The WB
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The WB (officially The WB Television Network) was an American television network owned by the Time Warner media conglomerate. The network began broadcasting on January 11, 1995, as a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and Tribune Broadcasting. The network ceased broadcasting on September 17, 2006; its successor is the new network "The CW", which resulted from the merger of the WB Network with the United Paramount Network (UPN).
The network emerged virtually simultaneously with UPN in the wake of the success of the FOX Network, founded in 1986. In addition, changes were taking place in the US media landscape, various film studios and media companies merged or changed hands in the 1980s/1990s and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) lifted the ban on in-house production. As a result, studios without in-house stations feared that they would no longer find buyers for their shows.
However, this fear did not prove true for Warner Bros. Television; NBC and CBS in particular remained loyal customers of Warner - despite having their own production channels. As a result, The WB targeted specific viewer groups from the very first year: the first few years were mainly filled with inexpensive in-house sitcoms aimed at an African-American audience. Later, these shows disappeared and The WB specialized in programming for teenagers and young adults - a target group that did not seem particularly interesting for the already established broadcast networks.
Due to the target audience, the associated tendency for weak ratings and the content that must be brought up to fill the program, The WB was in the uncomfortable position of having to keep a strict eye on costs, which mostly amounted to sourcing much of the programming in-house from Warner Bros. Television, which was well utilized even without the productions for The WB. Probably for this reason, The WB merged with rival UPN in September 2006 to form the new network The CW. This was the first time since DuMont in 1956 that an American network ceased operations.
Currently, former U.S. viewers of The WB channel have the option of watching earlier series and shows via the Internet. Since international legal regulations prohibit it, German viewers cannot use this service.
Logo of the channel The WB
Transmissions
Examples of series also known in Germany that were (first) broadcast on The WB are:
- Angel - Hunter of the Dark
- For worse and for ever
- Buffy - Under the Spell of the Demons
- Charmed
- Dawson's Creek
- A Heavenly Family
- Everwood
- Gilmore Girls
- Hello Holly
- One Tree Hill
- Reba
- Sabrina - Totally Verhext! (2001–2003)
- Smallville
- Summerland Beach
- Supernatural
Questions and Answers
Q: What is The WB?
A: The WB, short for The Warner Bros. Television Network, was a TV network in the US.
Q: Who founded The WB?
A: The WB was founded by Warner Bros. film studio and Tribune Company on January 11, 1995.
Q: Why was The WB sometimes called "The Frog"?
A: The WB was sometimes called "The Frog" because the network's mascot was an animated frog named Michigan J. Frog.
Q: When was The WB founded?
A: The WB was founded on January 11, 1995.
Q: What kind of shows did The WB air?
A: The WB aired a variety of shows, including dramas, comedies and animated series.
Q: Did The WB still exist today?
A: No, The WB network ceased operations on September 17, 2006, as it merged with UPN to form The CW.
Q: What are some notable shows that aired on The WB?
A: Some notable shows that aired on The WB include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek, Smallville, Gilmore Girls, Supernatural, and Charmed.
