"St. Louis TV viewers who tune in Channel 46 today expecting to find cheerful hosts from the Home Shopping Network hawking gold chains or kitchen gadgets are in for a shock," writes Gail Pennington. "It's April 1, but this is no April Fool's Day prank: After more than a decade, home shopping has exited in favor of broadcast network UPN."

UPN46, as the station WRBU likes to be called according to an advertising campaign promoting the changeover in recent months, has been airing BUFFY and ENTERPRISE on Friday nights since January, but now the nation's 22nd largest television market according to Nielsen Media Research will contribute to the weekly overnight and national ratings figures. According to the research firm's 2002-2003 season estimates, St. Louis is home to 1,156,370 television households or 1.084% of the country's total viewing homes.

You can read the full story, which includes quotes from the affiliate's owners and station manager, here.

Thanks to 'Doug Mendoza' for this.