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Post by horsemen4ever on Jan 7, 2014 18:44:48 GMT -5
Why was the Fox network a success and the WB and UPN failed? Did Fox do anything particular better or correctly that UPN and the WB did wrong. Was it just timing, was it luck?
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Sparkybob
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Post by Sparkybob on Jan 7, 2014 18:49:31 GMT -5
Fox is f******* rich.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2014 18:57:56 GMT -5
FOX was first to the game, and they grabbed syndicated stations for their network that insured they were in ALL the big markets.
I believe WB and UPN's biggest problems was that they didn't get into all the markets that they wanted, and they were forming their networks at the same times, which resulted in more fighting over stations which probably backfired in a few other areas.
And of course, that Rupert Murdoch money and well-established media presence that was behind it since day one.
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Post by SHAKEMASTER TV9 is Don Knotts on Jan 7, 2014 18:58:00 GMT -5
FOX had The Simpsons which broke through the pop culture/mainstream and became a high rated series, Bart Got an F had 33 million viewers, the next episode Simpson and Delilah got 29 million. If you look at WB and UPN's shows that define them, it's probably Dawson's Creek and maybe Voyager. Then in the mid-90s, FOX got the NFL which pretty much secured them. Probably most of all, Rupert Murdoch wanted it to compete with the big 3 networks and was willing to pay for it. I don't think Paramount or Warner Bros were nearly as committed. Another underrated aspect was FOX having more black shows like New York Undercover, Martin and Living Single. They appealed to a different demographic than the big 3. Some good luck, UPN turned down American Idol and it on FOX became a huge hit.
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Post by horsemen4ever on Jan 7, 2014 19:02:04 GMT -5
Besides timing and many, I think their biggest problem was each other. When Fox went on the air, they were the only network in time. When UPN and the WB at the same time, they split whatever audiance that desired a 5th network. Paramount, Time Warner and whoever else was involved in ownership, should have saw this coming, and merged like they eventully did, by the time they did it was 12 years too late.
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Post by wildojinx on Jan 7, 2014 19:27:59 GMT -5
UPN and WB also suffered due to not having sports (UPN briefly had the XFL (With Craig DeGeorge on commentary!) but that was about it).
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Brood Lone Wolf Funker
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Post by Brood Lone Wolf Funker on Jan 7, 2014 19:41:06 GMT -5
UPN and WB also suffered due to not having sports (UPN briefly had the XFL (With Craig DeGeorge on commentary!) but that was about it). UPN had Smackdown but even then it was a niche audience |
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Post by BorneAgain on Jan 7, 2014 19:50:13 GMT -5
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Post by Muskrat on Jan 7, 2014 19:58:09 GMT -5
Ya, with all due respect to The Simpsons, but Married With Children carried Fox for 2-3 years before passing things off to The Simpsons. |
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Post by horsemen4ever on Jan 7, 2014 20:19:01 GMT -5
Actully a fact many people overlook, the first show on FOX was not Married With Children, it was The Late Show, a late night show hosted by Joan Rivers and later Arenso Hall, it debuted in the fall of 86, months before FOX prime time launch in spring of 87.
Yup believe or not, FOX's first impression was giving Joan Rivers, and stayed in business, a miracle.
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Post by Vice honcho room temperature on Jan 7, 2014 20:30:37 GMT -5
Because TV was ready for expansion. People couldn't afford cable but they did want more choice. Fox with some luck and good programing found its way into that spot. While the WB and UPN didn't really have the good programing thing down.
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Dr. T is an alien
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Post by Dr. T is an alien on Jan 7, 2014 20:34:07 GMT -5
Honestly, this. Married with Children redefined the TV sitcom and grabbed a lot of attention. Until this show caught on the smart money actually was on Fox folding. The Bundy's got the public's attention and relatively cheap but quality programming like The Tracy Ullman Show, In Living Color, etc kept the attention. |
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Lancers
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Post by Lancers on Jan 7, 2014 21:10:12 GMT -5
FOX also pre-dates the WB and UPN by about 10 years which gave them a headstart.
I'll add one more major aspect. FOX landing the rights to Sunday afternoon NFL games and the Super Bowl every three years was massive.
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ToyfareMark
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Post by ToyfareMark on Jan 7, 2014 21:40:03 GMT -5
3 words.. National. Football. League.
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Post by tigermaskxxxvii on Jan 7, 2014 23:18:03 GMT -5
FOX also pre-dates the WB and UPN by about 10 years which gave them a headstart. I'll add one more major aspect. FOX landing the rights to Sunday afternoon NFL games and the Super Bowl every three years was massive. "You're watching The Fox Game of The Week, here on Fox. But before we return you to The Fox Game of The Week, we'd like to remind you that you are watching Fox!" |
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Post by Danimal on Jan 8, 2014 2:25:18 GMT -5
Coming in earlier at a time with less competition helps a lot. But it also helps that Fox had more varied programming that appealed to a wider audience.
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Post by Jedi-El of Tomorrow on Jan 8, 2014 3:18:51 GMT -5
If you look at WB and UPN's shows that define them, it's probably Dawson's Creek and maybe Voyager. You're forgetting about a little show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer. |
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Post by CATCH_US IS the Conversation on Jan 8, 2014 3:35:11 GMT -5
If you look at WB and UPN's shows that define them, it's probably Dawson's Creek and maybe Voyager. You're forgetting about a little show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Both WB and UPN also had a pretty healthy lineup of solid sitcom and drama shows. And lets not forget KidsWB which gave us Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh!. |
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Fiddleford H. McGucket
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Post by Fiddleford H. McGucket on Jan 8, 2014 3:54:46 GMT -5
And Quite honestly, part of why they FAILED, was mismanagement, and a lack of markets. Both WB and UPN shared Local stations in many markets with other networks (My local UPN also was part of the ABC affiliate). After the CW merger/Debacle they decided to cancel MANY pf their higher rated shows (Reba & Smackdown) due to them attracting the "Wrong" audience.
Also, it took a good while for WB to gather an audience, until they found their "Teen Drama" niche they were very much throwing shit at the wall to see what stuck.
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Post by ritt works hard fo da chickens on Jan 8, 2014 6:13:12 GMT -5
Fox was willing to do their own thing. That combined with the staleness that the big three had fallen into made Fox something new and different. The WB and UPN didn't do their own thing. They tried way too hard to be everything to too many different people. They played it safe and produced nothing innovative to define themselves.
Poeple have mentioned Arsenio, Simpsons and Married with Children, but they also had Beverly Hills 90210 and Cops and America's Most Wanted which were huge impacts on pop culture.
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