WPIX 11 News Report:The Announcement of The WB Network (November 3,1993)

It was 27 years ago on this day November 2,1993 that Warner Bros Entertainment and Tribune Broadcasting announced the formation of The WB Network. This was 5 days after Paramount Communications and Chris Craft announced the formation of a new network which would later be named UPN (United Paramount Network). Shortly after the announcement Tribune Broadcasting had signed 6 of its seven independent stations to take The WB affiliation and The WB original’s launch date was August 1994 with two nights of primetime programming and by 1998 the WB would have 7 nights a week. However the launch date would be pushed back to January 11,1995 with only one night of Programming. This announcement would come from a news report of then independent station WPIX 11 in New York,New York on November 3,1993. WPIX was one of the 6 stations to take The WB affiliation when the network launched. Currently WPIX has the CW Affiliation and is branded as PIX 11, this video came from WPIX Archives Facebook Page.
*PS WGNX was one of the Tribune owned stations seen in the montage of the Tribune stations announced to take The WB affiliation when the network launched but due to the fact that WAGA would end their longtime 45 year affiliation with CBS and switch to FOX Broadcasting shorty after New World Communications signed an affiliation deal with fox where its stations would end their long time affiliation the big three (ABC, CBS and NBC) and switched to FOX. WGNX would take the CBS Affiliation on December 11,1994 and former FOX Affiliate WATL would become Atlanta’s WB Affiliate when the WB launched. WGNO in New Orleans would take The WB affiliation when the network launched but would switch to ABC on January 1,1996 and WVUE 8 would end their affiliation with ABC and switch to FOX while former FOX Affiliation WNOL would take the WB Affiliation and shortly after rebrand as WB 38. The WB would announce a separate affiliation deal with Tribune for WGN-TV and part of the deal WGN would carry The WB affiliation on its superstation feed carried on cable and satellite outside the Chicago area.
#TheWB25thAnniversary
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[@drewandjeffers5695]

Michigan J. Frog was the mascot for The WB Television Network.

[@borinightmare]

I miss hanging out at the WB store.

[@DennisTamayo]

Well, there's The WB Shop online.

[@MJBYouTubeNetwork]

Now this was the greatest merger I've grew up on: INTV - The Association of Independent Television Stations, Tribune Broadcasting and Warner Bros! THIS!! was THE MERGER I absolutely loved! And I'm glad that in the 10 and a quarter years that the WB Channel 11 was THE Independent station for me, I grew up in the Upper West Side, then moved out to Long Island for this!

[@robjackson5245]

There was nothing Warner Bros.ish about The WB and UPN stomped that network 11 years and WWOR stomped WPIX. Dumb bitch

[@DeAngeloStevens]

In 1998 WTTO named themselves WB 21, and WABM 68 named UPN 68 (1998-2006) in Birmingham, Alabama

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

WTTO took The WB Affiliation on February 2,1997. Prior to February 1997, Birmingham residents got The WB from either WNAL 44 (Now WPXH and an ion affiliate) which carried the affiliation secondary in January 1996 until September 1996 or on cable from the national superstation feed of WGN (which had the de facto WB Affiliation on cable and satellite outside the Chicago area).

[@DeAngeloStevens]

@@TracyGJacksonTV After WTTO 21 loss its affiliation to former ABC affiliate WBRC Channel 6 and themselves FOX 6 WBRC-TV in September 1996.

[@BrendanMcClelland]

Now we have the CW

[@Suarez05]

1:38 They actually did! 1998-2006!

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

Yes they did, between 1995-1998 WPIX would call themselves The WB 11 or The WB Channel 11.

[@DavidRichardson95]

Kaity Tong still looks the same.

[@Kevin-xv9pm]

This is awesome, I'm surprised you've got the footage of The WB's November 1993 announcement. Do you have a footage of the announcement of Paramount and Chris-Craft unveiling the new at the time United Paramount Network from October 1993? I want to see how that turned out.

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

Unfortunately there was no footage of the announcement of Chris Craft Industries and Paramount Communications forming UPN not to my knowledge

[@Kevin-xv9pm]

@@TracyGJacksonTV Drat! I thought there is one.

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

@@Kevin-xv9pm Yes, Paramount Communications and Chris Craft Industries announced a network what would later be known as UPN on October 27,1993 and Five Days later on November 2,1993 Warner Bros Entertainment and Tribune Broadcasting announced The WB network and The WB’s launch date was to be in August 1994 just in time for the Fall 1994 Season with two nights but those plans were altered in May 1994 when New World Communications made a deal with FOX Broadcasting where most of their stations would end their affiliation with the big three (ABC,CBS and NBC) and would switched to FOX. CNN did a news report about the big switch

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

I wish it was footage of Chris Craft and Paramount Communications announcement of a network

[@Kevin-xv9pm]

​@@TracyGJacksonTV Me too. That's why I've asked if anybody has a recording of the fifth network unveiling plans from Paramount/Chris-Craft. And yes, I'm aware that New World Communications could solve their problems with Fox to switch their stations.

[@axeladame9376]

It's Call The WB11 New York's Very Own.

[@matthewcampbell7985]

2 years later it did January 1995 the wb debut on kxtx 39 which is temporary affiliation for 6 mouths until July 2nd, 1995 and moved to kdaf channel 33 wgn tv and WGN America.

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

Yes, the reason why KXTX would carry The WB affiliation temporarily until July 1995 when KDAF would take The WB affiliation was due to the fact that KDFW was about to end their longtime affiliation with CBS and switch to FOX. Then Independant KTVT originally was to take The WB affiliation prior to the big switch, but because of the big switch KTVT would take the CBS Affiliation. TimeWarner would take KTVT’s owners Gaylord Broadcasting to court in August 1994 due to CBS approaching Gaylord for KTVT to take the CBS Affiliates and in return sister station KSTW would take the CBS Affiliation. Due to the fact that TimeWarner took Gaylord to court, KHTV 39 didn’t become a WB Affiliate when the network launched and Houston residents got The WB on cable from the national superstation feed of WGN-TV which carried the WB affiliation nationally on cable and satellite outside the Chicago area. Tribune Broadcasting would buy KHTV from Gaylord Broadcasting on September 18,1995 and two days later Channel 39 would become a WB Affiliate on September 20,1995. And this is the god honest truth!!!!

[@imal25]

SO COME BACK IN 2023 AND STAY TUNED FOR THAT.

[@drummingdanny84]

Channel 11 DID get a new look in early 1995: a more accurate depiction of New York 🏙️🌆🗽 for many of their movie intros and station IDs, although some of the Telezign preemption cards were kept intact, more great movies, more off-network sitcoms and dramas, the Soul Train Lady of Soul and Christmas specials, and Wisconsin K. Toad's cousin, Michigan J. Frog, as the station's mascot.

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

Yes In Los Angeles Soul Train aired on KTLA 5 before the 90s Soul Train aired on Fox affiliate KTTV 11 In Chicago Soul Train aired on WGN from 1977-2008 and before that it aired on WBBM the CBS Affiliate when it premiered on National Syndication October 2,1971

[@robjackson5245]

Telezign as in the same assholes who helped create HBO's idents in 1997

[@SparkzEnt]

Mentions of Bugs..... Little did they know things where gonna get froggy

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

Yep, even when The WB launched Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck was seen on the Warner Bros Backlot with bugs saying to Daffy “Gee Daffy I wonder who their gonna get to pull the switch” with Daffy saying “Why me indefinitely as I profess all the talent around here” then Michigan J. frog jumps off the paper and pulls the switch of the neon light WB logo and dance on Chuck Jones shoulder saying what’s up frog

[@luisrizo8813]

'Unhappily Ever After'

[@josephagbaeze4697]

Among Us in Fall 2006 CW and MyNetworkTV (Imposters) UPN and WB (The Dead Bodies)

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

Yes in January 2006, CBS Corporation (the owners of UPN) and Warner Bros Entertainment (the owners of The WB) announced that The WB and UPN would merge in the Fall 2006 Season to become what is known now as The CW, a month later 20th Television and FOX Television Stations announced another network called MyNetworkTV to launch in the Fall 2006 Season.

[@robjackson5245]

MyNetworkTV kicks ass more than The CW but it's not like I was ever a fan of The WB (UPN is where it's at)

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

@robjackson5245 Only time will tell how long will The CW be around now that Nexstar owns 75% of The CW while Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount Global owns 12.5% percent

[@robjackson5245]

@@TracyGJacksonTV It'll probably be The WB again, wouldn't be surprised if they try to revive it too lol

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

@@robjackson5245 Warner Bros did revive The WB as a streaming website in 2008 which lasted until 2013, I wish CBS Corporation did the same for UPN. But I do know that CBS Media Ventures and Weigel Broadcasting had recently rebranded their digital multicast service Dabl by airing black sitcoms mostly from Paramount Television as well as CBS Paramount Television which is The Game,Girlfriends,Half & Half, Moesha, The Parkers as well as Sister,Sister and One on One.

[@angrybeaver4995]

@1:55 That's UPN being referenced. 😗🤔😐

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

UPN was referenced, Paramount Communications and Chris Craft Industries announced it on October 27,1993 which was five days prior to the announcement made by Warner Bros Entertainment and Tribune Broadcasting that they would form The WB.

[@robjackson5245]

Tracy the only reason I don't downright downvote this video is because it's you, and because not everything on The WB was bad, you know my feelings about the network.

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

I know, I love UPN and The WB but I love myself more and self love to me is important. But I will say this, I wish CBS would have revived UPN as a streaming website the same way that Warner Bros Entertainment revived The WB as a streaming website which lasted between 2008-2013. The reason I wish CBS revived UPN as a streaming website is due to the fact that they could have put all of UPN’s hit shows and mostly shows produced by Paramount Television which distribution rights are now held by CBS Television Distribution which is the successor to CBS Paramount Television as well as Paramount Domestic Television. I do know that Viacom was this close to rebranding UPN as Paramount Network shortly after Chris Craft sold its 50% of UPN to Viacom but that idea was abandoned.

[@robjackson5245]

@@TracyGJacksonTV They likely wouldn't because CBS had no less contempt for UPN than The WB did.

[@robjackson5245]

@@TracyGJacksonTV That's why they tried to make UPN a racist copy of themselves.

[@robjackson5245]

@@TracyGJacksonTV You know WPIX-FM (the radio arm of the TV station) was CBS-affiliated? WPIX was feeling high and mighty about themselves (too bad WWOR stomped them in the ratings).

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

@@robjackson5245 You mean WPIX-FM which is now WFAN-FM, they used those callsigns from 1964-1988. Tribune sold the station to Emmis Communications in 1997.

[@kmart3697]

Except WGNX then WGCL and now WANFwhos now the CBS affiliate bc WAGA switch from CBS to FOX

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

Yes, WGNX (now WGCL) was originally going to be Atlanta’s charter WB affiliate when the network launched but those plans got altered when it was announced on May 23,1994 that New World Communications signed an affiliation deal with FOX Broadcasting and that its stations in markets such as Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit and Cleveland among other major cities would end their affiliation with the big three (ABC, CBS and NBC) and switch to FOX. WAGA 5 which had the CBS Affiliation since it’s sign on in March 1949 was ending its 45 year affiliation with CBS and switching to FOX. WATL was approached to take The CBS Affiliation but turned it down and Tribune turned down the CBS Affiliation so CBS went to WVEU 69. WAGA was to switch to FOX in September 1994 and WVEU was to become Atlanta’s new CBS Affiliate that same month but it never happened due to the fact that WVEU was low rated and Tribune Broadcasting resumed talks with CBS. WGNX took The CBS Affiliation on December 11,1994 ending its status as an independent station on the same day WAGA switched from CBS to FOX as well as the same day WATL reverted back to an independent station. A month later WATL became Atlanta’s WB Affiliate when the network launched on January 11,1995 and WVEU became Atlanta’s UPN Affiliate five days later on January 16,1995.

[@kmart3697]

@@TracyGJacksonTV im.sorry i forgot to tell you that WGCL is now WANF

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

@@kmart3697 I read about them changing it to WANF

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

@@TracyGJacksonTV I found out that KTVT 11 in Dallas Texas was also planned to be a charter affiliate of The WB, but those plans were also altered when KDFW-TV made jump to Fox, and the The WB eventually signed with former Fox charter affiliate KDAF-TV 33, with CBS taking former independent station KTVT 11...

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

@@Justin-Hill-1987 KTVT’s then owners Gaylord Entertainment was in talks with TimeWarner in December 1993 for KTVT as well its then sister stations KHTV Houston,WVTV Milwaukee and KSTW Seattle/Tacoma to take The WB Affiliation but those plans got altered on May 23,1994 when New World Communications signed an affiliation deal with Fox Broadcasting and KDFW 4 was one of the New World stations that was going to end its affiliation with CBS and switch to FOX. TimeWarner took Gaylord Entertainment to court in August 1994 to prevent the affiliation deal between CBS and Gaylord from happening but failed. KSTW took the CBS Affiliation in March 1995 and then fast forward July 2,1995 KTVT takes the CBS Affiliation and KDFW switched to FOX. Tribune Broadcasting would purchase KHTV from Gaylord Entertainment on September 18,1995 and two days later Channel 39 takes The WB Affiliation on September 20,1995 prior to that Houston residents got The WB on cable from the National Superstation Feed of WGN-TV.

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck were too busy arguing about who is to launch The WB network, only for the network to be launched by one of the B-list Looney Tunes characters, Michigan J. Frog...

[@robjackson5245]

UPN was more Warner Bros.ish bro.

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

@@robjackson5245 How so? UPN is Paramount!

[@robjackson5245]

@Justin-Hill-1987 it was but The WB acted nothing Warner Bros.ish. At all. You have to be stupid to think that Tribune shitstain of a network even an iota Warner Bros. cause it wasn't. And why the "The" before "WB"?

[@robjackson5245]

@Justin-Hill-1987 I never said UPN was Warner Bros. but they acted more like them. And they were more popular 11 years straight.

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

@@robjackson5245 I don’t know why they put “The” before “WB” but I do know that Warner Bros owned 64% of The WB and Tribune owned 25% of the network not all of it. And yes Warner Bros did had a partnership with Chris-Craft when they launched Prime Time Entertainment Network in January 1993.

[@robjackson5245]

Well Debra Quintana seemed to know wassup, cause even she acknowledged UPN's creation, which in retrospect was prophetic, because it outdid The WB in the ratings and was more of a real Warner Bros. network. I would contest that it was just 5 days after. UPN seemed to be in the making probably since late 1992, or early 1993 at least.

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

Like I said before I respect your opinion, I love both The WB and UPN but I love myself and self love is important, but Paramount Communications and Chris Craft did announce UPN five days prior to Warner Bros and Tribune teaming up to form The WB. Like I said before Warner Bros owned 64% of The WB while Tribune Broadcasting owned 25% of The WB not all of The WB but I do know Jamie Kellnar was responsible for both The WB as well as FOX. I do know Warner Bros and Chris Craft formed PTEN (Prime Time Entertainment Network for short) which launched in January 1993, months before Chris Craft partnered with Paramount to create what would later become United Paramount Network (UPN for short) and before Warner Bros Entertainment partnered with Tribune to form The WB. Most of the stations that became UPN Affiliates when the network launched were either owned by United Television such as WWOR New York ,KCOP Los Angeles ,KBHK San Francisco ,KPTV Portland,KMSP Minneapolis/St Paul, KUTP Portland or Paramount Stations Group like KTXH Houston,KTXA Dallas/Fort Worth, WDCA Washington D.C but not all of the UPN Affiliates were owned by Paramount Stations Group or United Television just like not all The WB affiliates were owned by Tribune Broadcasting. Also before The WB and UPN launched, there was the US Broadcast Realignment that occurred in May 1994 when New World Communications signed a deal with FOX Broadcasting and as a result many of the stations in markets such as Atlanta,Dallas/Fort Worth, Tampa/St Petersburg, Detroit as well as Phoenix and other markets would end their affiliation with CBS,NBC or ABC and switched to FOX which occurred between 1994-1996 so some of The WB affiliates and UPN Affiliates were former FOX Affiliates prior to the Big Switch.

[@robjackson5245]

@@TracyGJacksonTV I'm just saying, in planning, UPN is older than The WB.

[@robjackson5245]

@@TracyGJacksonTV I don't hate Debra because she seems to be pro-UPN. I don't like the rest of the WPIX news team.

[@TracyGJacksonTV]

@@robjackson5245 yes United Paramount Network was announced on October 27,1993 then The WB was announced on November 2,1993 only difference is that The WB launched January 11,1995 and UPN launched five days later January 16,1995. I still feel bad that UPN didn’t get a final farewell due to the fact that most of the UPN Affiliates took the MyNetworkTV affiliation but still UPN was announced 5 days before The WB. They were going call it the U Network but that never happened instead they settled with United Paramount Network but I do know that Viacom was going to rename UPN as Paramount Network shortly after Chris Craft sold its 50% of UPN in March 2000, I’m not sure who was behind it but I know that idea of renaming it as Paramount Network was abandoned.

[@robjackson5245]

@@TracyGJacksonTV I know