Posted:
08:05:04 on February 22 2002
By: Steve Krutzler
Dept: Enterprise | www.stenterprise.com
Variety reports today that CBS president Leslie Moonves has announced the first programming crossover between the now dual-Viacom-owned CBS and UPN networks: immediate reruns of CBS's upcoming reality sequel, THE AMAZING RACE 2.
Repeats of the new series, which will run for the first time on Wednesdays on CBS, will run on UPN's Friday schedule beginning March 15th. They will be accompanied by the UPN mid-season reality entry UNDER ONE ROOF, which will air in first-run capacity with the RACE 2 encores.
"When we first brought the complementary assets of CBS and UPN together, we said we would look for unique opportunities where each would benefit from the association," Moonves said. "We think this is an exciting win-win opportunity for 'The Amazing Race,' for both networks and for their respective viewers."
Moonves and UPN entertainment president Dawn Tarnofsky-Ostroff say they hope the scheduling to have a symbiotic effect between the two networks, with repeats of RACE on UPN drawing additional viewers to it on CBS.
"If there are other programs that really work for both of us, we would be open to (more repurposing)," Tarnofsky-Ostroff said. But with CBS and UPN having very different aud profiles, "There won't be many cases of that."
UPN is currently hoping to debut four to six new hour-long programs in fall and is considering projects that were even originally developed for CBS. Tarnofsky-Ostroff says she expects to greenlight some new fall programming for the network next week.
Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter reports today that the network's first pilot order is for a new version of the classic 60's anthology series THE TWILIGHT ZONE. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Pen Densham is writing and executive producing the new project, which his New Line-based Trilogy Entertainment Group is producing.
UPN has experienced an impressive surge this season, with the new STAR TREK series performing consistently higher than 7 DAYS did in its timeslot last season, and VOYAGER's performance in its final year. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER has also improved its performance since leaving the WB Network, putting UPN ahead of its major rival this year. Former network president Dean Valentine left the network earlier this year and was replaced by Tarnofsky-Ostroff, who previously worked at the Lifetime cable channel.
For more of the original reports, check out this page and this page.
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