Cox adding UPN television network to Vegas system

Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 | 11:13 a.m.

line LAS VEGAS SUN

The UPN television network, whose broadcast lineup includes a popular "Star Trek" series and next year's kickoff of a new professional football league, will join Cox Communications Inc.'s Las Vegas cable system next month.

KTUD Channel 25, the Las Vegas UPN affiliate, will appear on cable Channel 14 beginning Nov. 1, a Cox spokeswoman said. Stephanie Stallworth said the move is in response to viewer feedback requesting the inclusion of the network on the cable system.

KTUD has operated as a low-power station in Las Vegas, giving the network limited range and viewership. Many area residents can't get the station on their televisions because of its weak signal.

The inclusion of KTUD on the Cox system will set off a chain-reaction of station changes on the cable. When KTUD takes over Channel 14, FX, which occupies that slot, will move to Channel 24. Comedy Central, which resides at Channel 24, will move to Channel 74. And the Sundance Channel, which is at Channel 74, will move to digital Channel 307, which is unoccupied.

Stallworth said Cox has received several requests to put the UPN station on the cable, many from "Star Trek" fans who can only watch new episodes of "Star Trek: Voyager" on the network. UPN also is one of the outlets for the new XFL professional football league that debuts in February. One of the eight teams that will begin play next year is the Las Vegas Outlaws.

Another popular feature on the network is the "WWF Smackdown," a weekly professional wrestling program.

In an unrelated change on the Cox system that also begins Nov. 1, Spice, an adult programming network, will no longer be available on a subscription basis.

Stallworth said Spice would be available on a pay-per-view basis at $8.95 per movie. She said the change was to maintain consistency with five other adult programming stations.

The Greenspun family, owner of the Las Vegas Sun, owns a minority stake in Cox's Las Vegas system.