UPN: Lots of High Kicks

By Stephen M. Silverman

09/16/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

There will be action, and lots of it, on UPN this fall. Unveiling its new season lineup this week, the network announced it is hatching two action-packed primetime dramas, "Freedom" and "Level 9." The first, which will feature Hong Kong martial arts, comes from producer Joel Silver ("The Matrix"), while the second, about law enforcers who battle cyber crimes, is the brainchild of John Sacret Young ("China Beach"). For Sunday nights, UPN, which is still celebrating the success of "WWF Smackdown!," has picked up the rights to the upstart XFL football league (which is being formed by the World Wresting Federation). The network will air live 10 games and one playoff beginning next February. Kickoff times will be 7 p.m. ET.