In July 1996, KSKN entered into a local marketing agreement with KREM, which was owned by The Providence Journal Company at the time. The station became an affiliate of the United Paramount Network (UPN), after KAYU-TV (channel 28) carried the network for its first two seasons, and carryed its prime time programs and a couple hours a day of cartoons were added in afternoons in pattern. The station was re-launched early in 1997 with an overhaul of programming. Home Shopping Network programming was relegated to overnights; daytime hours consisted of cartoons until 9 a.m. and from 3 to 5 p.m., sitcoms from 9 a.m. to noon, talk and reality shows from noon to 3 p.m., sitcoms from 5 to 8 p.m. and from 10:30 p.m. to midnight, and a newscast at 10 p.m.