Of this amount, it presents at least 104 hours of original first-run Canadian programming per year.

Since the network bought the rights to postseason baseball coverage, Fox has received criticism from non-baseball fans for not airing first-run original programming during October.

But he emphasized, "The network is still going to be the great creator of original first-run programming."

Lorimar is a leading producer of network television shows, including "Dallas," as well as other first-run programming carried on local television stations.

It would also have made Warner a factor in first-run programming.

The importance of first-run programming has grown recently as the network television business has run into troubled times.

Intriguing as that argument is, postseason telecasts always face competition from first-run programming in prime time.

By 2005, the network's syndicated programming had gone over to other networks, and its first-run programming was ended.

A key reason why so much new first-run programming is available is that a number of new companies have entered the business.

Sports programming and some first-run syndicated programming rounded out the broadcast day.