JEFF KORBELIK / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, March 16, 2006 6:00 pm
The deal announced Friday between The CW and Pappas Telecasting Companies means Lincoln’s UPN Nebraska no longer is in the running to carry the new network.
Pappas, which runs KPTM-TV (Fox) and KXVO-TV (WB) in Omaha, signed a long-term agreement with The CW, a new network that will launch this fall with programming from The WB and UPN.
The contract includes carrying The CW on KXVO for the Omaha market and KOWH-TV, a new Pappas, over-the-air station that is currently under construction for the Lincoln, Kearney and Hastings market.
Lincoln cable subscribers will receive The CW on Omaha’s KXVO, which airs on Time Warner Cable channel 15. The station also is available over the air.
Satellite subscribers currently have access to WB programming as part of their local tiers, but need to check with their providers about the new CW.
UPN Nebraska, owned by Gray Communications, had been in the running to carry CW programming in Lincoln, Kearney and Hastings.
Now that its not, UPN Nebraska will continue under a new name with new primetime programming, said Lisa Guill, general manager of UPN Nebraska and CBS affiliate KOLN/KGIN-TV.
UPN Nebraska currently airs UPN shows between 7 and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Guill said the station is looking at becoming a My TV affiliate. My TV is a new network Fox is developing, which primarily will feature hour-long dramas.
Guill also said the channel, which airs on digital channel 110 on Time Warner’s system in Lincoln, will air more local programming.
“Although (CW) would have been a good opportunity for us, we see an opportunity with the route we’re going to go,” Guill said.
Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.