Broadcasting & Cable back issues from October 1995:
Saber rattling over kids TV: Fields threatens war over 'social engineering'; Markey urges peace; Quello, Hundt at odds.(Jack Fields, Ed Markey, James Quello, Reed Hundt on FCC's moves to boost children's educational programing)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Fields threatens war over 'social engineering'; Markey urges peace; Quello, Hundt at oddsWhat began as a social contract may require an armistice to finally resolve.House Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee Chairman Jack Fields (R-Tex.) opened last week's ...
Disney asked to pony up kids fare.(Disney will not likely boost children's programing)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Don't expect Disney to follow Westinghouse on children's TV commitments, broadcasters say.Several industry sources are speculating that the Center for Media Education (CME) and the United Church of Christ will face a tougher task winning any such pledges from Disney. The two groups ...
O.J. closers upstage season openers; network shares are down due to trial arguments on cable.(O.J. Simpson trial)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Network shares are down due to trial arguments on cableAfter nearly a year of affecting the ratings for syndicated shows, the O.J. Simpson trial cut into the prime time network numbers last week as attorneys for both sides conducted closing arguments.Last Wednesday night, ...
'Frasier' sells in L.A., Chicago.(Paramount Domestic Television's show sold to non-network affiliated stations)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995 ... Paramount Domestic Television found off-network homes for Frasier in Los Angeles and Chicago late last week.In Chicago, a source familiar with the deal said Frasier sold to Fox O&O WFLD-TV for a whopping $90,000 per week, slightly more than the $85,000 per week the station ...
'Carnie' leads new talkers: rep study says genre could get post-O.J. boost.(premiere ratings for talk shows)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Rep study says genre could get post-OJ. boostNational premiere-week ratings for most of the fall season's new talk shows had station reps and syndicators pondering the same question last week: What will the numbers look like when the O.J. Simpson trial siphon is shut off?. ...
Weiswasser to run Disney telco venture: ABC executive to lead telco programer.(Steve Weiswasser, Americast)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995; ... ABC executive to lead telco programerThe search for an executive to run Disney's venture with the telcos is over, and the winner is Steve Weiswasser.He has been named chief executive officer of Americast, the joint venture between The Walt Disney Co., BellSouth Corp., SBC ...
Ironing out the Time Warner/TBS details: big question is future of cable division.(merger with Turner Broadcasting)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Big question is future of cable divisionAlthough Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting System announced their merger more than a week ago, negotiations continue on several fronts (including talks with US West) concerning the future of the joint venture Time Warner Entertainment ...
Superpanel III: executive roundtable weighs consolidation, megamedia, telcom reform.(Interface IX conference)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Executive roundtable weighs consolidation, megamedia, telcom reformVertical integration isn't all it's cracked up to be, says NBC President Bob Wright.Although network rivals Fox and ABC now are linked to major Hollywood studios, NBC doesn't feel it has to follow suit, ...
Taking sides on V-chip.(Interface IX)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Irving, Barrett debate proposed in-set technology; Ness expresses concern over ownership deregThe Commerce Department's Larry Irving and FCC Commissioner Andrew Barrett tangled over the V-chip and other issues during last week's Interface IX conference.Irving, assistant ...
Face-off on the V-chip.(Interface IX)
Oct 02, 1995; ... The V-chip won't work and it will violate broadcasters' rights to free speech, said NBC Senior Vice President Rick Cotton.But former FCC chairman Newton Minow told the same audience that if the V-chip violates the First Amendment, so do the remote control and any parent who won't ...
Despite boom, broadcasters should be ready for bust.(Interface IX)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Analysts say: Be prepared for cyclical nature of businessBroadcasters should look for business outside the U.S. to cushion the blow from the coming economic downturn.That was the advice of financial analysts who spoke at Interface IX, sponsored last Wednesday in ...
Maneuvering the TW Turner deal. (Time Warner, Ted Turner, merger)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Companies strategize on moving merger through WashingtonA platoon of lawyers and lobbyists met at Time Warner headquarters in New York last Thursday with a single purpose: Plot the strategy for selling the Turner/Time Warner merger in Washington.It may be a job as big as ...
Quello levels charges over social contracts. (FCC Commissioner James Quello)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Commissioner says Gore assistant Simon sought commitment on Westinghouse kids TV announcement; Simon denies itSimon says support social contracts. That's what FCC Commissioner James Quello is telling Congress. In a letter last week to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Larry ...
License revocation sought over Stern remarks; Hispanic group says FCC should pull Greater Media's license for KLSX in wake of Selena comments. (Howard Stern, Selena Quintanilla Perez)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Hispanic group says FCC should pull Greater Media's license for KLSX in wake of Selena commentsThe National Hispanic Media Coalition is not accepting Howard Stern's apology.The group last week asked the FCC to yank the license of Greater Media's KLSX(FM) Los Angeles on ...
Cable operators have new mechanisms for recovering costs. (FCC's Form 1235)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995 ... Cable operators have new mechanisms for recovering costs. The FCC has developed a proposed form allowing operators to recover costs of significant upgrades "that provide benefits to subscribers of regulated cable services." With Form 1235, an operator seeking to raise rates to cover an ...
The FCC is boosting security. (security upgrades)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995 ... The FCC is boosting security. Beginning Oct. 2, the commission will institute a series of security upgrades, including X-ray screening of all mail and packages, 24-hour closed-circuit television ...
'Late Show' looks for a boost; new animation, more stand-up, return of Chris Elliot among planned changes. (Late Show with David Letterman)
Oct 02, 1995; ... New animation, more stand-up, return of Chris Elliot among planned changesIn what he calls an ongoing effort to improve the product, Robert Morton, executive producer, Late Show with David Letterman, says the show will undergo some cosmetic enhancements and changes in sensibility. ...
BBC targets U.S. kids. (British Broadcasting Company)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995 ... The BBC is creating a children's and family entertainment production unit in New York to target the North American market. Richard Siggelkow, co-creator of Shining Time Station, seen in the U.S. on PBS, has been named to run the division, reporting to Eve Krzyzanowski, who heads the BBC ...
TCI in syndication? 'Damn Right.' (Tele-Communications Inc., television syndication)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995; ... MSO has cleared public affairs show on 34 stations for simultaneous cable/broadcast airTele-Communications Inc.'s first foray into the syndication marketplace begins this week with the premiere of Damn Right, an issues-oriented strip produced by the cable giant's fledgling public ...
Network share average drops. (television networks)
Oct 02, 1995; ... CBS takes' most of hit; Fox is only network to show share growth in premiere weekViewership for the network premiere week (Sept. 18-24) was down 3 Nielsen share points versus the first week of the 1994-95 season, with the bulk of viewer loss attributed to lower numbers for CBS. The ...
Village Roadshow expands TV reach.(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Pitches cost savings of producing Down UnderVillage Roadshow Ltd., Australia's largest entertainment conglomerate, has expanded its TV production arm in an effort to export more programing and import more TV production.Veteran American TV producer Jeffrey Hayes, the newly ...
Prosecutorial programing. (Genesis Entertainment's new reality television syndication series on prosecutors)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995 ... Prosecuting attorneys are the focus of a new reality syndication project in the works from Genesis Entertainment and Mark Massari, executive producer of Genesis' Real Stories of the Highway Patrol. The Prosecutors, targeted as a strip for fall 1996, will mix courtroom footage and ...
CNBC GGP retrospective. (to co-produce cable television special)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995 ... CNBC and San Francisco-based production house GGP will co-produce A Year in Review: The Images of 1995, a one-hour special for cable and syndication hosted by WNBC-TV news anchor Chuck Scarborough. The special, offered in syndication on a straight barter basis from ...
Networks look to campaign '96; elections will come earlier, cost more and include Fox as a player.
Oct 02, 1995; ... Elections will come earlier, cost more and include Fox as a playerWith the distraction of the O.J. Simpson case almost behind them, network news executives are plotting strategies for coverage of campaign '96, which in some respects will be fundamentally different from the ...
TVB sees ad growth in '96. (Television Bureau of Advertising)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Broadcast TV ad growth expected to be in high single digits, cable even higherBolstered by the Olympics and political advertising that will total nearly $1.2 billion, the Television Bureau of Advertising predicts high-single-digit advertising sales growth for broadcast television ...
Freedom rings for West Palm Beach TV. (Freedom Communications)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Company makes first station buy in nine yearsFreedom Communications Inc. is buying its first TV station in nearly a decade, having won a private auction for WPEC West Palm Beach/Fort Pierce, Fla.Alan Bell, president of Freedom's broadcast division, calls the deal, which ...
ABC drop Hightower show. (ABC Radio Networks, Jim Hightower)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Network cites poor ratings; San Francisco's Bernie Ward will fill slotAs predicted by station affiliates, ABC Radio Networks dropped weekend political talk show host Jim Hightower and replaced him with KGO(AM) San Francisco host Bernie Ward late last month.Although the ...
NAB reports decline in radio station sales. (National Association of Broadcasters)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995 ... Radio station trading dropped 10% in the first half of 1995 over the same period last year, according to a report released by the National Association of Broadcasters.Based on data collected by Hoffman-Schutz Media Capital, the NAB reported that the total dollar volume of station ...
Duopoly up 45% in 1995. (radio stations in duopoly ownership)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995 ... A survey conducted by BIA Publications shows that the number of major-market radio stations in duopoly ownership as of Sept. 14 was 45% greater than the number of duopolies last March.Specifically, the report found that of the 1,296 radio ...
Talk radio audience 60% male, 38% Republican, favor Rush. (Rush Limbaugh talk radio host)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995 ... The latest demographic survey of talk radio listeners nationwide shows 92% of the audience are registered voters, 39% have a college degree, 30% have family income of at least $60,000 and 27% are over 60, according to a survey by Adams Research Inc.Adams's survey was released in ...
Cable's new competition: cities; more municipalities, power companies, look to follow lead of city-owned systems.
Oct 02, 1995; ... More municipalities, power companies, look to follow lead of city-owned systemsCable system operators may have to add local municipalities to the growing list of competitors that already includes wireless cable, direct broadcast satellite and the telcos.Several local ...
Baseball season sends mixed signals; ratings down for many, but pennant races fuel some growth.
Oct 02, 1995; ... Ratings down for many, but pennant races fuel some growthThe 1995 season has been a mixed bag for cable networks broadcasting Major League Baseball games, with most reporting continued declines in overall ratings and market share for games carried since the July All-Star Game ...
Cable programs for post-O.J.; Court TV, CNN, E! ready new fare.(O.J. Simpson trial)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Court TV, CNN, E! ready new fareAfter nearly nine months of record ratings from coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial, CNN, Court TV and E! Entertainment Television are preparing to cope with an O.J.-less TV universe.During the trial, E! Entertainment Television's ratings ...
Cable's summer of major league clustering; MSOs wheel and deal to concentrate holdings in key markets.(multi-system operators)
Oct 02, 1995; ... MSOs wheel and deal to concentrate holdings in key marketsCable operators this past summer started a new round of system swapping and selling, designed, say experts, to position themselves for new competition by building critical subscriber mass in key markets.The deals ...
Telstar 402, part 2: no problem; successful launch for AT&T bird should ease C-band crunch.
Oct 02, 1995; ... Successful launch for AT&T bird should ease C-band crunchAT&T's Telstar 402R satellite soared to a successful launch on Saturday, Sept. 23, eclipsing the painful memory of its predecessor's failure and providing some much-needed relief to the C-band capacity crunch. The satellite ...
DirectTV targets Japan for DBS; plans to develop 50-channel service with Japanese partners.
Oct 02, 1995; ... Plans to develop 50-channel service with Japanese partnersDIRECTV is taking its act to Japan. Hughes Communications last week said it is forming a "planning company" to establish a 50-channel version of the DBS service in Japan. Partnering with Hughes are Culture Convenience Club ...
Satellite war breaks out at FCC; carriers in fight over North American slots.(Federal Communications Commission)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Carriers in fight over North American slotsSatellite carriers have launched a new battle over domestic orbital slots. In a series of FCC filings last week, Hughes, AT&T and GE Amencom asked FCC officials to deny applications for new satellite orbital assignments over North America ....
HD Vision takes the long view; production house is high on HDTV, and has been.
Oct 02, 1995; ... Production house is high on HDTV, and has beenWhile the FCC ponders future frequency allocation for HDTV and a new government-funded joint venture seeks to build an experimental HDTV station at the David Sarnoff Research Center, a Texas production company has been working ...
DAVIC releases first standards; group's action will facilitate content across technologies from CD-ROM, interactive TV, Internet and online.(Digital Audio-Visual Council)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Group's action will facilitate content across technologies from CD-ROM, interactive TV, Internet and onlineThe Digital Audio-Visual Council (DAVIC) has dealt a blow to proprietary multimedia technologies with the release of its first set of standards. Its joint meeting with the ...
Compositing takes Janet Jackson 'round the world; Hollywood Digital creates locations for video.
Oct 02, 1995; ... Hollywood Digital creates locations for videoFor the latest Janet Jackson video, "Runaway," the concept was to film the singer in more than 20 locations: running across the arms of the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, sitting atop the Easter Island monuments, leaning on the ...
Atrex Inc. (electronic upgrade contract of Scripps Howard Cable)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Atrex Inc., a full-service cable television contractor in Orange Park, Fla., has signed a multiyear, $10 million contract for an electronic upgrade of Scripps Howard Cable in Sacramento, Calif. Atrex will rebuild the entire 4,000-mile system during the next three years. "This 4,000-mile ...
TCI Telephony Services. (voice services contract with Motorola Multimedia Group)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995; ... TCI Telephony Services has taken a big step toward delivering voice services over its existing cable network by signing a multiyear agreement with Motorola Multimedia Group to purchase Motorola's CableComm multimedia products. Under the agreement, Motorola will sell up to 220,000 CableComm ...
TCI's @Home teams with Netscape for Internet access.
Oct 02, 1995; ... Upgraded cable plant to be used to offer PC-based servicesThe cable industry took a step closer last week to getting into the business of delivering personal computer-based Internet services to its subscribers.Netscape Communications has Signed a partnership agreement ...
Computer players spur interactive television developments.(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Microware, PowerTV Oracle form alliancesA number of computer companies are breathing air into the struggling interactive television business.Before interactive TV services arrive in the marketplace software programers and TV producers will need a stable environment in ...
US West looking at Tele-TV, other programers. (for access to video programing)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Tension with Time Warner forces telco to go elsewhere for contentUS West is talking with Tele-TV, the joint venture of Bell Atlantic, Nynex and Pacific Telesis, about gaining access to video programing for US West's broadband network.But first, the telco is trying to iron ...
Radio on the Web, part 3. (World Wide Web addresses of radio stations)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Radio stations around the country have taken to the Internet, offering cybersurfers a look at their disk jockeys, playlists, promotions, and local news and information.In the Sept. 18 and 25 issues, Telemedia Week began publishing the World Wide Web addresses (by city and state) of ...
Steve Dodge: building American Radio.
Oct 02, 1995; ... Like other ventures Steve Dodge has explored, he has naturally excelled in radio.After nearly two decades in bank lending and cable television, Steve Dodge wanted a new challenge. As he did in his other ventures, Dodge met the challenge-- creating one of radio's most well-respected ...
Patricia Keagy. (named WFXT-TV, Boston finance VP)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Patricia Keagy, controller, ...
Angela Shapiro. (new ABC Daytime marketing senior VP)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995 ... 4Angela Shapiro, editor-in-chief, Soap Opera Update ...
David Camp. (Warner Bros. International Television Distribution VP of finance appointed)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995; ... David Camp, director, financial planning, Columbia TriStar Home Video, joins ...
James Higgins. (new United Stations Radio Networks Senior Sales VP)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995; ... James Higgins, senior VP, sales, Westwood One Radio Networks, New ...
Isaac Hersly. (new Chyron Corp. President/COO)(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995; ... Isaac Hersly, executive VP, Chyron ...
As expected, Petry Media Corp. has acquired Blair Television.(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995 ... As expected, Petry Media Corp. has acquired Blair Television, for more than $25 million (BROADCASTING & CABLE, Sept. 18). With Blair in its fold, Petry now commands more than 20% of the $8 billion spot TV ad market, with Petry accounting for about $1 billion of that and Blair the remaining ...
The British Broadcasting Corp. launched its digital audio broadcasting service Sept. 27.(Brief Article)
Oct 02, 1995 ... The British Broadcasting Corp. launched its digital audio broadcasting service Sept. 27, simulcasting the five national BBC Radio networks digitally alongside analog broadcasts. The BBC service is the world's first DAB system available to the general public, although no manufacturer is ...
Swords into plowshares. (children's television programs)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
Oct 02, 1995 ... Where do we go from here on children's television?It's too bad we can't just repeal the Children's Television Act of 1990. That's the original culprit, to which the broadcasting industry should never have acquiesced. Admitting the obligation of children's educational television ...
All eyes on O.J.; verdict in murder trial estimated to have been seen by more than 150 million(O.J. Simpson)
Oct 09, 1995; ... Verdict in murder trial estimated to have been seen by more than 150 millionIt wasn't unexpected but the numbers are still awesome: Last Tuesday's (Oct. 3) televised verdict for O.J. Simpson, America's national obsession for the past 17 months, shattered all previous TV viewing ...
Verdict propels tabloid ratings; shows scramble to get jury members.(O.J. Simpson murder trial verdict)
Oct 09, 1995; ... Shows scramble to get jury membersThe last gasp of the O.J. Simpson trial amounted to a ratings wind-fall for syndicated magazine strips last week as the race for interviews with jurors got under way.Most shows offered nothing but the Simpson saga and reaction to the ...
The Juice powers some players; half dozen have secured own talk shows as result of participating in trial or coverage.(O.J. Simpson murder trial)
Oct 09, 1995; ... Half dozen have secured own talk shows as result of participation in trial or coverageThe O.J. Simpson trial may be over, but several players involved in the yearlong drama appear likely to remain in the media spotlight.Just as news coverage of the Gulf War boosted the ...
Cameras in courts take a hit; television coverage may hurt as a result of Simpson case.(O.J. Simpson murder trial)
Oct 09, 1995; ... Television coverage may be hurt as a result of Simpson caseEven before the verdict in the O.J. Simpson trial had been handed down last week, a backlash against cameras in the courts appeared to be taking place across the country.California Governor Pete Wilson called for ...
The missiles of November; networks arm for sweeps with movies, minis and specials.
Oct 09, 1995; ... Networks arm for sweeps with movies, minis and specialsWith the start of the November sweeps three weeks away, the TV networks are readying for battle. The four major players have completed their November schedules to varying degrees, with NBC having almost all of its specialty ...
World Series a slow sell for TBN; buyers say about 30% of inventory still open; prices may drop.(The Baseball Network)
Oct 09, 1995; ... Buyers say about 30% of inventory still open; prices may dropThe Baseball Network reportedly still hasn't sold all its commercial spots for Major League Baseball's upcoming World Series, now just three weeks away.Media ad buyers say TBN has approximately 30% of its ...
TW makes its public service case; gives FCC 'responsibility report' on number of social issues addressed.(Time Warner, Federal Communications Commission)
Oct 09, 1995; ... Gives FCC 'responsibility report' on number of social issues addressedTime Warner last week fired a preemptive strike in support of its public interest record. Time Warner Chairman/CEO Gerald Levin greeted FCC commissioners with a "responsibility report" on his company. Discussing ...
Compromise expected on telecom reform; as bills head to conference committee, concessions on cable dereg are likely.
Oct 09, 1995; ... As bills head to conference committee, concession on cable dereg are likelyWhen Congress begins hammering out differences between the House and Senate versions of the telecommunications reform bill, don't be surprised if the cable industry is willing to cede some ground on cable ...
King World expands its domain; hires cable executive Andy Friendly; Towle out as domestic sales head.
Oct 09, 1995; ... Hires cable executive Andy Friendly; Towle out as domestic sales headSignaling a move to expand its production base, King World hired CNBC executive Andy Friendly last week to head program production and development. And in what was being called an unrelated move, Scott Towle, ...
DIC, Hamster Television create DIC France; first project will be Tex Avery shorts.(DIC Entertainment)
Oct 09, 1995; ... First project will be Tex Avery shortsDIC Entertainment has teamed with France's Hamster Television to create DIC France, a Paris-based animation company. The new entity will focus on producing animated product for the world market.DIC France has a reported $12 million in ...