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CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- While its future is still in doubt, the fledgling PAX network has gone ahead and announced its fall 2003 plans. PAX chief Bud Paxson has recently called on the company's one-third owner, NBC, to complete its acquisition of the network in light of recent rulings by the FCC concerning media ownership rules. Should the Peacock not go forward with the purchase Paxson has expressed interest in selling off the network's 60 affiliate stations.
Both scenarios leave the PAX's future in doubt as whether sold off piece by piece or as a whole, it's unlikely the brand itself will last beyond the next year. The only remaining scenario would be for PAX to switch to a cable-only offering, however Paxson himself has stated there are no such plans in the works.
With that in mind, PAX still plans to offer original programming for the 2003-04 season:
-- Only two of its three scripted series made the cut for next season - "Doc" and freshman "Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye" - leaving newcomer "Just Cause" out in the cold. The pair will remain on Sunday nights with fellow PAX mainstays "Miracle Pets," "Candid Camera" and "It's a Miracle."
-- Weekdays (Monday-Thursday), the network plans to simply strip repeats of the newly acquired "Early Edition" and "America's Funniest Home Videos." The duo will run with perennial PAX favorite "Diagnosis Murder."
-- Movies and its current crop of game shows will fill out the rest of its schedule with infomercials rounding out the fringe hours.
FALL 2003 SCHEDULE
MONDAYS-THURSDAYS
5:00/4:00c - "Bonanza" (Repeats)
6:00/5:00c - "Supermarket Sweep" (New Episodes)
6:30/5:30c - "The Weakest Link" (Repeats)
7:00/6:00c - "Supermarket Sweep" (Repeats)
7:30/6:30c - "Family Feud" (Repeats)
8:00/7:00c - "America's Funniest Home Vidoes" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Early Edition" (Repeats)
10:00/9:00c - "Diagnosis Murder" (Repeats)
11:00/10:00c - "It's a Miracle" (New Half-Hour Episodes)
FRIDAYS
5:00/4:00c - "Bonanza" (Repeats)
6:00/5:00c - "Supermarket Sweep" (New Episodes)
6:30/5:30c - "The Weakest Link" (Repeats)
7:00/6:00c - "Supermarket Sweep" (Repeats)
7:30/6:30c - "Family Feud" (Repeats)
8:00/7:00c - "PAX Friday Night Movie"
10:00/9:00c - "Diagnosis Murder" (Repeats)
11:00/10:00c - "It's a Miracle" (New Half-Hour Episodes)
SATURDAYS
6:00/5:00c - "Miracle Pets" (Repeats)
7:00/6:00c - (Various programming)
8:00/7:00c - "Candid Camera" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "PAX Saturday Night Movie"
SUNDAYS
6:00/5:00c - "Miracle Pets" (New Episodes)
7:00/6:00c - "Candid Camera" (New Episodes)
8:00/7:00c - "Doc" (New Episodes)
9:00/8:00c - "Sure Thomas: F.B.Eye" (New Episodes)
10:00/9:00c - "It's a Miracle" (New Episodes)
You can view the complete PAX grid by clicking here.
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