The CW: Some Fox stations will lose UPN shows

Some stations owned and operated by News Corp's Fox Television Stations unit will lose their UPN network programming when that network shuts down.

Although the stations in question are owned by Fox, they are currently affiliated to UPN. For example, in New York City, Fox owns both WNYW-TV, a station that carries the Fox name and brand, and WWOR-TV, a station that although owned by Fox is affiliated to UPN. In the New York market, the Tribune-owned WPIX-TV, currently a WB affiliate, will become a CW affiliate - leaving Fox's WWOR-TV without a network.

Fox is, however, not just exposed in the New York City market. The company owns and operates eight other UPN-affiliated stations around America; and in some of those markets, either CBS or Tribune have already announced CW affiliates. Potentially, several Fox-owned stations that previously carried UPN programming would be bereft of shows come September, when UPN will close down.

A spokesperson for News Corp indicated on Monday afternoon that the company would seek other programming for stations that lose their UPN affiliation, perhaps indicating that the stations will be programmed simply as independents taking a variety of syndicated shows.