UPN Extra

UPN Extra is a defunct programming service operated by United Paramount Network – owned by Chris-Craft Industries and United Television; Viacom (through its Paramount Television unit, which produced most of the network's series). Operating from March 1, 1997 to September 18, 2006.

In addition to carrying UPN programming, it also maintained a master schedule of syndicated programming that aired simultaneously on all UPN Extra affiliates outside of designated network programming time periods, essentially structuring the service as a de facto national feed of UPN.

Programming
UPN Extra utilized a dual programming model which differed from the traditional network affiliate model used by UPN-affiliated stations in large and medium-sized markets, in which the affiliate handled complete responsibility of providing syndicated and local programming to fill non-network timeslots. Instead, dayparts on UPN Extra affiliates without UPN programming were programmed by the network, primarily with programs that were being carried at the time in national syndication – along with syndicated film packages that filled select weekend timeslots, and brokered programming (such as infomercials and religious programs) that was time-leased by UPN to fill most overnight and some early afternoon timeslots on the service; this relieved the UPN affiliate's local owner of the duty of acquiring syndicated programming to fill timeslots not occupied by network content from UPN. This was similar to the programming strategy of Foxnet, though unlike The UPN Extra, Foxnet was distributed as a conventional cable channel and local operators were not allowed to tailor the service to their local market with their own branding, or carry local news or sports programming.

In addition to the hour of programming provided by the UPN Kids and Disney's One Too children's blocks that featured content complying with the regulations, the remaining two hours of programming that fulfilled educational programming guidelines defined by the Children's Television Act was taken care of by UPN, which carried syndicated E/I programs for broadcast on early Saturday afternoons immediately after the conclusion of the block for much of UPN Extra's existence.