Broadcasting & Cable back issues from January 1997:
DirecTV, Microsoft gear up direct-to-PC; technology could spread to terrestrial broadcasters. (video-enhanced World Wide Web sites via direct-broadcast service)
Jan 06, 1997; ...DIRECTV and Microsoft are set to unveil details this week of their plan to deliver video-enhanced Websites to subscribers equipped with a PC and a DIRECTV dish. The announcement is expected to come at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The two companies hope to begin ...
November was good for 'Rosie,' bad for magazines. (November 1996)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...In its first major sweeps since debuting last June, Rosie O'Donnell ruled the daytime talkers in November by dethroning Regis & Kathie Lee. Rosie also jumped to third place in the early fringe talk race. It was another bad book for the magazine genre. According to a Petry ...
Fox prepares for a super Sunday. (Fox Sports' television broadcast of Super Bowl game)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...A mere three years ago, Fox Sports was nothing more than an oxymoron. But since then the new kid on the block has chalked up two Stanley Cup Finals and a World Series, and now is licking its chops in anticipation of television's most coveted event: the Super Bowl. To get the football ...
Saturday news the focus of CBS affiliates. (television network affiliated stations)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997 ...When CBS announced last month that it would launch a new two-hour Saturday morning news program next fall, some affiliates thought the network might be biting off more than it can chew. Talks on the scheduling and the length of the program are expected to be a major focus at the ...
WB expected to unveil Web network. (Warner Bros.)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997 ...Warner Bros. is expected this week to unveil an ambitious new Internet venture designed to create a "web within the Web," revolving around local broadcasters' Websites. Warner Bros. officials declined to comment, but a source familiar with the plans describes the project as "PM ...
WB-backed buy. (WB Network-supported group led by Communications Equity Associates to purchase KWBP-TV)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997 ...A WB Network-supported group is ready to make its first TV station purchase: KWBP(TV) (formerly KEBN) Portland, Ore. The deal is as good as done, but not yet finalized, sources said last week. The WB is said to be still trying to decide whether to put money behind the investor group, led by ...
The many faces of Reed Hundt. (Federal Communications Commission chairman)
Jan 06, 1997; ...At the 1994 NATPE convention, Reed Hundt offered anxious TV executives an early glimpse of the agenda the new Mystery Chairman would bring to the FCC. Children, Hundt said, spent more time in front Of the TV than in the classroom. Violence was a bad influence, and broadcasters needed to do ...
NATPE 1997: fourth annual exclusive Broadcasting & Cable poll just prior to industry's biggest programing marketplace finds talk shows top buyers' wish lists. (National Association of Television Program Executives convention)(includes an interview with Martha Stewart)
Jan 06, 1997; ...Despite all the negative flap about talk shows in the past two years, the genre remains the most in-demand program form with potential buyers on the eve of the annual National Association of Television Program Executives convention m New Orleans (Jan. 13-16). That's according to ...
Talk show turnaround: feel-good movement polishes syndicated talk show image.
Jan 06, 1997; ...What a difference a year can make in the talk show business. This week in 1996, daytime talkers were under attack from members of Congress for glorifying social ills and spreading moral decay. Warner Bros., Viacom, Sony and other entertainment giants were the target of a ...
Tough reality for magazine shows: ratings are off, with off-net sitcom strength a major factor. (syndicated magazine news shows)
Jan 06, 1997; ...If a syndicated news magazine were to report on the recent performance of the first-run magazine genre, the promotional spot for the segment might sound something like this: "They said it could never happen, but it has. A tried-and-true program form has fallen on hard times. Tim ...
'Home Improvement,' 'Seinfeld' lead off-net; a tier of comedies delivers on key demos in prime access.
Jan 06, 1997; ...Home Improvement and Seinfeld, which took the off-network market by storm when they debuted in September 1995, continued to be the biggest sitcom performers this season. In fact, the two shows commanded the highest shares among all syndicated series in the key adult demos in prime access, ...
Cable nicks away at kids audience. (Nickelodeon/Nick at Night channel wins children's television audiences)
Jan 06, 1997; ...With a historic vote last August, the FCC rewrote the rules of children's programing for broadcasters. But the new three-hour weekly standard for children's educational fare isn't the biggest concern programers have these days about the kids TV marketplace. For some, the most troubling ...
Humor is where the action is. (television program ratings)
Jan 06, 1997; ...The traditionally action-packed weekly drama format has lightened up a bit this season. Tongue-in-cheek humor and double entendres are the stock in trade for hot newcomers Hercules and Xena. Star Trek.' Deep Space Nine scored its highest rating in two years in many markets last November ...
'Wheel,' 'Jeopardy' still games to beat. ('Wheel of Fortune'; television game programs)
Jan 06, 1997; ...In the game show business, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! are still the ones to beat. In November, according to a Katz Television analysis of the month's Nielsen ratings, Wheel was once again the top-rated syndicated strip on the air, with an average 13.5 household rating in prime time ...
Weeklies find their niche. (syndicated weekly television programs)
Jan 06, 1997; ...From TV.COM to Rebecca's Garden to The U.S. Farm Report, more and more weekly syndicated series are finding success through specialization. Syndicated weeklies are usually last on the list of promotional priorities for broadcasters. But by narrowing their sights to niche ...
Povich/Chung show marks open season in access. (DreamWorks Television prepares Fall 1998 magazine project staring Maury Povich and Connie Chung; first-run access)
Jan 06, 1997; ...This week, DreamWorks Television launches the first strike in the battle of first-run access. Industry observers predict that the first-run access business will see a major turnover in fall 1998. Each of the nine major magazine and game show strips that occupy more than half of broadcast ...
Networks begin the labor of labeling; ratings for some series change from week to week. (television; voluntary ratings system)
Jan 06, 1997; ...As early as today (Jan. 6), some TV networks will illustrate just how difficult it is to label a season's worth of sitcoms or dramas with one TV rating--no matter what some V-chip advocates say. (The networks have targeted this week to begin implementing the new voluntary ratings system, ...
Westinghouse, Infinity become one. (Westinghouse Electric Corp.; Infinity Broadcasting Corp.; Mel Karmazin appointed president of radio division)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...Westinghouse Electric Corp. and Infinity Broadcasting Co. sealed their $4.9 billion merger at midday, Dec. 31, 1996, just under the wire of the year-end deadline that both companies vowed to meet when they announced the deal in June. The closing came just five days after the FCC ...
Interep charts top 10 market stats. (radio)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...Washington, D.C., has the largest population of college graduates and the highest average household income of the nation's top 10 radio metros, according to a survey by the Interep Radio Store. Ranked eighth in total population, Washington also has the largest African-American ...
SEC moving to court against Lenfest. (Securities and Exchange Commission; Gerry Lenfest charged with insider trading)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...The Securities and Exchange Commission expects its insider trading case against Gerry Lenfest and his wife, Marguerite, to go to trial early this year. Those expectati0ns rise from a recent decision by a federal judge in Pennsylvania's Eastern District to deny Marguerite ...
Cable stocks hope for happier New Year: analysts optimistic as threat from DBS, telcos eases. (forecast for 1997; direct broadcast satellites)
Jan 06, 1997; ...Loyal cable investors had every reason to raise a glass on New Year's Eve: either to drown their sorrows or to toast to better days. While Wall Street '96 was the Pamplona of financial markets-bulls trampling pessimists in their path--ravenous bears mauled the cable sector. ...
SportsChannel back to basics: more than a million subscribers will be repositioned. (Rainbow Programming's SportsChannel New England to become standard basic cable television channel)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...Rainbow Programming's efforts to convert its regional sports networks from pay TV to standard basic will leap forward in New England in 1997 as part of a new deal between the regional sports programing giant and Continental Cablevision. An agreement between Rainbow's ...
TCI to track telephone efforts. (Tele-Communications Inc.; plan to issue Series A and Series B Telephony Group Common Stock to raise money for telephone operations)
Jan 06, 1997; ...Tele-Communications Inc. plans to turn to equity markets to raise money for certain telephone operations. TCI recently filed a preliminary proxy with the Securities and Exchange Commission to create two tracking stocks for its interest in Sprint PCS and Teleport Communications ...
N.Y.'s WWOR loses super status. (satellite distributor discontinues service contract with television station)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...WWOR(TV) was reduced from national superstation to local New York market station when its satellite distributor pulled its plug last week. "As of 6 a.m. Dec. 31, AEC will cease delivery of WWOR to the cable and direct-to-home marketplace," says Karen Howe, director of satellite ...
'Net shopping nets gains from holidays. (Internet commerce; 1996 holiday season)
Jan 06, 1997; ...Internet commerce is hardly a mature business, but cyberspace retailers are enjoying considerable seasonal cheer from holiday sales. Preliminary results seem to confirm predictions that this holiday season would put virtual malls on the map as popular resources for harried ...
Comark snags NBC O&O deal; will provide DTV transmitters, services to owned-station group. (Comark Communications Inc.; digital television for National Broadcasting Company Inc. owned and operated stations)
Jan 06, 1997; ...Comark Communications has reached a strategic agreement with NBC to provide digital television transmitters and engineering services to all of the network's current and future owned-and-operated stations. The Chalfont, Pa.-based company will be providing customized 8-VSB digital ...
Canobeam helps capture hostage crisis; CBS News uses new technology to solve technical problem in Peru. (optical transmitter from Canon Inc.)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...CBS News has been using new optical transmission technology from Canon to help cover the hostage crisis in Lima, Peru. For local technical reasons, the network was unable to obtain a microwave path or pull cable to reach its mobile satellite uplink, located some 400 yards from ...
Florida LMA goes on-air with Odetics Spectrum; two Fox television stations employ automation software. (local management agreement; Spectrum multichannel broadcast automation software from Odetics Inc.)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...Two Florida Fox stations, WOFL(TV) Orlando and WOGX(TV) Ocala, are using new Spectrum multichannel broadcast automation software from Odetics to control spot insertion and program playback. The stations, which are owned by Meredith Broadcasting, originate out of WOFL'S Orlando ...
Orion Network Systems. (will purchase remainder of Orion Atlantic partnership)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...Orion Network Systems has agreed to purchase the 59.3% of the Orion Atlantic partnership it doesn't own. The transaction, which should close by the end of first quarter 1997, is valued at approximately $122 million. Orion Network Systems will acquire the interests in the partnership now ...
DG Systems. (contracts in hand for its ADvantage Digital Video Playback System)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...DG Systems says that more than 100 television stations are online with its new video distribution network and are ready to receive spots digitally, and that a total 350 TV stations, cable interconnects and ...
National/Westport. (digital video and audio post-production facility in Westport, CT, is expanding)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...National/Westport, the all-digital video and audio post-production facility in Westport, Conn., is expanding its capabilities with a digital graphics wing that will allow the company to offer complete post-production and graphics packaging. The new studio features several workstations, ...
Muh Hwa Broadcasting Corp. (ordering audio consoles for television production from Wheatstone)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...Muh Hwa Broadcasting Corp. (MBC) has received its third Wheatstone TV-600 audio console for Chin Ju MBC TV, a master onair/production station, in ChinJu, Korea. Another MBC station, Seoul MBC TV, a master news station in Seoul, Korea already has two TV-600s for live news production. "The ...
Broadcast TV.(includes multiple briefs on television executives)
Jan 06, 1997 ...Jeffrey Calman, VP, sales and planning and business affairs, Warner Bros., New York, named senior VP, Warner Bros. Domestic Pay-TV, Cable & Network Features. Linda Keller, director, human resources, WGN(AM) Chicago, joins wGN--TV there as director, employe relations. ...
Programing.(includes multiple briefs on television executives)
Jan 06, 1997 ...Appointments at Alliance Broadcasting, Los Angeles: Phyllis Yaffe named president/CEO; Bill Dawson named executive VP/COO. Chad Hoffman and Robert Schwartz have formed Geneagle Productions to produce television series and reality programing under the Hearst Entertainment ...
Cable(includes multiple briefs on cable television executives)
Jan 06, 1997 ...Jim Mills, Capitol Hill producer, C-SPAN, Washington, joins Fox News Channel there as senior editor, Capitol Hill. Glenn Oakley, director, sales strategy, Showtime Networks, New York, named VP, business strategy. Appointments at ESPN International, New York: Michael ...
Satellite/Wireless.(includes multiple briefs on communications executives)
Jan 06, 1997 ...Jane Bissonnette, project director, AT&T Wireless Services, joins Xypoint Corp., Seattle, as director, 911 services. Bill Stanfield, president, Radius Communications, Philadelphia, joins StarNet Inc., Oaks, Pa., as president/CEO. Joe Camoriano, news producer, ...
Associations/law firms.(includes multiple briefs on communications executives)
Jan 06, 1997 ...Claire Schofield, director, communications, Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority, joins Canadian Association of Broadcasters, Ottawa, as VP, communications. David Carlin, partner, entertainment department and member of advertising division, Loeb & Loeb law finn, New York, ...
Technology.(includes multiple briefs on communications executives)
Jan 06, 1997 ...Ken Ellis, COO/executive VP, Quantel Inc., Darien, Conn., named CEO. Keith McMillen, founder/president, Zeta Music Systems, joins Orban, San Leandro, Calif., as director, engineering. Appointments at TV/COM, San Diego: left Wallin, senior VP, business development, ...
For dinner and conversation. (profile of radio talk show host Gene Burns)
Jan 06, 1997; ...He had no formal training in radio, but it was apparent early that Eugene "Gene" Burns possessed qualities that were essential for a radio talk show host: strong convictions and a willingness to throw himself into the fray. Given an issue--anything from a debate over a community parking lot ...
Clear Channel Communications Inc. plans to add Gene Autry's KCSA(FM).(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997 ...Glendale/Los Angeles to its Spanish-language Heftel Broadcasting Corp. The station's alternative format will be changed to Spanish, joining Heftel's KLVE(FM) LOS Angeles, ranked first among Hispanics there, and KTNQ(AM), ranked sixth in Arbitron's summer 1996 book. Clear Channel will pay ...
TW adding to NYC lineup. (Time Warner Cable adding channels, raising rates in New York, NY)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997; ...Time Warner Cable by the end of 1997 plans to offer a dozen additional networks to about 300,000 of its 1.1 million New York City subs using 100 mhz of increased bandwidth. The 12 as-yet-unchosen services will be offered as a new level of service on top of the current lineup of 75 channels ....
American Radio Systems Corp. last Thursday said it is buying WAQB(FM). (Jan. 2, 1997)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997 ...With the Justice Department's OK, American Radio Systems Corp. last Thursday said it is buying WAQB(FM) Rochester, N.Y., for $3.5 million. Justice in October 1996 said ARS could buy WAQB even though it had to divest three other radio stations ...
TCI and Cox Communications have completed the biggest system swap in cable history. (Tele-Communications Inc.)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997 ...TCI and Cox Communications have completed the biggest system swap in cable history, trading operations representing about 600,000 subs. As a result, TCI receives Cox systems encompassing about 300,000 subscribers in the Pittsburgh area; Spokane, Wash.; Springfield, Ill.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; ...
WQHT(FM). (stations that led Fall 1996 radio ratings in New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997 ...Hip-hop WQHT(FM) New York, contemporary hits KPWR(FM) Los Angeles and contemporary hits WBBM-FM Chicago ranked ...
Combined local and national radio ad revenue paced ahead 12% in November 1996 over November 1995.(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997 ...Combined local and national radio ad revenue paced ahead 12% in November 1996 over November 1995, according to a survey of stations in 100 markets by the Radio Advertising Bureau. Separately, local revenue increased by ...
The fX network had its best ratings ever. (4th qtr 1996)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997 ...The fX network had its best ratings ever in the fourth quarter of 1996. The Fox-owned cable entertainment network's Nielsen Media Research rating increased 25%, to 0.5 from 0.4, from the same period the previous year. The improvement ...
US West Media Group. (has acquired cable TV systems from Booth American Co.)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997 ...US West Media Group, which owns Continental Cablevision, picked up another 40,000 subs when it acquired systems in Michigan from Booth ...
TCI Satellite Entertainment Inc. has (TSAT) has signed a letter of intent to sell one of its Tempo satellites to DBS operator Telesat Canada. (direct broadcast satellite)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 1997 ...TCI Satellite Entertainment Inc. (TSAT) has signed a letter of intent to sell one of its Tempo satellites to DBS operator Telesat Canada. TSAT is Tele-Communications Inc.'s satellite group, which it spun off into a separate company last month. TSAT plans to sell Telesat Canada, the second ...
Whither NATPE? On eve of annual marketplace, some wonder if industry changes lessen need for gathering. (National Association of Television Program Executives)
Jan 13, 1997; ... On eve of annual marketplace, some wonder if industry changes lessen need for gathering Is consolidation in the broadcasting business turning NATPE into an anachronism? Or is the annual conference reverting to its roots as a forum for networking among television industry ...
The WB prepares for life after WGN-TV. (WB Television Network)
Jan 13, 1997; ... The WB is working hard to build local broadcast and cable distribution to prepare for the day, probably no more than a year from now, when WGN-TV Chicago drops its national carriage of the network. With that in mind, The WB is working on two fronts to build its local distribution. ...
Networks meet the press: annual critics tour features latest programing revisions, sweeps plans.
Jan 13, 1997; ... Annual critics tour features latest programing revisions, sweeps plans Tarses slots Hall sitcom, 'Vital Signs,' 'Disney' ABC announced it will debut the yet-untitled Arsenio Hall sitcom in the 9:30 p.m. Wednesday slot held by Ellen, while David E. Kelley's The ...
Simon's exit could create policy gap: departing White House telcom broker says duties may be split among others. (chief domestic policy adviser Greg Simon)
Jan 13, 1997; ... Departing White House telcom broker says duties may be split among others Led by Vice President Al Gore, the Clinton administration has played an unusually active role in communications policy, arguably greater than that of any previous administration. The man ...
Charting a new world for Fox. (Fox Television Stations Inc.)(NATPE '97)(Cover Story)(Interview)
Jan 13, 1997; ... The Lettermen: Greg Nathanson, Rick Jacobson and Mitch Stern quarterback a newly combined Fox/New World It took a year for News Corp. to put all the pieces in place, but now Rick Jacobson, Mitch Stern and Greg Nathanson are gearing up for the formidable job of realizing a return ...
Talk goes nontraditional. (absence of daytime talk shows at the annual meeting of the National Association of Television Program Executives)(NATPE '97)
Jan 13, 1997; ... With departure of Judd--for now--traditional talkers will be notable for their absence at NATPE For the first time in recent memory, there will be no new daytime talkers in the Donahue/Oprah Winfrey mold for sale at this week's NATPE convention. The sole contender ...
Long arm of reality. (television program producers, distributors concentrate on shows about courts, lifestyle, animals, sports)
Jan 13, 1997; ... Justice and law are hot topics among new reality shows This time last year, the word of mouth on Judge Judy was starting to build. Programing prognosticators were confident that the show (then titled Hot Bench) had potential--but only if viewers took to judge Judy ...
Cable ups its off-net profile. (cable television broadcasters strive to buy syndicated programs following first runs on networks)
Jan 13, 1997; ... Wired medium hunts for hours, comedies; megahits remain province of broadcasters In the off-network syndication market, time period shortages on broadcast stations and cable's thirst for product have made the wired medium an equal-opportunity buyer for hours. And cable is ...
Action breaks out of formulas: new offerings are mix of sci-fi, action, adventure, mystery and more.
Jan 13, 1997; ... New offerings are mix of sci-fi, action, adventure, mystery and more The action-hour label barely applies to some of this year's new contenders in the weekly first-run drama field. Thanks in part to the critical and commercial success of MGM's anthology series The ...
Game show producers look for some answers.
Jan 13, 1997; ... 'Wheel; 'Jeopardy!' still dominate, but that has not discouraged new competitiors form taking aim With Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy/still thriving after more than a decade on the air, would-be competitors are like David facing a two-headed Goliath. So far in the '90s, Goliath ...
Kids get dose of FCC-friendliness: but even with influx of educations shows, toy-driven programs still dominate. (television programs)
Jan 13, 1997; ... But even with influx of educational shows, toy-driven programs still dominate Disney Dalmatians, Marvel superheroes, crime-fighting mummies and the next generation of ghostbusters lead the pack of new children's animated strips on display at NATPE this week. The ...
Taking on teens: three distributors plan weekly first-run comedies. (television program distributors)
Jan 13, 1997; ... Three distributors plan weekly first-run comedies Seldom have syndicators scored with first-run weekly comedies aimed at teens, but at least three major distributors are giving it another try next season. Student Bodies from Twentieth Television is a sitcom focusing ...
NATPE at the movies: creativity is key to marketing B- and C- movies. (National Association of Television Program Executives)
Jan 13, 1997; ... Creativity is key to marketing B- and C- movies All-cash movie packages are making a comeback with broadcasters this year. Barter terms still dominate most A-list collections from major studios, but independent distributors are taking a more creative approach to niche marketing ...
On the exhibition menu. (includes company name, address and staff information of exhibitors at 1997 NATPE Convention)(Directory)
Jan 13, 1997 ... 10 Francs Productions 1001 8 rue Lamartine Paris, 75009 France1st World Air Games 26262T3M 1331A 1501 Barre St., Ste 301 Montreal PQ, H3C 4J1 Canada3DD Entertainment 1501DD 16-26 Rosemont Rd. London. NW3 6NE England AAB Productions ...
Channel 5 senses gap in UK market; David Elstein lays out programing agenda for the UK's newest commercial TV player. (chief executive)(Interview)
Jan 13, 1997; ... David Elstein lays out programing agenda for the U.K.'s newest commercial TV player On March 30, if all goes according to plan, the UK will have a new national terrestrial TV player. Channel 5, owned by Pearson Television, CLT, United News and Media and Warburg, Pincus, will ...
PPV fever hits Europe, Asia; digital delivery boosts prospects for business, still in its infancy in some emerging markets. (pay per view) (includes related article on pay per view in North America)
Jan 13, 1997; ... Digital delivery boosts prospects for business, still in its infancy in some emerging markets Pay per view, until now largely a North American window, is still a novelty in many emerging markets. Aside from a handful of trials around the world, only Hong Kong, Japan, France, the ...
A&E is home sweet home to British drama; UK drama appeals to better-educated viewers targeted by network.(Interview)
Jan 13, 1997; ... UK drama appeals to better-educated viewers targeted by network Making a straight sale of a non-U.S. program to an American broadcaster is like scaling Mount Everest in high heels--a decidedly difficult and uphill struggle. The most popular route to America has been ...