UPN
page originally created by: Boberrybiscuit on 07/12/2025 09:52 AM
on October 27, 1993, Viacom and Chris-Craft Industries announced that they would form a new TV network, which would be co-owned by United Television, while most of the programming would be made by Paramount Television. the network was gonna be called just "U", but the trademark was held by the National Association of College Broadcasters. offers were made, but later the network was set to be titled the U/P Network, before deciding on UPN. U standing for United Television, P standing for Paramount Television, N standing for.... Network.
on January 16, 1995, UPN launched
on December 8, 1996 Viacom purchased a 50% stake in the company.
on February 5 1999, Viacom applied a contract clause that would pretty much guarantee them owning UPN.
on March 20, 1999, Chris-Craft Industries allowed Viacom to buy out the next 50% stake for $5,000,000, giving them full control of UPN. shortly afterward, they changed the United Paramount Network name to just UPN. (there was also a proposal to change the name to Paramount Network, but due to protests from many affiliates, this never happened.)
on June 14, 2005, Viacom announced that it would split into two companies due to declining stock. The two companies were CBS Corporation (new name for Viacom), and "Viacom", which was controlled by the old Viacom's original owner, National Amusements (which was controlled by Sumner Redstone).
on January 1, 2006 CBS Corporation decided to keep UPN,
but on January 24, 2006 Time Warner, the owner of CBS Corporation announced that UPN and The WB would shut down and launch a joint network later that year.
on September 15, 2006, UPN shut down. and in it's place launched The CW.
1st logo - 1995 to 1998
Nicknames: "Metallic Shapes", "Metallica", "Blaze", "Garbage", "Actually Garbage", "The Fuck?", "Cheesy Ass Star Trek Clone"
Visuals: by 3 Ring Circus
Audio: synth and electric guitar
2nd logo - 1998 to 1999
Nicknames: "Swagger", "Light Painting", "Root Beer", "Weatherscope"
Visuals: CGI
3rd logo - 1998 to 2000
Nicknames: "Boring", "Ohh my god.. are we even trying", "Carribean", "THE END OF THE WORLD IS COMING"