Background information:
MyNetworkTV is a sort-of television network in the United States, originally created as a result of a hissy fit by Fox. When the networks UPN and The WB merged to form the new network The CW in 2006, the individual TV stations who would become affiliated with The CW were almost all chosen from former UPN and WB affiliates. One in each area would become an affiliate of The CW (generally the stronger-performing one) while the other would be cut loose. But because of a deal with Tribune Broadcasting (part-owners of The WB, who weren't going to become part-owners of The CW), the individual TV stations owned by Tribune always got first shot at becoming their areas' CW affiliates. This pissed off Fox, as they owned a bunch of stations affiliated with UPN and none of them got to be affiliated with The CW because of that deal. So Fox decided they'd use their ex-UPN stations to make their own new network with blackjack and hookers, and MyNetworkTV was born.
So MyNetworkTV had a novel idea for their primetime programming: English-language adaptations of popular Spanish-language telenovelas (i.e. soap operas). It failed, basically because English-speaking audiences thought the programs were ridiculous while Spanish-speaking audiences thought the programs were inferior to the originals. MyNetworkTV then sort of entered into a downward spiral, and they haven't broadcast an original program since 2010 when WWE Smackdown finally left them for the cable channel Syfy. Since then MyNetworkTV has effectively become just a two-hour block of syndicated shows that originated on other, better networks. (Although recently they somehow managed to snag the rights to first free-to-air broadcast of The Walking Dead.)
So, the challenge: make it so that MyNetworkTV doesn't fare miserably when it starts off, and make it into a successful sixth network for American free-to-air television.
MyNetworkTV is a sort-of television network in the United States, originally created as a result of a hissy fit by Fox. When the networks UPN and The WB merged to form the new network The CW in 2006, the individual TV stations who would become affiliated with The CW were almost all chosen from former UPN and WB affiliates. One in each area would become an affiliate of The CW (generally the stronger-performing one) while the other would be cut loose. But because of a deal with Tribune Broadcasting (part-owners of The WB, who weren't going to become part-owners of The CW), the individual TV stations owned by Tribune always got first shot at becoming their areas' CW affiliates. This pissed off Fox, as they owned a bunch of stations affiliated with UPN and none of them got to be affiliated with The CW because of that deal. So Fox decided they'd use their ex-UPN stations to make their own new network with blackjack and hookers, and MyNetworkTV was born.
So MyNetworkTV had a novel idea for their primetime programming: English-language adaptations of popular Spanish-language telenovelas (i.e. soap operas). It failed, basically because English-speaking audiences thought the programs were ridiculous while Spanish-speaking audiences thought the programs were inferior to the originals. MyNetworkTV then sort of entered into a downward spiral, and they haven't broadcast an original program since 2010 when WWE Smackdown finally left them for the cable channel Syfy. Since then MyNetworkTV has effectively become just a two-hour block of syndicated shows that originated on other, better networks. (Although recently they somehow managed to snag the rights to first free-to-air broadcast of The Walking Dead.)
So, the challenge: make it so that MyNetworkTV doesn't fare miserably when it starts off, and make it into a successful sixth network for American free-to-air television.
