UPN May Expand Coverage Without 'Enterprise'

UPN is considering the addition of two new nights of programming to its schedule and will likely continue to target female and urban audiences, revealed Viacom co-president Les Moonves as UPN and CBS's winter press tours continued.

The network is considering expanding its coverage to weekends, according to The New York Daily News, with shows that may include another edition of America's Next Top Model, The Bad Girl's Guide starring Jenny McCarthy and a reality show, R U The Girl, in which the performers of TLC search for a new band member.

Moonves said that UPN would continue to draw on the audiences that gave it unprecedented success last season, but that the network wanted broader demographics. "We want shows that appeal not only to African-Americans but everyone," he said. He also questioned the accuracy of the Nielsen ratings, which switched to meters this year and have been accused of failing to portray accurately the viewing habits of minority audiences.

Despite doubts about the accuracy of the ratings, however, Moonves' comments on the likely future of Star Trek: Enterprise were rather ominous. "The Star Trek franchise has obviously been a very important franchise for Paramount, for the studio," he said in an interview reported at Broadcasting and Cable. "The last movie didn't do particularly well. The series is struggling." Moonves suggested that Star Trek may need to be given a rest.

Both Moonves and UPN president of entertainment Dawn Ostroff said that no decision had been made about whether Paramount would keep Enterprise next season, and Moonves said that Paramount had not made a decision on whether there would be a new feature film or another television series for the franchise either.

The original articles are at The New York Daily News and Broadcasting and Cable.

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