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Warner, CBS team to create fifth US broadcast network
MUMBAI: In an announcement that marks some consolidation in American television media conglomerates Warner and CBS have anounced that they will merge their networks WB and UPN into one network called The CW.
The aim is to create a fifth broadcast network that will be able to compete better with the big four -ABC, Fox, NBC and CBS.
The CW will be launched later this year and will target the 18 to 34 year demographic. The new broadcasting network will be a joint venture between Warner and CBS Corporation, with each company owning a 50 per cent stake.
In an important strategic move that secures major market distribution for The CW, it was anounced that Tribune Broadcasting and the CBS Corporation’s UPN affiliates have agreed separately to sign 10-year affiliation agreements with the new network.
The parties state that the combination of Tribune’s 16 major market stations and the 12 CBS-owned UPN major market affiliates give The CW instant coverage in 48 per cent of the US. The remainder of the network’s distribution system will be a combination of selected current UPN and The WB stations. The full distribution of the new network is expected to exceed 95 per cent of the US.
Current UPN persident Dawn Ostroff will become The CW president of entertainment. Current WB COO John Maatta becomes The CW COO. The programming lineup will include shows like WWE Smackdown! Smallville, Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris and the reality show America’s Next Top Model
Media analysts says that the deal makes sense as both UPN and WB target the same audience from a programming viewpoint. Analysts are confident that in due course the CW could lead to the broadcast networks being referred to as the big Five. Of course a negative is that television production houses have one less outlet to sell shows to.
CBS Corporation president and CEO Leslie Moonves says, “This new network will serve the public with high-quality programming and maintain our ongoing commitment to our diverse audience. It will clearly be greater than the sum of its parts, delivering excellent demographics to advertisers, and building a strong new affiliate body.”
“Additionally, The CW will be able to draw from the creative talent and production resources from the top two television production studios in the business, while also seeking programming from all sources, independent producers or other studios. With this move, we will be creating a viable entity, one well-equipped to compete, thrive and serve all our many publics in this multi-channel media universe.
“I’d like to thank Dawn Ostroff and all the
talented people at UPN who have worked so hard. For many years UPN had financial losses, but under CBS’ guidance, UPN has been able to effect a dramatic creative turnaround in a short period of time,” added Moonves.
Time Warner president and COO Jeff Bewkes says, “This is a very exciting day for Time Warner and its shareholders in the creation of what we believe will be a very strong and viable fifth broadcast television network. This new network will have all the strategic asset value as an outlet for our programming that The WB presented us, but with a much firmer and more secure financial present and future.”
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Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Premieres 14 Feb on Zee
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat world TV premiere 14 Feb at 8pm passion meets politics.
MUMBAI: Cupid’s arrow just got a plot twist and it’s heading straight for your TV screen. This Valentine’s Day, Zee Cinema is turning up the heat with the world television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, a raw, rule-breaking romantic drama that proves love doesn’t always come wrapped in roses.
Set to air on Saturday, 14 February at 8pm, the film stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, directed by Milap Zaveri. It dives headfirst into obsession, heartbreak, and the kind of unconditional love that leaves scorch marks. Rane plays Vikramaditya, a powerful politician whose all-consuming passion for actress Adaa spirals into chaos when his feelings go unreturned unleashing a storm of emotion, misunderstanding, and life-altering consequences.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. Audiences are clearly craving intense love stories over sugar-coated ones, and this film taps straight into that vein. Harshvardhan Rane already has a loyal fanbase from his cult hit Sanam Teri Kasam, which cemented his status as the go-to guy for heart-wrenching romance especially among younger viewers who keep the film on repeat.
Milap Zaveri captured the film’s beating heart, “This film is about love that doesn’t follow rules. With Valentine’s Day being a time when audiences gravitate towards romantic narratives, the television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat on Zee Cinema felt like the perfect fit. The continued love for intense romances shows there is a strong emotional appetite for such stories.”
Rane himself called it a story rooted in messy, honest emotion, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat explores love in its most intense and vulnerable form where emotions are messy and deeply human. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from passion or pain on Valentine’s Day making it even more special as it reflects the many shades of love people experience.”
Sonam Bajwa added her take, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is not a conventional love story, it’s raw, intense and emotional. Valentine’s Day is usually associated with happy romance but this film explores love in its most vulnerable form.”
So if your Valentine’s plans include more than chocolates and clichés, tune in to Zee Cinema at 8pm on 14 February. Because sometimes the most unforgettable love stories aren’t the ones that end neatly, they’re the ones that leave you questioning just how far passion can push before everything changes.
