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UPN is a television network in the United States, owned by Viacom Inc.,
which also owns the more widespread CBS network. Because of this dual corproate ownership, in
several large American cities, the local CBS and UPN stations are operated as "doupolies."
History
UPN was launched January 16, 1995 as
the United Paramount Network, a joint venture between two companies: Paramount Studios and Chris-Craft
Industries' United Television group. Both companies owned independent stations in several large cities in the United States.
Each controlled 50 percent of the network.
In 2000, Paramount's parent company, Viacom, bought out Chris-Craft to gain 100 percent control of the United-Paramount
venture. Shortly afterward, Viacom dropped the "United" name for its new network, opting to change the official corporate name to
be the three-letter initials, "UPN."
Programming
It formerly broadcast the series Star Trek:
Voyager. After Voyager's 7-season run came to an end, UPN began broadcasting the newest Star Trek spin-off, Star Trek: Enterprise. UPN also bought the rights to
broadcast the television show Buffy the Vampire
Slayer from the Warner Brothers network.
The network also produced some special programs. For example, they presented the Iron Chef USA program during Christmas 2001.
Paramount had earlier attempted its own television network with the Paramount Television Service. Set to launch in Spring
1978, its programming would have only consisted of one night a week. Thirty "Movies of the
Week" would have followed Star Trek: Phase Two on
Saturday nights. The network failed to sell enough advertising and acquire enough affiliates to make the network viable.
See also: List of programs
broadcast by UPN, List of United States television networks
UPN has a new policy of "not picking up other networks' scraps," which was a strong argument when fan pressure was generated
in 2004 for them to pick up Angel, the spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. UPN also shows the WWE's Smackdown show.
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