Chris-Craft Renews UPN Affiliation

In a deal that helps assure the short-term survival of UPN, the owner of eight major TV stations has renewed its affiliation agreement with the network.

Chris-Craft Industries Inc., a former boat builder, said its stations in major markets such as WWOR in New York and KCOP in Los Angeles would carry UPN through this TV season and the next one.

While UPN has about 120 other affiliates, the Chris-Craft stations provide key exposure for the struggling network in large markets and deliver about 20% of U.S. television households.

There had been speculation that News Corp., which has agreed to buy Chris-Craft, would oppose the renewal of the UPN contracts in favor of having the stations carry its own Fox network.

News Corp.’s acquisition of Chris-Craft has not yet closed, but UPN said News Corp. has signed off on Chris-Craft’s UPN carriage agreements.