The thing is, a lot of those stations were viable independents before the WB and UPN came along. It'll be interesting to see if they can go back.

I was just wondering that, DX. I know that was the case in Boston, with WLVI 56 (WB) and WSBK 38 (UPN). They've been around for as long as I can remember.

I was just wondering that, DX. I know that was the case in Boston, with WLVI 56 (WB) and WSBK 38 (UPN). They've been around for as long as I can remember.

We had those up in Maine as basic+ cable channels. It always made more sense with 38, because they had the Sox (and I think at various times the Bruins and Celtics). Plus the Movie Loft.

I loved 56 because of all day cartoons and Creature (at times Double) Feature, but in retrospect, it must have been the lack of other options in Maine and nothing intrinsic to the station.

I thought even Creature Double Feature was on 38. All I remember on 56 is cartoons (including The Banana Splitz Show) and Dale Dorman voice overs. I think that's also the station that reran Batman, and maybe things like The Partridge Family, and The Brady Bunch. I think they ran a lot of movies at night, but so did 38, when they weren't airing sports.

I thought even Creature Double Feature was on 38.

I swear it was Saturday afternoon on 56.

I think you're right, Frank. I think I just misremembered. What's sad is I don't think this is the first time I've either made this mistake or had this conversation at b.org, and probably within the last six months.

I think you're right, Frank. I think I just misremembered. What's sad is I don't think this is the first time I've either made this mistake or had this conversation at b.org, and probably within the last six months.

Well, I started wondering if maybe it originated on one of the stations and later moved to the other, but I decided it was just the monkey crack talking.

Per the Boston Globe [link] WLVI 56 is the local winner in the CW stakes (which is never going to mean anything but Country and Western to me, no matter how I try).

Overall, 38 was probably the better channel (with "better" a totally subjective pronouncement by me) on average, during my life to date, but once it was associated with UPN, it's prime time offerings were (on average) weaker.

eta...

Of course, this potentially means the more casual VM viewers will have to remember a switch in both station and night.

Channel 38 still has the Red Sox Friday night contract, I think, and the rassenfrassen basketball that is interrupting our Veronicahood this week. Their "original" programming can't be any worse than WNDS out of New Hampshire.

(I grew up with WPIX out of New Jersey as the gold standard of independent TV channels -- I think they went UPN at some point. Wonder whether they'll go back to being independent?)

WPIX, formerly WB, will become the flagship station for CW. UPN 9 (WWOR) is being left out in the cold.

Unfortunately, WWOR is nowhere near the gold standard in independent TV, and it nearly lost its broadcast license at various points in its history. It's currently owned by Rupert Murdoch/Fox.