WUPA
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| WUPA | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Branding | The CW Atlanta |
| Slogan | Enjoy The Show |
| Channels | 69 (UHF) analog, 43 (UHF) digital |
| Affiliations | The CW |
| Owner | CBS Corporation |
| Founded | August 22, 1981 |
| Former callsigns | WVEU(-TV) (1981-1995) |
| Former affiliations | Independent ABC/CBS/NBC (all secondary); (1981-1995) UPN (1995-2006) |
| Website | www.cwatlantatv.com/ |
WUPA is a television station in Atlanta, Georgia, that serves the Atlanta television market. The station runs programming from The CW Television Network and identifies itself as "CW Atlanta". WUPA is a full-power television station that operates with 2630 kw of power and is owned-and-operated station by CBS Corporation. Founded August 22, 1981, the station is locally broadcasted on channel 69 and in high-definition on channel 43.1. WUPA is currently the nation's 9th strongest CW affliate.
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[edit] The Beginning (1981-1995)
The station first began operations on August 22, 1981, under the callsign WVEU. It was originally owned by locally-based BCG Communications. Initially, its programming line-up conisted of business news during the day and "VUE", a subscription TV service during the evenings and weekends. By 1982, it was running subscription TV most of the day. In 1984, WVEU dropped "VUE" programming and turned towards a general entertainment format. The station added cartoons, low budget syndicated shows, preempted CBS and NBC programs and music videos to its line-up. However, it struggled in the ratings as its comptetitors, WATL (channel 36) and WGNX-TV (channel 46) picked the best choices clean.
The station began running Home Shopping Network for about fifteen hours a day in 1986, as the network tried to buy the station and make them its full-time Atlanta affiliate. However, the deal fell through in 1987, thus the Home Shopping Network failed to buy WVEU -- but it did arrange for WNGM-TV in Athens (channel 34, now WUVG) to air HSN programming 24 hours a day. From 1989 to 1994, WVEU primarily aired Home Shopping Network programming, but also aired some religious shows, infomercials, NBC and ABC programs preempted by WXIA-TV and WSB-TV and a few syndicated shows. It continued to struggle in the ratings.
On May 22, 1994, New World Communications, by then the owners of Atlanta's longtime CBS affiliate, WAGA, announced an affiliation deal with the Fox Broadcasting Company in which most of New World's stations would become affiliates of the network. This deal came after Fox won the rights to air NFC football games. Because of this, Fox decided to sell its existing O&O in Atlanta (and that market's original Fox affiliate), WATL. Meanwhile, CBS was left looking for an affiliate in the 9th-largest market. First, it approached WSB and WXIA -- but neither of those stations were interested. Also not interested at first were WATL and Atlanta's other independent, WGNX -- the latter, then owned by Tribune Broadcasting, was slated to join The WB Television Network, which it co-owned with Time Warner -- while WATL was most likely to become Atlanta's affiliate for the United Paramount Network (UPN), which was co-owned by Paramount Pictures and Chris-Craft Industries. Almost out of desperation, CBS agreed to buy WVEU in October, even though the station had the lowest ratings and the weakest signal of all of Atlanta's full-power stations. However, at the 11th hour, Tribune Broadcasting, relented and agreed to allow WGNX to join CBS, while WATL would become the WB affiliate (and eventually purchased by Tribune. WATL is now owned by Gannett). WGNX (which later became WGCL-TV) sold WVEU many of its syndicated cartoons as well as Disney Afternoon cartoons along with off network classic sitcoms -- not only did this give WVEU a stronger lineup than ever before, it also ushered in a new era for the station.
[edit] UPN Era (1995-2006)
WVEU became one of the charter affiliates of UPN in January 1995. That summer, Paramount Stations Group, a subsidiary of Viacom (which had purchased original parent Paramount Pictures not long after UPN was founded), bought the station and changed its call letters to WUPA to reflect its new status as an O&O and significantly boosted the station's signal. Over the years, more first run syndicated shows were added to the station's schedule. When the Disney cartoon block ended in 2003, WUPA stopped running kids programming except for the weekends.
On Monday, April 5, 2004, the station launched "UPN Atlanta News at Ten", a 10pm newscast produced by WXIA-TV as well as a live program at 10:30pm titled "Atlanta Tonight". Both suffered in the ratings, and they were cancelled on Sunday, August 27, 2005.
[edit] The CW Atlanta (2006-Present)
On January 24, 2006, CBS and Time Warner announced they were "merging" their respective UPN and WB networks into The CW Television Network, effective September 2006. WUPA was selected as Atlanta's CW affiliate; however, WUPA retained its call letters. In August 2006, WUPA updated their website, TV logo bug, and promos to incorporate their new TV moniker, The CW Atlanta.
In celebration of The CW coming to WUPA, the network produced a one-hour fashion and music program in partnership with Macy's and VIBE entitled, Beats, Style, & Flavor. The program was hosted by Eva Pigford from America's Next Top Model and V-103's Greg Street. The program first aired on September 7, 2006 and re-aired on September 17, the eve of The CW's launch.
In November 2006, FTVLive revealed that WUPA's master controls will be moved to sister CW affiliate WGNT in Norfolk, Virginia. CBS Corporation has since confirmed that WUPA and its Tampa Bay sister station WTOG will be hubbed out of WGNT, with layoffs expected from both stations ([1]); this comes after CBS denied that such would happen ([2]).
January 2007, Comcast announced that it will be adding WUPA-DT to its basic HD lineup. The station will be available to HDTV subscribers on channel 810 beginning mid-March 2007.
February 2007, CW Atlanta launched a new marketing program which features their new theme song, "Doing It Big" sung by Michelle Taylor. Some of the changes include moving syndication show Judge Mathis to 10pm to counter act the news programs on WAGA and WATL, and using CW-themed graphics during local programming. The theme song is used more so than the official CW theme song, "Get Ready" by Fergie & Will.I.Am of the Black Eye Peas.
[edit] The CW Midtown Music Complex
Rival Entertainment recently joined forces with WUPA for a promotional partnership, which renames the entire Atlanta performance venue The CW Midtown Music Complex.[1] The venue is located on the corners of 17th Street and West Peachtree Street in Downtown Atlanta. The venue includes:
- Center Stage (formerly EarthLink Live)
- The Loft
- Vinyl
On October 26, 2006, The CW Midtown Music Complex played host for a GRAMMY University Network "Up Close & Personal" with Jamie Foxx. GRAMMY U members from the University of Georgia, Agnes Scott College, Georgia State University and Emory University were able to meet and watch a performance by Jamie Foxx.[2]
[edit] Syndicated & Original Programming
In addition to programming from The CW, WUPA airs the following programs:
| Comedies | Dramas | News & Talk | Reality | Sports | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One on One Good Times |
CSI:Miami Weekends Without A Trace 24: Weekends |
The Daily Buzz Dr. Keith Ablow Autoscoop Focus Atlanta |
Judge Mathis Judge Maria Lopez |
Raycom Sports | Movies Hip-Hop Hold Em Live Wit Da Oomp Camp CenterStage Presents... |
Unlike other CW affiliates, Kids' WB airs on Sunday mornings. Saturday mornings are instead filled with two and half hours of Autoshopper followed by Raycom Sports coverage and/or tv movies.
[edit] Autoscoop
Autoscoop is WUPA's live television adaptation of the popular syndicated CBS radio show. The program airs every Friday live from 10-11a, with a repeat on Saturday. Each week co-hosts CBS Radio's Adam Goldfein, V-103's Joyce Littel, and a guest within the automotive field (sales, insurance, owners, manufacturers, etc.), answer viewer questions and concerns about the car-buying business along with dispelling various misconceptions and lies about the industry. The show challenges their guest to be truthful regarding their sales tactics and customer service relations.
On March 16, 2007 Autoscoop launched its first ever live studio audience by broadcasting from the AJC Auto Show held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The format will continue at their CW Atlanta Midtown studio. On display was CW Atlanta's Road Crew 2007 Volkswagon Passat Wagon.
[edit] Focus Atlanta
WUPA's self-produced half-hour public affairs program tackles subjects that affect our community in a professional and entertaining manner. The program highlights and features various organizations in metro Atlanta including charities, arts and entertainment, and social causes. In February, the program produced A Positive Light, an hour long documentary addressing the HIV epidemic in Atlanta. Focus Atlanta is host and produced by WUPA Public Affairs Director Keisha Williams.
[edit] Station timeline
- 1981: Began operation as WVEU-TV
- 1995: Became an affiliate of UPN. Branded as UPN69. Changed call letters to WUPA-TV to reflect new affiliation.
- 2002: Renamed UPN Atlanta
- 2004: Began a short-lived news partnership agreement with WXIA and a sports and entertainment company to produce a variety show. This agreement ended in 2005.
- 2006: Became an affiliate of The CW Television Network. Renamed The CW Atlanta following the closing of UPN and The WB networks.
- 2006: Began a marketing agreement with Rival Entertainment to rename a downtown Atlanta entertainment venue The CW Midtown Music Complex
- 2007: Launched a new marketing campaigning establishing its presents as The CW Atlanta.
[edit] External links
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WSB 2 (ABC) - WUVM-LP 4 (Azteca América) - WAGA 5 (Fox) - WGTV 8 (PBS/GPB) - WXIA 11 (NBC) - WPXA 14 (ION) - WTBS 17 (TBS) - WCLP 18 (PBS/GPB) - W24AL 24 (HSN) - WANX-LP 26 (Jewelry TV) - WPBA 30 (PBS) - WANN-LP 32 (Ind) - WNEG 32 (CBS) - WUVG 34 (UNI) - WATL 36 (MNTV) - W38CU 38 (TEL) - WIRE-CA 40 (MTV2) - WAGC-LP 42 (Ind) - WGCL 46 (CBS) - WDTA-LP 53 (DS) - WYGA 55 (Ind) - W55BM 55 (JCTV) - WATC 57 / WSKC-CA 22 (Religious) - WHSG 63 (TBN) - WUPA 69 (The CW) |
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| Local digital television channels |
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| Local/Regional cable/satellite television channels SportSouth - FSN South - CSS - AIB - Cobb edTV (Cobb County) |
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"WBMN 3" (Macon, cable-only) - WAGT-DT 26.2 (Augusta) - WGSA 34 (Baxley) - WTLH-DT 49.2 (Thomasville) - WLGA 66 (Opelika, AL/Columbus) - WUPA 69 (Atlanta) |
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| See also: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, My Network TV and Other stations in Georgia | |
