filming original shows, such as Nowhere Man, The Sentinel, Legend, and The Marker, and also produced made-for-TV movies, mostly science fiction. However, UPN never again achieved the ratings success of its first telecast, and none of its first-season shows made it to a second season. Many of the network’s problems stemmed from being available to only about 60 percent of American homes and having a difficult time deciding which demographic to target. UPN began with family-oriented material, then tried to appeal to young males with science-fiction programming, moved to African American shows, and ended up with no clear identity. There were also problems in the relationship between Paramount and Chris-Craft. Their differing management styles resulted in budget problems, contract errors, programming conflicts, and general confusion at the network.
By 1999, UPN was operating at a deficit of about $500 million and was finally restructured. In 2000, Viacom/Paramount bought out Chris-Craft and purchased CBS, becoming Paramount Network. The UPN/CBS network continued until September 15, 2006, when it merged with its major competitor, the WB, to become the CW.
Impact
Although it did not live up to its original promise, UPN proved that there was room for more than just the original major networks. The network successfully marketed TV wrestling, African American shows, science fiction, and niche demographic programming. Although UPN stopped broadcasting in 2006, its merger with the WB resulted in the very successful CW, a station partially targeted to teenage girls, a new and lucrative market segment.
Bibliography
Daniels, Susanne, and Cynthia Littleton. Season Finale: The Unexpected Rise and Fall of the WB and UPN. New York: HarperCollins, 2007.
Kimmel, Daniel M. The Fourth Network: How FOX Broke the Rules and Reinvented Television. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 2004.