Making The CW: The Warner Bros. Memo
CBS Corp.'s Les Moonves wasn't the only executive pausing from calculating the value of his stock options long enough to send out a company-wide memo expressing a complex mix of excitement and sadness over the formation of The CW. Warner Bros. chairman/CEO Barry Meyer also issued an obligatory missive this morning, sealed with a kiss and a generous helping of execu-praise. Note his use of "bittersweet," an obvious code word for "you have probably lost your job by the time you finish reading this e-mail":
This was not an easy decision to make. While we are extremely excited about this new opportunity, it is a bittersweet moment as we conclude the 11 year run of The WB. And what a run it was … from the beginning, The WB captured new audiences through its fresh programming, and quickly established a unique voice that hadn’t been heard before.
The energy and imagination that Jamie Kellner and his team brought to The WB were unrivaled. This passion continued through the years as we overcame obstacles and faced the many challenges that came our way. As time went on, The WB became an excellent partner with Warner Bros. Television, and through such programming as “Smallville,” “Gilmore Girls,” and “Everwood”; as well as “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “Parenthood,” “The Wayans Brothers” and “One Tree Hill,” created invaluable assets for our library from which our company will benefit for years to come. In addition, the ever-popular Kids’ WB!, home to “Pokemon,” “Yu-gi-oh” and “The Batman,” will continue to air on The CW and remain an important part of our new venture.
The full text of Meyer's e-mail follows after the jump. (And we'd also like to note that we ganked the Michigan U.P.N. Frog logo from our brother at Gawker.)
Dear Colleagues,
Today we announced, in conjunction with CBS Corporation, that we are launching a fifth broadcast network, “The CW” in September 2006. This new network is a joint venture between Warner Bros. and CBS. As a result, at the end of this current season, we and CBS are ceasing to operate The WB and UPN, respectively, to create a dynamic new enterprise. A detailed press release is attached.
This was not an easy decision to make. While we are extremely excited about this new opportunity, it is a bittersweet moment as we conclude the 11 year run of The WB. And what a run it was … from the beginning, The WB captured new audiences through its fresh programming, and quickly established a unique voice that hadn’t been heard before.
The energy and imagination that Jamie Kellner and his team brought to The WB were unrivaled. This passion continued through the years as we overcame obstacles and faced the many challenges that came our way. As time went on, The WB became an excellent partner with Warner Bros. Television, and through such programming as “Smallville,” “Gilmore Girls,” and “Everwood”; as well as “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “Parenthood,” “The Wayans Brothers” and “One Tree Hill,” created invaluable assets for our library from which our company will benefit for years to come. In addition, the ever-popular Kids’ WB!, home to “Pokemon,” “Yu-gi-oh” and “The Batman,” will continue to air on The CW and remain an important part of our new venture.
We would like to thank Garth Ancier, David Janollari and the entire WB team for their incredibly hard work and dedication; as well as Bruce Rosenblum who has tirelessly championed The WB, and who has overseen this extraordinary transaction that we announced today. We believe that through The CW, the spirit of innovation that has characterized The WB will live on and thrive.
Sincerely,
Barry Meyer
