MyNetwork TV is moving away from the network TV business.
Fox's three-year-old broadcast unit announced Monday that it will adopt what it calls a ``programming service model'' for next fall. The strategy will call for reduced original programming and will feature a two-hour offnet block of ``Law and Order: Criminal Intent'' and a movie night.
The plan will also reduce MyNetwork's programming commitment to 10 hours a week from 12 hours and leave its 180 affiliates responsible for programming Saturday nights.
The broadcaster's most popular offering, ``WWE Friday Night Smackdown,'' will remain unaffected. Fox will announce the entire MyNetwork fall slate shortly.
``Due to the current economic environment, we wanted a creative, flexible solution that will give us a greater economic result,'' said MyNetwork president Greg Meidel, in a statement provided to wire services. ``This innovative new model allows us to build a strong primetime block with established well-known programming while reducing our overhead costs.''
Fox launched MyNetwork TV in fall 2006, using a collection of former UPN and WB stations. An initial programming strategy based on telenovelas proved unsuccessful, but station managers have recently been pleased with the performance of wrestling, which bowed on the broadcaster last fall.
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