Broadcasting & Cable back issues from August 1998:
Marcus executives: Move it or lose it.(Marcus Cable Corp.)
Aug 03, 1998; ... When Paul Allen cut his deal to buy Marcus Cable Corp. in April, employees celebrated over his repeated declarations that he wanted to keep the company's Dallas-based management team intact and use it as the core of a cable empire.The enthusiasm didn't last long. Last Thursdays ...
Charter: Right place, right time.(Charter Communications)
Aug 03, 1998; ... Charter Communications' Barry Babcock, Jerry Kent and Howard Wood have been midwives and brain trusters for two successful forays into the cable industry, buying cable systems when others were racing for the exits.Fast forward to 1998, when the scene has flip flopped and ...
Allen's big buy not his last.(Paul Allen buys Charter Communications)
Aug 03, 1998; ... More deals to follow last week's purchase of Charter for $4.5 billionPaul Allen's breathtaking $4.5 billion takeover of Charter Communications Corp. last week is not likely to be the software billionaire's last stop on the cable acquisition trail. In fact, his operation already is ...
Fili-Krushel to head ABC TV.
Aug 03, 1998; ... Replaces Padden; will also oversee entertainment, newsIncoming ABC Television Network President Pat Fili-Krushel will face many of the challenges confronting new NBC Television Network President Randy Falco, including restructuring the relationship with affiliates and marketing the ...
Good DTV news from Chicago.(Tribune Broadcasting testing digital television signals)
Aug 03, 1998; ... Tribune Broadcasting has released results of reception tests it conducted in Chicago this past spring, and the findings are encouraging: 92%, or 104 of 112 tested sites, had successful reception of DTV signals broadcast from the 103-story John Hancock Building in downtown Chicago. The good ...
Falco replaces Braun at NBC.(NBC Television Network, Randy Falco, Neil Braun)
Aug 03, 1998; ... New TV network president wants to continue dialogue with affiliatesRandy Falco, the incoming president of the NBC Television Network, says job one is to forge a new and improved relationship with affiliates-work started by his predecessor. Neil Braun. Job two is to come up with a ...
GM: On the TV road again.(General Motors)
Aug 03, 1998; ... Company plans 'aggressive' return to ad market after settlement of strikeBroadcasters gave a collective sigh of relief last week with the settlement of the General Motors strike. The key unanswered question is what percent of GM's almost $280 million third-quarter broadcast ...
Networks sign on to SMART.(television programs ratings service)
Aug 03, 1998; ... Commit to 'good faith' talks on new rating serviceStatistical Research Inc. took a big step last week toward the start of a new national TV ratings service that would be rolled out in 2001 to compete with Nielsen Media Research.SRI, which has been developing the SMART ...
Seventeen firms make pledge to EEO principles.(equal employment opportunity)
Aug 03, 1998; ... Kennard urges others to do same even though FCC rules may not survive court challengeThe FCC's equal employment opportunity (EEO) rules may not survive an ongoing court challenge, but broadcast and cable companies are lining up to abide by the spirit of the rules anyway. ...
FCC readies license auctions.(radio and television stations)
Aug 03, 1998; ... Expected to put finishing touches on rules for choosing among competing applicantsFCC commissioners are getting ready to wrap up rules for auctioning unassigned radio and TV licenses.At their open meeting this Thursday (Aug. 6), the commissioners will implement authority ...
Paxson makes cable connections.
Aug 03, 1998; ... The pieces are falling into place for Paxson Communications Corp., which signed more cable distribution deals last week in a last-minute scramble to reach 80% or more of the U.S. by the time Pax Net, the company's new family programming network, launches on Aug. 31.Last Monday ...
CBS on move, part II.(to move some production facilities)
Aug 03, 1998 ... While no final decision has been made to move, company sources say it appears likely that CBS will be moving its news, sports and WCBS-TV production facilities out of The Broadcast Center on West 57th Street in New York and into more up-to-date, digital-friendly digs. One report had it last ...
Loft lobs 'stink bomb' into hearing.(Senator Trent Lott on cable rates)
Aug 03, 1998; ... Majority leader warns cable that rising rates will receive congressional actionThe Senate's highest-ranking member paid a surprise visit to the cable industry last week, popping into a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on cable rates to get a few things off his chest."I ...
No dice.(La Nueva Radio Musical)
Aug 03, 1998; ... La Nueva Radio Musical admits that it has no radio license but in April asked the FCC to let it keep transmitting its FM signal anyway. The New Haven, Conn., pirate broadcaster said it provides news and public service announcements to the city's Hispanic community and that its operation "was ...
Woman's work still excludes top jobs.(broadcast and cable networks)
Aug 03, 1998; ... But BROADCASTING & CABLE survey finds many women poised to take their turn at the helmIt' s been a bad year for woman in TV.Since last September, the industry's four most prominent and arguably most powerful women-Kay Koplovitz, Geraldine Layboume, Margaret Loesch and ...
Cable has more jobs for women, but not at the top.
Aug 03, 1998; ... The younger cable industry has opened its doors to women in a way that the older broadcasting business never has, women cable executives say. Perhaps as a result, cable has an 11-point lead on broadcasting when it comes to the percentage of women in professional jobs.But cable and ...
Consolidation makes life tougher for women owners.(television stations)
Aug 03, 1998; ... In the less than two years she has been owner/general manager of KTAB-TV Abilene, Tex., Diane Sutter says that consolidation has made it harder for entrepreneurs--male or female--to buy their own stations."Increasingly, the business can be done around a card table"--one that is ...
WB, UPN pitch their plans.
Aug 03, 1998; ... Present divergent strategies for success to TV criticsUPN and The WB each portrayed itself to TV critics in Pasadena as the emerging network with the best plan and prospects for the coming season. Which portrait is most accurate? Only time and Nielsen will tell. Either way, it ...
Ups and downs for Sinclair earnings.
Aug 03, 1998; ... Television group posts solid second quarter results but predicts soft thirdWhen it released its earnings for the second quarter last Tuesday, Sinclair cautioned that broadcast cash flow for the third quarter may be down. The reasons: the weak national spot TV market and the General ...
WB's promotional punch.(for Felicity, a television drama)
Aug 03, 1998; ... The WB's new drama, Felicity, will get a high-powered promotional push from Madonna's next single. The network will use "Power of Good-bye" in promos for the new drama, which debuts in late September. The song will be featured in theatrical trailers, in TV spots and on radio after the single ...
Their address is now CBS.
Aug 03, 1998; ... CBS Television President Leslie Moonves is quietly reshaping the network's drama department with new executives--some of them people he worked with during his years as Warner Bros. Television chief--as he seeks to bolster original production at the network. In programming, he has named ...
'Melrose' places.(Fox Broadcasting relaunch Melrose Place)
Aug 03, 1998; ... Seeking to recharge Melrose Place's sagging ratings, Fox gave the show a relaunch on Monday, July 27--the first original episode for the series launched in midsummer since the show debuted in July 1992. The series responded by winning ...
Prijatel upped at KW.(King World Productions, Donald F. Prijatel)
Aug 03, 1998; ... Donald F. Prijatel has been named president of advertising and promotion at King World Productions ....
Litton scores a 10.(Litton Syndications)
Aug 03, 1998; ... South Carolina-based syndicator celebrates 10th anniversary with most-ever shows in first runWith two new syndicated series coming to broadcast stations this fall, Litton Syndications will celebrate its 10th year in the industry with the most shows on the air in the company's ...
Eureka, an LMA.(limited marketing agreement, KVIQ)
Aug 03, 1998; ... Miller Broadcasting Co. has entered into a limited marketing agreement with The Ackerley Group for operation of Eureka, Calif., CBS affiliate KVIQ(TV). The Ackerley Group, which owns or operates nine TV stations, including KCBA(TV) ...
Live for sale.(live commercials at WBBM TV)
Aug 03, 1998; ... CBS's Chicago O&O WBBM-TV is bringing back live commercials, a practice that died out in major markets, vice president and general manager Hank Price says, "because stations have generally been content to go to the agencies and do business in a traditional manner."Price, who runs ...
Working women use radio heavily.
Aug 03, 1998; ... A new profile of the nation's 137 million female consumers from Interep Research-using Simmons spring 1998 data-concludes that radio reaches 80% of women in all key buying demographics weekly.More than half of all women now work outside the home, and 72% of women 25-54 do so. Of ...
Suit delays Triathlon deal.(with Capstar)
Aug 03, 1998; ... Capstar's $190 million Purchase of Triathlon Broadcasting's 32 mid-market radio stations (B&C, July 27) may have to wait. Triathlon shareholder Herbert Behrens has filed suit against the company to block the sale. At issue is the different valuation of Class A and depository shares. Capstar ...
CBS takes one eye off People.(Discovery Communications to control Eye On People)
Aug 03, 1998; ... Partnership with Discovery Communications aimed at eliminating uncertaintyCorporate financial pressures finally have pushed CBS Cable into cutting a deal to hand over control of Eye On People--blood shot with red ink--to Discovery Communications.Eye On People's estimated ...
BA/GTE video plans unclear.(Bell Atlantic)
Aug 03, 1998; ... The Bell Atlantic/GTE $53 billion merger raises intriguing and so far unanswered questions about the new entity's plans on the video front.After all but dropping efforts to compete in the multichannel video arena following its aborted 1993 merger with Tele-Communications Inc., ...
High speed, high stakes for US West's VDSL.
Aug 03, 1998; ... Baby Bell tackles challengesBaby Bell US West has vowed to make its new, very-high-speed digital subscriber line (VDSL) video/Internet/telephony service available to 400,000 people in the Phoenix metro area by year end.But three months after US West launched a trial in ...
CABLE'S TOP 25.(cable television program)
Aug 03, 1998 ... PEOPLE'S CHOICEUSA's 'WWF Wrestling' had a firm hold on first place for the weak of July 20-26.Following are the top 25 basic cable programs for the week of July 20-26, ranked by rating. Cable rating is coverage area rating within each basic cable network's universe; ...
Investors consider the Source.(Source Media Inc.)
Aug 03, 1998; ... It's hard to find a better example of the Wall Street adage "buy on the rumor, sell on the news" than Source Media Inc.Source stock (Nasdaq: SRCM) started the month in the mid-to-high teens, steadily climbing until it hit a 52-week closing high of $32.25 on July 14. Shares traded ...
WNET signs HO deals with Sony, Tek.
Aug 03, 1998; ... New York public station to begin digital broadcasts in June '99 from new buildingWNET(TV), the PBS station in New York City, has signed a three-year deal with Sony for 10801 HDTV production and post-production equipment and another three-year contract with Tektronix for HDTV ...
WJBK-TV on track with DTV.
Aug 03, 1998; ... Due for Nov. launch after resolving frequency problemsAfter receiving its DTV construction permit from the FCC last month (B&C, July 27), Fox O&O WJBK-TV Detroit is proceeding rapidly with its digital TV plans."We have a lot of things to do between now and November, but ...
H-P lands DirecTV contract.
Aug 03, 1998; ... DirecTV has signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Hewlett-Packard that calls for H-P to supply on-air digital storage and video server playback systems for the new DirecTV Los Angeles Broadcast Center. H-P will supply more than 30 of its MPEG-2 MediaStream Broadcast Servers to perform ...
Healine News newsroom chooses Avid. (CNN News Group)
Aug 03, 1998; ... CNN News Group has selected Avid Technology's AvidNews as the new newsroom computer system for CNN Headline News. The system will replace 150 existing Avid NetStation (formerly Basys) seats. If the Headline News installation is successful, CNN plans to roll out AvidNews throughout CNN, ...
Universal Studios taps Tascam.
Aug 03, 1998; ... Universal Studios has installed eight Tascam MMR-8 modular multi-track audio recorders and eight Tascam MMP-16 modular players at its motion picture and TV dubbing facilities, and it has several more MMR-8s on order for use on shows that include Law & Order. The Tascam MMR-8 is a digital ...
Broadcast.com keeps bounding on 'Net buzz.
Aug 03, 1998; ... The stock price of Broadcast.com remained in the stratosphere last week as investors continued to express confidence in an online audio/video business that is still very much under construction.While Broadcast.com executives are prohibited from commenting on their strategy in the ...
The FCC on Friday said It has struck deals with Mexican and Canadian officials that will allow U.S. stations along the two borders to meet their targets for launching digital TV services in November.
Aug 03, 1998 ... The FCC on Friday said It has struck deals with Mexican and Canadian officials that will allow U.S. stations along the two borders to meet their targets for launching digital TV services in November. The FCC has produced a "memorandum of understanding" with Mexico and also has negotiated ...
Interactive Channel gets insight.(contract with Insight Communications)
Aug 03, 1998; ... The Interactive Channel struck its first MSO-wide carriage deal last week. Insight Communications will be the first major MSO to introduce IC's locally enhanced interactive content service to subscribers. IC's subs will get the first round of General Instrument digital set-tops to be ...
UPN, Sinclair make up.
Aug 03, 1998; ... UPN and Sinclair settle their breach-of-contract law suits out of court last week and agreed to a new affiliation deal covering four markets: WCGV-TV Milwaukee: WABM(TV) Birmingham, Ala,; WRDC(TV) Raleigh, NO, and WMMP(TV) Charleston. S.C. The Milwaukee and Birmingham stations dropped their ...
FCC officials last week signed off on Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo's merger.
Aug 03, 1998 ... FCC officials last week signed off on Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo's merger with a group of companies including Sony ...
Marcus executives: Move it or lose it
Aug 03, 1998; ... When Paul Allen cut his deal to buy Marcus Cable Corp. in April, employees celebrated over his repeated declarations that he wanted to keep the company's Dallas-based management team intact and use it as the core of a cable empire.The enthusiasm didn't last long. Last Thursdays ...
Charter: Right place, right time
Aug 03, 1998; ... Charter Communications' Barry Babcock, Jerry Kent and Howard Wood have been midwives and brain trusters for two successful forays into the cable industry, buying cable systems when others were racing for the exits.Fast forward to 1998, when the scene has flip flopped and ...
Allen's big buy not his last
Aug 03, 1998; ... More deals to follow last week's purchase of Charter for $4.5 billionPaul Allen's breathtaking $4.5 billion takeover of Charter Communications Corp. last week is not likely to be the software billionaire's last stop on the cable acquisition trail. In fact, his operation already is ...
Fili-Krushel to head ABC TV
Aug 03, 1998; ... Replaces Padden; will also oversee entertainment, newsIncoming ABC Television Network President Pat Fili-Krushel will face many of the challenges confronting new NBC Television Network President Randy Falco, including restructuring the relationship with affiliates and marketing the ...
Good DTV news from Chicago
Aug 03, 1998; ... Tribune Broadcasting has released results of reception tests it conducted in Chicago this past spring, and the findings are encouraging: 92%, or 104 of 112 tested sites, had successful reception of DTV signals broadcast from the 103-story John Hancock Building in downtown Chicago. The good ...
Falco replaces Braun at NBC
Aug 03, 1998; ... New TV network president wants to continue dialogue with affiliatesRandy Falco, the incoming president of the NBC Television Network, says job one is to forge a new and improved relationship with affiliates-work started by his predecessor. Neil Braun. Job two is to come up with a ...
GM: On the TV road again
Aug 03, 1998; ... <Pre>Big Wheel Keeps On SpendingGeneral Motors broadcast ad spending, Jan.-April 1998 ($ in millions) Category Jan. %chg Feb. %chg March %chg April %chg Network $82.6 +36% $48.4 +8% $99.2 +3%$69.0 +7% ...
Networks sign on to SMART
Aug 03, 1998; ... Commit to 'good faith' talks on new rating serviceStatistical Research Inc. took a big step last week toward the start of a new national TV ratings service that would be rolled out in 2001 to compete with Nielsen Media Research.SRI, which has been developing the SMART ...
Seventeen firms make pledge to EEO principles
Aug 03, 1998; ... Kennard urges others to do same even though FCC rules may not survive court challengeThe FCC's equal employment opportunity (EEO) rules may not survive an ongoing court challenge, but broadcast and cable companies are lining up to abide by the spirit of the rules anyway. ...
FCC readies license auctions
Aug 03, 1998; ... Expected to put finishing touches on rules for choosing among competing applicantsFCC commissioners are getting ready to wrap up rules for auctioning unassigned radio and TV licenses.At their open meeting this Thursday (Aug. 6), the commissioners will implement authority ...
Paxson makes cable connections
Aug 03, 1998; ... The pieces are falling into place for Paxson Communications Corp., which signed more cable distribution deals last week in a last-minute scramble to reach 80% or more of the U.S. by the time Pax Net, the company's new family programming network, launches on Aug. 31.Last Monday ...
Ball still in the air
Aug 03, 1998 ... As part of its football deal with affiliates, sources say, Fox has agreed to take a standstill position on several issues, including exclusivity and program repurposing, until network/affiliate agreements can be hammered out. If Fox violates the standstill position, station sources contend, ...
CBS on move, part II
Aug 03, 1998 ... While no final decision has been made to move, company sources say it appears likely that CBS will be moving its news, sports and WCBS-TV production facilities out of The Broadcast Center on West 57th Street in New York and into more up-to-date, digital-friendly digs. One report had it last ...
Pressing the flesh
Aug 03, 1998 ... Judge Joe Brown is up for re-election this Thursday (Aug. 6) for his seat on the criminal court bench in Memphis's 30th judicial district. Brown, who will have his own syndicated courtroom series this fall, says "a few straw polls have given me the lead overwhelmingly. But Brown says he ...
Tuesday for '60 Minutes'?
Aug 03, 1998 ... Tuesday night has emerged as a strong contender for the second 60 Minutes that will debut next season. Currently, Tuesday is slated for movies, although CBS President Leslie Moonves said last week that the network might consider dropping either its Sunday or Tuesday movie night in favor of ...
Loft lobs 'stink bomb' into hearing
Aug 03, 1998; ... Majority leader warns cable that rising rates will receive congressional actionThe Senate's highest-ranking member paid a surprise visit to the cable industry last week, popping into a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on cable rates to get a few things off his chest."I ...
DEMS fightin' words
Aug 03, 1998; ... House Commerce Committee Chairman Tom Bliley (R-Va.) still doesn't like the way the FCC handled its decision last year to allocate spectrum in the 28 ghz band to digital electronic messaging service (DEMS). DirecTV, which had plans of its own for the frequencies, challenged the decision ...
No dice
Aug 03, 1998; ... La Nueva Radio Musical admits that it has no radio license but in April asked the FCC to let it keep transmitting its FM signal anyway. The New Haven, Conn., pirate broadcaster said it provides news and public service announcements to the city's Hispanic community and that its operation "was ...
Kennard concerned about 'equivalency' spots
Aug 03, 1998; ... FCC chairman to poll TV broadcasters on intent to run ads on alcohol content Just when broadcasters thought one of their least favorite subjects had fallen off the Washington radar screen, distilled spirits ads are back on the minds of FCC officials.FCC Chairman Bill Kennard says ...
Woman's work still excludes top jobs
Aug 03, 1998; ... <Pre> The FCC's Version:percentage of women in broadcasting and cable jobs BROADCASTING Year Official/managerial Professional Technical Sales 199735.6 35.9 15.2 54.1 199635.4 35.2 14.9 ...
Women in B&C
Aug 03, 1998; ... Some 12% of those profiled on BROADCASTING & CABLE'S "Fifth Estater" page between July 1992 and Sept. 1, 1997, were women. Of the 262 executives featured, 31 were women and 231 were men.That's according to a study by Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C., compiled by students in a ...
Cable has more jobs for women, but not at the top
Aug 03, 1998; ... The younger cable industry has opened its doors to women in a way that the older broadcasting business never has, women cable executives say. Perhaps as a result, cable has an 11-point lead on broadcasting when it comes to the percentage of women in professional jobs.But cable and ...