All we know for sure so far is that the new KTVD-Channel 20 making its debut on Sept. 5 will have 30 minutes of news and two hours of nighttime soap operas.
Channel 20, which struggled financially as an affiliate of UPN, will have plenty of moolah via Gannett Co., which owns the station, and News Corp., supplying programming through its MyNetworkTV.
KTVD, which will get a cute moniker like “My20” or “My20TV” to make it feel more local, will have a 30-minute news program, produced and staffed by Gannett’s KUSA-Channel 9. News Corp.’s Fox outlet in Denver, KDVR-Channel 31, is in the awkward position of promoting Channel 20’s news, opposite its own 9 p.m. news.
Prime-time programming on MNTV will feature two telenovelas (soap operas to you and me), “desire” and “Fashion House,” ongoing tales of passion and betrayal, from 7 to 9 p.m. six nights a week. The shows will run for 13 weeks, then be replaced by more telenovelas.
I went to an MNTV preview and got a sneak peek at the two shows. How to put this? The production values and acting are a sliver above “The Young and the Restless,” but what do you expect? Both are being shot on a fast-track schedule, practically around the clock. MNTV execs nevertheless think there’s an audience in that cherished 18-49 range waiting to see Bo Derek and Morgan Fairchild, who co- star in “Fashion House,” on our little screens.
Some of UPN’s programming, including “Veronica Mars” and “Everybody Hates Chris,” will turn up on The CW, a blend of UPN and The WB (KWGN-Channel 2). Much of Channel 20’s remaining schedule is likely to be syndicated, including shows the station already carries, including “Frasier,” “King of Queens,” “That 70’s Show” and “Jerry Springer.” There’s also been talk about a morning news/talk program.
But the new Channel 20 is hanging its hopes on the telenovelas, in high definition, to get viewers, particularly younger ones, into the tent. To paraphrase Groucho Marx, “We’ll knock their eyes out, then we can show ’em whatever we want!”
Around the dial
The first debate among gubernatorial candidates Bob Beauprez, Bill Ritter and Dawn Winkler airs at 9 p.m. Friday on KBDI-Channel 12. The one-hour debate will be moderated by KCNC-Channel 4 anchor Jim Benemann. … Well-known PBS chefs Lidia Bastianich, Rick Bayless and Nick Stellino give cooking tips, sign books at “Meet the Chefs of PBS,” sponsored by KRMA-Channel 6, at Pismo Fine Art Glass in Cherry Creek on Friday. Post food editor Kristin Browning-Blas emcees. Tickets ($75), 1-800-934-0524. … Quotable: “If you read a lot of books you are considered well read. But if you watch a lot of TV, you’re not considered well viewed.” Lily Tomlin.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
