or


[05/31/05 - 12:00 AM]
The WB Network Will Program Its Monday-Friday 3:00-5:00 PM Block with Branded General Entertainment Programming Beginning January 2006

[via press release from The WB]

THE WB NETWORK WILL PROGRAM ITS MONDAY-FRIDAY 3:00-5:00 PM BLOCK WITH BRANDED GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING BEGINNING JANUARY 2006

Burbank, CA May 31, 2005

NEW WEEKDAY GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING WILL APPEAL TO THE NETWORK'S YOUNG ADULT SENSIBILITY AND CREATE A MUCH LARGER AFTERNOON AUDIENCE FOR THE WB AFFILIATES

KIDS' WB!, THE HIGHEST RATED CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING NETWORK ON BROADCAST TELEVISION, WILL EXPAND FROM 4 TO 5 HOURS ON SATURDAY MORNINGS - -- PRIMETIME FOR KIDS' PROGRAMMING

The WB Television Network will begin to program its affiliate group of over 200 television stations with a branded general entertainment programming block Monday through Friday from 3-5 p.m., beginning January 2006, it was announced today by Garth Ancier, Chairman of The WB.

Simultaneous to this move, Kids' WB!, which has occupied the 3-5 p.m. time slot since the network's launch a decade ago, will expand its Saturday morning lineup, considered primetime for kids' programming, from four to five hours (7 a.m.-12 p.m.). The WB will be working extra hard with Cartoon Network, which sells ad time for Kids' WB!, to make sure that advertisers' needs will be fully met with the expanded inventory in the highly rated Saturday morning block.

�This is a win-win strategic move initiated in response to the changing television environment. Our affiliates have explained to us their challenges in the Monday through Friday kids' business. We have had ongoing conversations exploring different approaches to the stations' and network's needs. We are thrilled with the results which are expressed in the agreement we have announced today,� said Ancier. �This move will significantly increase ratings and revenue for both our station partners and the network. It will create a two-hour-a-day branded block that will provide strong lead-ins for our stations' early fringe and access blocks, which should in turn have a positive effect on primetime ratings. At the same time we add one hour to Kids' WB! on Saturday mornings, fortifying our number one position on weekends.�

The WB-branded 3-5 p.m. weekday block will consist of off-network series initially, with an eye to also develop first-run strips down the line. This move immediately makes The WB a significant buyer of off-network programming, which will be welcomed by program suppliers and producers.

�We have already had informal discussions with a number of studios and plan on meeting with all of them in the coming days as we put together our first schedule,� continued Ancier. �The good news is that there are a number of very interesting program choices for our launch in January and even more choices beginning in September 2006. We plan to announce our first schedule shortly.�

Kids' WB! continues to be an enormous success in the kids' business winning 15 consecutive Saturday morning sweeps races among broadcast networks including this May 2005. Driving this success are a group of powerful kids' franchises, including the blockbuster Pok�mon, white-hot Yu-Gi-Oh! and recent Emmy winners from Warner Bros. Animation The Batman and Xiaolin Showdown.

The WB got into kids' programming a decade ago to develop a strong and loyal following of kids who would then become the primetime viewers of the future. The idea was to differentiate The WB stations in the marketplace and have kids think of The WB/Kids' WB! as their network.

Since that time, the awareness of The WB has grown significantly. In addition, cable networks such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Disney Channel have changed the dynamics in the kids' business by programming virtually 24 hours a day, seven days a week, fulfilling, to a great extent, the demand for kids' programming in the afternoons for viewers and advertisers.

Additionally, a contributing factor in the decision was the recent Rulemaking by the Federal Communications Commission which mandates that promotional matter be counted as commercial time under the prevailing commercial cap. This Rulemaking created regulatory uncertainty concerning the wisdom of continuing with the Monday through Friday block.





  [may 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[01/22/26 - 11:01 AM]
CBS Renews 10 Additional Series for the 2026-2027 Season
This brings the total number of series ordered for the 2026-2027 season to 16.

[01/22/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: "Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Now she's ready to tell her side of the story...

[01/22/26 - 10:06 AM]
TNT Sports Announces First Half of 2026 MLB Tuesday Regular Season Schedule on TBS
Come October, TNT Sports will conclude its 53rd year of baseball by providing exclusive coverage of the 2026 American League Division Series presented by Booking.com and 2026 American League Championship Series across its networks and platforms.

[01/22/26 - 10:01 AM]
Need Another Hockey Fix? "Shoresy" Returns for Season 5 on February 21
In addition, Hulu has announced the pickup of season 6, which will premiere in 2027.

[01/22/26 - 10:00 AM]
NBA on ABC: "NBA Saturday Primetime Presented by Wingstop" Returns January 24 with Rivals Week Tripleheader
In addition, ABC's "NBA Sunday Showcase presented by Popeyes" returns on February 8 and spotlights marquee Sunday afternoon matchups as the NBA regular season intensifies heading toward the playoffs.

[01/22/26 - 09:51 AM]
AMC Networks, The Global Leader in Targeted Streaming, Unveils Relaunch of Sundance Now as the Definitive Streaming Home of Independent Film
Following the model of AMC Networks' suite of market-leading specialty streamers, Sundance Now will provide a hand-selected, algorithm-free offering curated by and for independent film enthusiasts.

[01/22/26 - 09:06 AM]
Paramount+ Original Comedy Series "Can You Keep a Secret?" to Premiere on February 12
The hit British series follows a domineering granny who fakes her husband's death for the insurance money - only for her family to discover that the biggest threat isn't the law, but her.

[01/22/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord" - Official Teaser Trailer - Streaming April 6 on Disney+
Chains can be broken. Empires can be shattered.

[01/22/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Prime Video Reveals "Invincible" Season Four Official Trailer and Key Art - The Viltrumite War Is Coming
The critically acclaimed adult-animated superhero series will return on March 18, 2026.

[01/22/26 - 08:18 AM]
ESPN's 2026 United Football League Schedule Revealed
A combination of ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and the ESPN App will feature 22 games, including showcasing the league debut of the Columbus Aviators and Orlando Storm in primetime, kicking off the UFL Playoffs and presenting the UFL Championship game.

[01/22/26 - 08:06 AM]
Your Table's Ready! Season Four of Bravo's "Southern Hospitality" Premieres Wednesday, March 4 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
Leva Bonaparte, the Queen of King Street, and her staff - Joe Bradley, Bradley Carter, TJ Dinch, Michols Peña, Maddi Reese and Lake Rucker - are back, and this summer is one for the books.

[01/22/26 - 07:58 AM]
NBC Sports Delivers Its Most Watched NFL Divisional Playoff Game on Record as Rams-Bears Thriller Averages 45.4 Million Viewers on NBC & Peacock
The audience for Rams-Bears - which increased in every quarter hour from 8:15 p.m. ET until the game-winning score - peaked in the game's closing minutes, with an average of 52.6 million viewers from 9:45-10 pm ET.

[01/22/26 - 07:24 AM]
Bob Costas Returns to NBC Sports, to Host "Sunday Night Baseball" Pregame Show
Costas debuts as host of NBC's new primetime MLB package on Thursday, March 26, at Dodger Stadium, as the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks, with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock in the only primetime game on MLB's Opening Day.

[01/22/26 - 07:02 AM]
Video: "Ella McCay" - Trailer - Hulu
From acclaimed director James L. Brooks, the film streams on Hulu February 5.

[01/22/26 - 07:01 AM]
USA Sports Announces WNBA Commentators Highlighted by Elle Duncan and Renee Montgomery as Studio Team
Kate Scott and Meghan McPeak will serve as play-by-play commentators; while Sarah Kustok joins USA Sports as game analyst.