On Monday, January 16, 1995, television history was made when UPN premiered with a two-hour episode of the highly anticipated series Star Trek: Voyager. As was reported in The Hollwood Reporter's banner headline the following day - "UPN Sets Sail in First Place." The network averaged a 14.7 rating/20 share in the metered market ovemights, a performance that easily placed UPN ahead of ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX.
But the story behind the network's success began much earlier than January. More than a year prior to launch, the blueprint for a brand new broadcast network, one that would supply free, over-the-air entertainment to an American viewing audience, was being drafted by representatives from two of television's most influential and successful corporations, United Television/Chris-Craft Industries Inc. and Paramount Television/Viacom Inc.
UPN was formed from the shared vision of these two companies, and through their efforts, including the commitment of owned and operated stations from both companies, the initial affiliate base for this new venture was assembled.
In September 1994, UPN began to take form. Through the efforts of Evan Thompson (President, United Television) and Herbert Siegel (Chairman, Chris-Craft Industries Inc.), a president and CEO had been found to build and oversee the new network, an admired and respected industry leader whose insight and understanding of the medium were second-to- none - Lucie Salhany.
Upon announcement, Ms. Salhany immediately began to staff the operation. Her first executive hire was Len Grossi, who would join UPN as Senior Executive Vice President, and second-in-command. Together, they would assemble an expert team whose efforts would eventually inspire the January 17th headlines.
In just a few short months, the network had gone from being a concept to a reality. A unique network identity was created, and soon people across the country began to recognize what a "Circle, Triangle and Square" now symbolized. New affiliates were signed in anticipation of UPN's delivery of quality progranuning and ratings strength. And the media began to notice, and cover, the new network addition.
The January 16 premiere date arrived with UPN poised to commence broadcasting to the nation. To help mark this auspicious occasion, launch parties were held on both coasts. In L.A., Ms. Salhany was joined by the stars of UPN'S premiere programming at exactly 5:00 p.m. (PT) to officially launch the East Coast premiere of the network.
Simultaneously in Manhattan, Herbert Siegel was joined by then-President and CEO of Viacom, Inc. Frank Biondi, Jr. to inaugurate the network from that end. And at 8:00 p.m. (PT), Ms. Salhany was again joined on stage, this time by all the people who had made the evening possible. As the countdown began, hundreds of hands were poised above the UPN launch buttons, ready to send the network into millions of West Coast homes. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Today, UPN broadcasts six hours of original, primetime programming each week. On Monday evenings, UPN offers four back-to-back sitcoms - In The House (8:00 - 8:30 p.m. ET/PT) starring multi-platinum recording artist LL Cool J, Malcolm & Eddie (8:30 - 9:00 p.m. ET/PT) starring Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Eddie Griffin, Goode Behavior (9:00 - 9:30 p.m. ET/PT) starring Sherman Hemsley and Dorien Wilson, and the new Ed. Weinberger comedy Sparks (9:30 - 10:00 p.m. ET/PT) starring James Avery, Robin Givens, Miguel A. Nunez Jr. and Terrence Howard.
Tuesday nights the network broadcasts Moesha (8:00 - 8:30 p.m. ET/PT) starring teen singing sensation Brandy Norwood, Homeboys in Outer Space (8:30 - 9:00 p.m. ET/PT) starring stand-up comedian Flex, and The Burning Zone, a new hour drama starring Tamlyn Tomita, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, James Black and Michael Harris.
On Wednesday evenings, UPN broadcasts back-to-back action-adventure starting with The Sentinel (8:00 - 10:00 p.m. ET/PT) starring Richard Burgi, Garett Maggart and Bruce A. Young, and Star Trek: Voyager (9:00 - 10:00 p.m. ET/PT), starring Kate Mulgrew, Robert Beltran, Roxann Dawson, Jennifer Lien, Robert Duncan McNeill, Ethan Phillips, Bob Picardo, Tim Russ and Garett Wang.
In addition, the network airs a two-hour Saturday afternoon movie and on Sunday mornings beginning September 8, a two-hour block of animated children's programming - UPN Kids - is broadcast between 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. These four new series include The Mouse and The Monster (9:00 - 9:30 a.m.), Jumanji (9:30 - 10:00 a.m.), based on the hit feature film, The Incredible Hulk (10:00 - 10:30 a.m.), based on the Marvel Comics superhero, and B.A.D. The Bureau ofalien Detectors (10:30 - 1 1:00 a.m.).
With 156 affiliates covering more than 92% of all U.S. television viewing households, UPN continues to grow and evolve into its legacy, that of "The First Network For The Next Century."
This page downloaded on Wednesday, 08-Feb-2012 04:08:50 GMT
Last modified on Sunday, 12-Sep-2010 23:22:17 CDT.