Broadcasting & Cable back issues from November 1994:
Minority-led group eyes Viacom stations.
Nov 07, 1994; ... Viacom is considering an offer to sell four of its five TV stations to a partnership composed of a minority, a broadcaster and a buyout fund. According to sources familiar with the deal, the buyers are an unnamed Hispanic figure; Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Bob N. Smith of ...
Full court press on kids TV. (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994; ... Children's TV advocates will lobby the FCC in full force this week. It's all part of a major campaign to insure that the commission enacts tougher kids TV rules, Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Media Education, told BROADCASTING & CABLE last week. ...
First year check-up: some network series breathe easy; others await fate.
Nov 07, 1994; ... The fate of several first-year series was determined last week. Most received full or partial pickups, but ABC's Blue Skies got the ax. ABC blessed its in-house productions, giving Me and the Boys an order for six more episodes and extending the life of My So-Called Life by ...
Milch says racism remarks were distorted. (David Milch, co-creator of 'NYPD Blue') (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994; ... NYPD Blue co-creator David Milch was busy explaining himself last week after remarks he made about racism and the writing process were reported in the Washington Post. The remarks were "an attempt to describe the processes of writing and [were] not a statement of political or ...
They're in the money: networks to finish year with higher revenues.
Nov 07, 1994; ... As the TV networks enter the fourth quarter, the year-end revenue outlook is positive, according to entertainment industry analysts. They note the record upfront advertising sales market this year, which has been followed by a strong scatter market. The profit picture is a ...
Wall St. downgrades opinion of TCI. (Tele-Communications Inc.) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994; ... As Tele-Communications Inc. embarks on its new telco alliance with Sprint and two other top cable MSOs, it looks as if the high cost of entry is going to change the way the company is viewed on Wall Street. The cost of TCI's entry into personal communication services (PCS) and ...
Canadian stations pull 'Power Rangers.'
Nov 07, 1994; ... Saban Entertainment's hit kids series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was pulled from the lineups of many Canadian cable and broadcasting outlets last week following a ruling by the Ontario Regional Council of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council that the show is too violent for young ...
New syndicator flying high: satellite company STARCOM plans three first-run series.
Nov 07, 1994; ... Satellite distribution and tape duplication company STARCOM Television is entering the syndication field with three weekly first-run series planned for a fall '95 launch, including a provocative model/fashion show. Heading the new syndication division, STARCOM Entertainment, is ...
Bell Atlantic, Nynex, Pactel pool VDT resources. (the Bell operating companies are combining their video dialtone networks)
Nov 07, 1994; ... Three regional Bell operating companies have gotten together with the Creative Artists Agency to create technology and programing for their planned interactive video networks. Bell Atlantic, Nynex and Pacific Telesis last Monday said they will ante up $100 million each over the ...
Going-forward rules set for FCC meeting. (Federal Communications Commission)
Nov 07, 1994; ... After a four-week impasse, the FCC committed itself to issuing new incentives this week for cable operators to add new programing. The so-called going-forward rules have been included as an item for Thursday's (Nov. 10) commission meeting. Also on the agenda are items covering ...
Guy Gannett buys Rochester V. (Guy Gannett Communications to buy WOKR-TV of Rochester, NY) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994; ... Guy Gannett Communications is buying WOKR(TV) Rochester, N.Y., from a group led by VS&A Communications Partners for a price estimated in the high $60 million range. The seller is an investment fund associated with Veronis, Suhler & Associates. It bought the ABC affiliate in 1991 ...
Turner and Wright examine possibilities. (TBS Chairman Ted Turner and NBC President Bob Wright discuss possibilities of merger or alliance) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994; ... TBS Chairman Ted Turner met with NBC President Bob Wright last week to discuss the possibility of a merger or an alliance between the two companies. Sources familiar with the talks say that Wright did most of the listening, while Turner reiterated his frustration at major TBS shareholder ...
Nets want clearance bang for bucks. (television networks want affiliates to support clearances in return for long-term contracts)
Nov 07, 1994; ... In the wake of affiliation realignments, the Big Three networks are paying big bucks to lock many affiliates into long-term relationships. But network officials say they are asking for something in return: that affiliates stop preempting and delaying network shows and support new network ...
HBO aces cable awards. (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994; ... Home Box Office's Dream On, And the Band Played On, The Larry Sanders Show, Tales from the Crypt and Barbra Streisand: The Concert have propelled the pay TV service once again to the top of the list of CableACE Awards nominations. HBO last Wednesday received 99 nominations for ...
NATPE international to draw full house in Vegas. (the National Association of Television Program Executives International trade show in Las Vegas) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994; ... Registration for January's NATPE International trade show in Las Vegas (Jan. 23-26) is more than double that of last year's figures--a record for the association. Attendance for the 32nd Annual Conference and Exhibition is expected to reach 15,000, up from 11,650 last year, NATPE officials ...
Price freeze for NewsPath. (CBS will not raise fees for the NewsPath service) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994; ... CBS News said last week it will not raise fees for its NewsPath service in 1995. At the RTNDA convention four weeks ago, news officials had suggested fees might rise by 70% over the next 18 months starting next year. A number of affiliates were upset by the proposed increases. Reached last ...
Warner's basic blues: basic cable show taping begins with Sheryl Crow concert. ('Live from the House of Blues' concert series licensed to WTBS) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994; ... Warner Bros. is expanding into cable television production with the licensing of its new Live from the House of Blues weekly concert series to superstation WTBS ("Closed Circuit," Aug. 15, et seq.). An Oct. 28 concert by rock star Sheryl Crow at the Los Angeles House of Blues ...
Conservative channel. (the Conservative Television Network planned for 1996) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Political consultants Anthony Fabrizio and John E. McLaughlin plan to launch a new mini-pay service, the Conservative Television Network, in the second quarter of 1996. Serving as chairman of the network is ...
Eco channel debuts. (The Ecology Channel will go on air November 6, 1994) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... The Ecology Channel is slated to debut part-time Nov. 6 with three hours of weekly programing on tv! Network, the 24-hour showcase network owned by ...
Fore! (The Golf Channel will stat January 17, 1994) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... The Golf Channel has set a Jan. 17, 1995, launch date for the network and has hired PGA Tour executive Gary Stevenson to serve as executive vice president/chief ...
SeaGull spreads wings. (SeaGull Entertainment opens offices in New York, NY, and Beverly Hills, CA, and hires executives) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... SeaGull Entertainment, the recently formed entertainment production and distribution company headed by former All American Television president Henry Siegel, has opened offices in Beverly Hills and New York City and has added Alien Entertainment Corp ....
Premier performance. (ratings for 'Premier Story' from Chris Craft/United) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Chris Craft/United's Premier Story late-night news magazine show recorded strong results for week of Oct. 17-21 at 11:30 p.m. on WWOR-TV New York. The show earned a 3.6 Nielsen metered-market rating and a 9 share, an increase of 50% over its year-ago time period predecessor's 6 ...
Carteris on Crusaders. (Gabrielle Carteris will host Buena Vista Television report on kids and guns) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Buena Vista Television's weekly syndicated advocacy news magazine show The Crusaders this month has launched a special four-pan report on kids and guns hosted by Beverly Hills, 90210 star Gabrielle Carteris ....
Rysher pick-ups. (Rysher Entertainment's 'George & Alana' talk show sold to 10 New World and Argyle stations for fall 1995) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Rysher Entertainment has sold its new George & Alana syndicated talk show to 10 stations owned by New World and Argyle station groups for a fall 1995 launch. The 10 stations, which cover more than 13% of the U.S., will run the show at 9 or 10 a.m. All the stations were pan of the Fox-New ...
Gargoyles growing. (ratings for Walt Disney Television Animation show) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Walt Disney Television Animation's Gargoyles new animated show delivered a strong 2.8 Nielsen metered-market rating and an 8 share average over a special stripped debut Oct. 24-28. That was up 33% in share from its ...
The Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. (biographies of 17 inductees)
Nov 07, 1994 ... This Monday evening (Nov. 7) in New York, BROADCASTING & CABLE welcomes the newest members of its Hall of Fame. Their addition will raise the number in that illustrious group to 119 industry figures, past and present. This year's class represents a range of disciplines and accomplishments ...
PCS applicants span media spectrum: cable and telcos among 74 bidders for licenses in 51 markets. (FCC auction for personal communications services)
Nov 07, 1994; ... Welcome to the FCCC: the "Federal Competition in Communications Commission." With that, FCC Chairman Reed Hundt last week unveiled the 74 companies and individuals who say they will bid for 99 personal communications services licenses in 51 markets. The list includes ...
Microsoft gears up for interactive competition: software giant lines up partners in battle against Oracle. (interactive television)
Nov 07, 1994; ... Even if interactive television is a long way from arriving in the homes of millions of Americans, Microsoft is aggressively positioning itself to be the global software leader for this nascent marketplace. Cable and telco network operators are setting up myriad experimental ...
EON releases prices; aims to spur IVDS construction: questions remain concerning costs, consumer demand for new service. (interactive video and data services)
Nov 07, 1994; ... After taking heat from several IVDS auction winners, Eon Corp. has announced its general pricing structure and the services that it claims will make interactive video and data services a commercial reality. Several winners of licenses at the FCC's IVDS auctions had criticized ...
Utilities getting into telecommunications. (study by US Department of Energy and Edison Electric Institute) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994; ... Electric utilities will plunge more deeply into telecommunications to a improve operations, reduce costs and provide new services to customers, according to a new study commissioned by the Edison Electric Institute and the U.S. Department of Energy. Government regulators are ...
StarSight signs with Bell Atlantic. (StarSight Telecast Inc.'s electronic program guide will be distributed by Bell Atlantic Video Services) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... StarSight Telecast Inc. has signed strategic and affiliation agreements with Bell Atlantic Video Services to distribute its electronic program guide over BA's video delivery system beginning next year. StarSight's system allows for one-button VCR recording of selected ...
BroadBand, DaviCom team up. (BroadBand Technologies, agreement to develop interactive video distribution standards) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... BroadBand Technologies and DiviCorn have formed a "technology agreement" to develop interoperable standards for the distribution of interactive video. BBT is in the interactive video transport business, while DiviCom ...
TW picks speech recognition for FSN. (Time Warner Cable has contracted BBN HARK Systems to system for Full Service Network) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Time Warner Cable has chosen BBN HARK Systems, a subsidiary of Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., to develop the system design for integrating speech recognition into its Full Service Network. Time Warner will not introduce speech recognition into the initial version of its ...
ABC, Imax to produce large-format films. (Capital Cities/ABC Inc., joint venture to develop motion pictures for large screen) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Capital Cities/ABC Inc. and Imax Corp. signed a joint venture agreement to co-develop and produce large-screen motion ...
Radio groups prosper in third quarter: many companies also report significant growth for first nine months. (includes related article on spot advertising revenue)
Nov 07, 1994; ... Many radio group owners reported double-digit increases in net revenue, operating cash flow and net income for third quarter 1994, marking another quarter of consistently solid revenue and income growth in radio. In most instances, those increases were coupled with growth in ...
Looking to buy. (Jeffrey Trumper, Media Communications Partners, and Providence Ventures form radio acquisition group) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Jeffrey Trumpet of Trumper Communications is forming a radio acquisition group with the help of Media Communications Partners and Providence Ventures, formerly Narragansett Capital. The new company will buy ...
Show debuts 'No Name' name. (USA Talk Network debuts show as 'Show with No Name' rather than 'After the Rush' to avoid lawsuit by Rush Limbaugh's company) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Facing a lawsuit from Rush Limbaugh's syndicator EFM Media Management, the USA Talk Network debuted last week what it termed the "first talk show to take on Rush Limbaugh," but refrained from using the original title for the show: After the Rush. USA Talk faces a $20 million ...
Big spenders in L.A. (Southern California Broadcasters Association study finds 1994 increase in Los Angeles, CA, radio advertising) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... More advertisers this year have invested at least $1 million in Los Angeles-area radio stations than did so last year, according to ad revenue totals compiled by the Southern California Broadcasters Association (SCBA) and the accounting firm Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co. The SCBA ...
Minority station deal one of biggest: WDYS-FM goes to local radio group for $34 million. (WKYS-FM in Washington, DC, is sold to Radio One Inc.)
Nov 07, 1994; ... Radio One Inc., a radio group run by local talk show host Cathy Hughes, is buying WKYS-FM Washington from Albimar Communications Inc. for an estimated $34 million cash. Both groups are minority-owned, and the deal is said to be one of the largest between two such broadcast ...
Liberty, CBS sew up unique Cotton Bowl deal. (Liberty Sports receives rights to televise Cotton Bowl) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Liberty Sports has acquired network television rights to the Cotton Bowl in a six-year deal valued at about $2.5 million per year, beginning in 1996. But the game won't air on Liberty's regional sports outlets. instead, Liberty has agreed to pay CBS about $850,000 a year in a ...
Errata. (to article in Oct 31, 1994, issue about sale of WSSH(AM) in Boston, MA) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... In the Oct. 31 "Changing Hands," the interests of the buyer and seller of WSSH(AM) Boston were reversed. Buyer, Communicom Co. of America LP, has no other broadcast interests. Seller, Noble Broadcast Group, ...
War of words: broadcasters, Hundt differ over 'true facts.' (FCC Chairman Reed Hundt wants broadcasters to correct 'misinformation' on the air)
Nov 07, 1994; ... Broadcasters are listening to FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, but many are shrugging off his criticism of television and radio programing as just another regulator jawboning. In a series of speeches last month, Hundt criticized talk radio and TV for failing to "correct disinformation ...
All the talk about convergence between media is being taken seriously by two unions. (the Communications Workers of America and the Newspaper Guild) (Washington Watch) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994; ... All the talk about convergence between media is being take seriously by two unions. The Communications Workers of America and the Newspaper Guild plan to merge. In a statement released late last month, the organizations said they are negotiating a formal merger agreement to be presented at ...
Networks get graphic at election time: Big Three using latest gear to turn voting information into visual displays. (Technology)
Nov 07, 1994; ... The latest election results this week will bring out the latest graphics innovations at news operations. ABC, CBS and NBC have lined up new equipment for Tuesday's off-year election coverage. The upgrades include new computing equipment from Xerox and Silicon Graphics as well as ...
William Horton Curtis. (Fifth Estater.)
Nov 07, 1994; ... Kansas tornadoes have a storybook reputation for taking those in their path on tumultuous, life-changing rides. Veteran newsman Bill Kurtis can point to a 1966 twister that started him on nonstop travels all over the world for his career as both a newsman reporting back to his Chicago ...
Broadcast TV. (includes multiple brief articles on executive changes)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Appointments at National Empowerment Television, Washington: Nancy Hinds, producer, WMAR-TV Baltimore, joins in same capacity, Capitol Watch and Insights with Robert Novak; Gordon Davis, senior producer/director, WFTY (TV) Washington, joins as producer; Pat 0bermeier, promotions producer, ...
Cable. (includes multiple brief articles about executive changes in the cable television broadcasting industry)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Abbe Raven, director, production services/executive producer, A&E Television Networks, New York, named VP, programing and production, The History Channel. Appointments at Liberty Sports, Irving Tex.: Jim Martin, VP/COO, Liberty Media, named president, Liberty Sports Inc.'s regional ...
ABC has added 11 new weekly 30-second spots to its prime time schedule.
Nov 07, 1994 ... ABC has added 11 new weekly 30-second spots to its prime time schedule, a network spokeswoman confirmed last week. She declined to say where the spots have been added but insisted they were not coming at the ...
The United/Paramount Network confirmed Friday that Michael Sullivan has been named president, entertainment. (Brief Article) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... The United/Paramount Network confirmed Friday that Michael Sullivan has been named president, entertainment. Sullivan is president of ...
NBC will switch affiliates in 32nd-ranked market Raleigh-Durham, N.C., on Oct. 1, 1995. (from WRDC(TV) to WYED(TV)) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... NBC will switch affiliates in 32-nd-ranked market Raleigh-Durham, N.C., on Oct. 1, 1995, moving from WRDC(TV) to Outlet-owned ...
Turner Broadcasting System reported a loss in net income of $4.6 million during third quarter 1994. (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Turner Broadcasting System reported a loss in ney income of $4.6 million during third qua4rter 1994 versus a $1 million profit for the same quarter last year. TBS said the results reflected a $25 million ...
FCC Commissioner Andrew Barrett says the cards are stacked against minorities and women who want to bid for PCS licenses. (personal communications services) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... FCC Commissioner Andrew Barrett says the cards are stacked against minorities and women who want to bid for PCS licenses. In remarks before a GTE group in Las Colinas, Tex., last Thursday, he said those groups---called designated entities by the commission--lack access to capital and will ...
The FCC last week granted Fox Television Stations permission to transmit NFL games and other sports, news, entertainment and live programing to three Mexican TV stations. (XETV(TV), XHNUL-TV, and XHRTA-TV) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... The FCC last week granted Fox Television Stations permission to transmit NFL games and other sports, news, entertainment and live programming to three Mexican TV stations. The stations-- XETV(TV) Tijuana (which reaches San Diego), XHNUL-TV Nuevo Laredo (serving Laredo, Tex.) and XHRTA-TV ...
Merger patrol. (Justice Department antitrust division set up task force to review telecommunications mergers) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... Anne Bingaman, chief of the Justice Department's antitrust division, is keeping her promise to actively review all telecommunications mergers. To help accomplish that goal, the division has created a special "telecommunications task ...
Unexpected departure. (Gene Burns resigns as host of WOR Radio Network's political talk show) (Brief Article)
Nov 07, 1994 ... WOR Radio Network political talk show host Gene Bums resigned unexpectedly after his afternoon show Oct. 25. Industry insiders say there were differences between Bums and WOR(AM) management. Station management declined ...
Cable takes two steps forward. (Federal Communications Commission regulations for basic cable services)
Nov 14, 1994; ... The cable industry's reaction last week to the FCC's new going-forward rules was mixed, with programers showing much more enthusiasm than operators. The FCC, in a 3-2 decision, is opening a three-year window for cable operators to cash in on incentives for adding up to seven new ...
Deregulation is in the air for all media. (television and radio broadcasting industries may benefit from Republican-majority Congress in 1995)
Nov 14, 1994; ... Last week's Republican victory in Congress may mean major deregulation for the broadcast, cable and telephone industries. "Everything that is regulatory will be on the table and up for review," one telecommunications lobbyist says. The agenda may include: ...
New Congress means new worries for FCC's Hundt. (Federal Communications Commission Chairman Reed Hundt)
Nov 14, 1994; ... It's a whole new ball game at the FCC. From now on, FCC Chairman Reed Hundt will have to weigh his policies against those of the Republicans who will chair the congressional committees that have FCC oversight--Republicans who on the whole have a far more conservative view of ...
Election spending is elephantine. (spending statistics for 1994 election campaigns)
Nov 14, 1994; ... Hotly contested political campaigns across the nation this fall gave broadcast and cable media their biggest pot of political advertising dollars ever--close to $400 million. Most of that was accounted for by spot television spending, which the Television Bureau of Advertising ...
ABC affiliates look to new media. (television affiliates form NewVenco Inc. to develop alternative programming, distribution) (Brief Article)
Nov 14, 1994; ... The ABC television affiliates have formed a corporation, NewVenco Inc., to develop business ventures in program distribution, pay-per-view programing, interactive television, home shopping and infomercial production and distribution. The company, which will explore ventures with ...
NBC takes early lead in November sweeps. (National Broadcasting Company Inc.; television ratings, November 1994)
Nov 14, 1994; ... NBC has jumped out to an early lead in the November sweeps, but the race has been neck and neck among the Big Three networks, and all the networks, including Fox, have seen sweeps programing shine. Despite the closeness of the race early on, the winner could be determined this week after ...
Korn named chairman of Group W. (Bill Korn, chairman and chief executive officer of Westinghouse Broadcasting Company Inc.) (Brief Article)
Nov 14, 1994; ... Bill Korn has been named chairman/CEO of Westinghouse Broadcasting Co. (Group W). Korn has served as president of the company since 1992, and before then was president of Group W Television. Korn succeeds Burton Staniar, who has been chairman of Westinghouse Broadcasting Co ....
EBS gives way to digital EAS. (Federal Communications Commission requires television broadcasters to replace Emergency Broadcast System technology with Emergency Alert System) (Brief Article)
Nov 14, 1994; ... Digital technology is making its way into the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). The FCC last week required broadcasters to begin replacing today's EBS technology with an "Emergency Alert System" (EAS). The new system, the commission said, will include several changes aimed at ...
Camera to stay in O.J. court. (Lance Ito allows media coverage of O.J. Simpson trial)
Nov 14, 1994; ... Shortly before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lance Ito convened a hearing last Tuesday to consider banning cameras from the O.J. Simpson trial, Court TV analyst Burt Neuborne predicted, correctly, that Ito would allow the cameras to stay. In effect, Neuborne said, Ito was ...
SeaGull establishes beachhead. (SeaGull Entertainment contract with DIC Entertainment L.P. for sitcom production)
Nov 14, 1994; ... Newly launched production and syndication company SeaGull Entertainment has made a deal with DIC Entertainment to co-produce its first show, a half-hour sitcom strip created exclusively for the first-run syndication marketplace and targeted for fall 1995 launch. Beverly Hills ...