My Network TV beats CW 3 weeks in a row

[tested]

For what it's worth.. this is now up to 6 weeks in a row now.  One wonders if CW will turn the corner once normal post-holiday viewing patterns are re-established... or is this a permanent trend. 

[Pat Cook]

Hi everyone:

Not only has MyNetworkTV been beating CW, the AP's David Bauder reports that MNTV is the only one of the 6 networks to actually show growth this season!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081221/ap_en_tv/ap_on_tv_my_network_tv_2

Two years ago most of us including myself would never have thought MNTV would be doing this well. Back when it was a telenovela network many of us were predicting its demise.

While the novelty of an all-Telenovela network worked, something tells me that News Corp. KNEW that it wasn't going to work over the long haul, but nevertheless, they needed to throw together something in the interim until they could get all their ducks lined up in a row.

Well now that has happened.  Add in the WWE, which they snatched from the CW and *VOILA* - A network that can now be called a competitor.

In fact, even if they had to settle for the UFC instead of the WWE, they still wouldn't be in a different position than they are right now.  The only thing that would make them look better is if they got the network OTA rights to the UFC as well (Wouldn't that be cool, eh? )

With MNTV's growth, and Fox's track record, you just can't help but wonder if a certain set of TV stations owned by a certain bankrupt company from Chicago might just be thinking of a flip to MyNetworkTV...

Would FOX willingly give up MNTV affiliations on stations in cities like Chicago and New York?

New York - NO WAY  WWOR is far too valuable because of its channel position (Channel 9).  But Chicago might be a possibility though (Especially if they can somehow land Ed Ansin's WSVN 7 in Miami via either a trade or three-way transaction with a 3rd Party.  We all know how FOX would just LOVE to get its hands on WSVN and make it a FOX O&O).

And WSVN is just one example.

As for Tribune flipping its other properties to MyNetwork TV, KWGN 2 here in Denver is practically all but sold to Local Media (Who owns current FOX affiliate KDVR 31) & even if it weren't, they could expect a MAJOR fight from Gannett for the MyNetwork TV affiliation as Gannett would love nothing more than to keep it right where it is - On KTVD 20 (The duopoly sister station to NBC affiliate KUSA 9).

Just my $.02 worth...

Cheers

Pat

[Pat Cook]

Hi everyone:

it seems highly unlikely that Tribune would be able to flip a bunch of their stations to MNTV. 

I really think Tribune will go with inexpensive syndicated fare and sports to fill the holes if they ditch CW.

While I do agree that it's highly unlikely they'll flip a bunch of their stations to MyNetwork TV, let's also not forget they own (At least for now) the FOX/MyNetwork TV duopoly in Seattle, WA (Unless I'm somehow mistaken on that).

As such, cheap syndicated fare won't be the only options they'll use.

Plus, they still own the ABC affiliate in New Orleans (WGNO 26).  They could go that route with some of their stations too (Why not? Remember when McGraw Hill practically thumbed it's nose up at NBC when given the chance to affiliate KMGH 7 with them back in 1995?  As a result, KMGH signed with ABC & forced Gannett & KUSA 9 into accepting the NBC affiliation).

Again....Just my $.02 worth....

Cheers

[Pat Cook]

Or, I could seem Tribune starting their own network using the resources of WGN America?

What would they call it though?

Pat

[Pat Cook]

Hi everyone:

Would FOX willingly give up MNTV affiliations on stations in cities like Chicago and New York?

I'm not sure if I follow, FOX owns WWOR channel 9 in NYC and WPWR channel 50 in Chicago.

That they do.

I wonder if FOX could somehow use football or other sports on MyNetworkTV?

Not without getting seperate contracts for FOX & MyNetwork TV from the NFL.

As for College Football, they could put that on MyNetwork TV, but the big question is would they wanna risk shooting FSN & the Big 10 Network in the foot in the process?  Me thinks not.

That said though, there's nothing precluding MyNetwork TV from having a specially-produced edition of NFL Total Access as they've done it ever since they dropped the Telenovela format until this year.  In contrast, there's nothing precluding MyNetwork TV from having a specially-produced edition of Hot Stove from the new MLB Network either.

MyNetwork TV could also show some stuff from SPEED as well as look at securing network OTA rights to the UFC (The latter as I indicated in my earlier post).

And that may be just for starters....

Just my opinion....

Cheers

Pat