Going native

The impending merger of UPN and the WB to form The CW -- not to be confused with any other media outlets bearing those letters -- looks to cause a resurgence in independent television stations in large- to medium-sized cities that had affiliates of both networks.

One such place is Birmingham, where the current UPN 68 will return to its independent roots. The general manager says the schedule will be heavy with "high school sports and family-oriented events." Lest that prospect leave you underenthusiastic, the GM says the station actually made more money when it briefly disaffiliated from UPN in the late 1990s.