Tribune Plans Safety Net for Stations

The Tribune Co., which owns 23 television stations, is beefing up its library of programming, providing the company flexibility either to launch a new national broadcast network or invigorate the slate of its rebranded WGN America channel. The contingency plans are being spurred in part by concern about the future of the company’s 15 CW affiliates. The CW, which went live in 2006, has stumbled in the ratings. Should it not be able to return to the air for the 2009-2010 season, Tribune doesn't want its CW outlets to have to scramble for programming. Tribune executives said they hope The CW will return for another season and they are optimistic about the network’s upcoming schedule. Still, one executive said, they don't “want to be caught with their pants down,” recalling the difficulty Fox initially had pulling together viable programming for MyNetworkTV after its stations lost their UPN programming. The plans for a new network are being developed to prepare for a “worst-case scenario."
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/06/tribune_plans_safety_net_for_s.php
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