January 15,1995 Paramount network to make debut Monday on KTVG-Channel 17 UPN program guide Staff and wire reports The alphabet soup of television networks is about to get more crowded. But will viewers prove to have an appetite for newcom ers WB and UPN? WB from Warner Bros, and United Paramount Network from Paramount are debuting with a handful of programs each. They aim to be known as young, fresh alternatives to ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and cable. “There’s a lot of very similar television on,” says Jamie Kell ner, chief executive of WB. “Our shows, I think, stand out from the crowd.” “We’re giving viewers some thing they’re not getting,” says Lucie Salhany, his counterpart at UPN. “At 8 o’clock, where other networks have softer family shows, we’ll have a little more adult appeal.” UPN will be carried locally by KTVG, Channel 17 in Grand Is land. Also a Fox affiliate, the sta tion will cany programming from both networks. Fox programs will be shown in their regular time slots on Monday and Tuesday nights, with the UPN programs beginning at 9 p.m. A Saturday movie will be shown at 1 p.m. each week. UPN’s two-night schedule, starting Monday and Tuesday, of fers a blend of sitcoms and dra mas, including “Star Trek: Voy ager,” the latest spinoff mined from the “Star Trek” science-fic tion series. United Paramount also will air Saturday afternoon movies begin ning Jan. 21. Coming films include “Urban Cowboy” and “Airplane!" The networks, while labeling themselves as distinctive, share similarities. Both are targeting 18-34 audi ences, the age group favored by advertisers tiying to cultivate new consumers and establish brand loyalty. They are drawing on the skills of executives from Fox Broad casting Co , which in 1986 became the first new broadcast network created in 38 years. Kellner spent seven years as Fox’s first presi dent; Salhany recently ended three years as president and then chairman. The networks are backed by major studios, who face an inten sified need for outlets for their TV shows because of federal rules changes. Warner is producing or co-producing two of WB’s four shows; Paramount is doing the same for four of five UPN pro grams. Both WB and UPN have been scrambling to sign up enough af filiates — in WB’s case relying on cable as well as broadcast sta tions — to give them a substantial national audience. WB says it will reach at least 80 percent of TV households through its approximately 45 affil iates, including Tribune Broad casting with its seven stations and WGN cable superstation. UPN’s nearly 100 broadcast affili ates cover about 80 percent of TV households. Both are relying heavily on vet eran TV producers with proven track records. WB has sitcoms from the producers of such series as “Married... With Children” and “Blossom”; UPN has enlisted pro ducers connected with series in eluding “The Golden Girls” and “The Rockford Files.” And both WB’s and UPN’s par ent companies are gambling that there’s life left in broadcast net- Turn to: UPN, Page 3-G Here are the new United Paramount television network series and their debut dates on KTVG-Channel 17 (channel 8 on TCI) in Grand Island: “Star Trek: Voyager,” 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16. “Star Trek” spinoff, set in the 24th century, chronicles the adven tures of a stranded starship co operating with a former ene my, the Maquis, to find a way home. Stars Kate Mulgrew as Capt. Kathryn Janeway. A two- hour pilot will be aired Mon day, the show begins its regu lar hour-long format Jan. 23. KTVG will also air repeats of “Star Trek: Voyager” at 4 p.m. Sundays. “Marker,” 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17. Hawaii-based drama about the estranged son of wealthy businessman who dis covers an odd legacy His late father left him a lifetime of markers, or debuts, to repay. Stars Richard Grieco; pro duced by Stephen J. Cannell (“The Rockford Files”). “The Watcher,” 10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17. An anthology series starring rap artist Sir Mix-A-Lot as the Watcher, an enigmatic figure who sees lives and dreams unfold in Las Vegas. “Platypus Man,” 10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23. Based on the stand-up comedy of Richard Jeni, who stars as the host of a New York cooking show geared toward bachelors. Produced by Mort Nathan and Barry Fanaro (“The Golden Girls”). “Pig Sty,” 10:30 p.m. Mon day, Jan. 23. Ensemble comedy about five incompatible men who find themselves sharing a two-bedroom apartment in New York. Stars include David Arnott, Matt Borlenghi and Liz Vassey. A weekend movie will be shown each Saturday after noon at 1.