Broadcasting & Cable back issues from January 2003:
Over our dead bodies: nets blast proposal for 25% prime time set-aside for indies.(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003; ... Network executives are deriding an effort by independent producers, artist unions and at least one ad agency to revive "fin-syn" rules, calling it an unreasonable attempt to further fragment the TV business. "With literally hundreds upon hundreds of outlets and opportunities ...
NAB unveils duop plan: asks FCC to OK strong/weak TV combos.(National Association of Broadcasters )
Jan 06, 2003; ... The National Association of Broadcasters last week called for TV duopolies in small and medium-sized markets as a means of keeping "struggling" stations alive and well. NAB urged the FCC to permit common ownership of two TV stations in any market where one station with an ...
Acme's got no debt; no cash flow either.(company's sale of TV stations sheds debt)(Company Profile)
Jan 06, 2003; ... With its deal to sell two TV stations to Tribune Broadcasting, the Acme station group will virtually eliminate its debt. But it also will pretty much eliminate its cash flow, likely pushing it back into the red next year. Tribune agreed to pay $275 million for Acme's two best ...
Layoffs: hang on in '03.(layoffs at media companies discussed)(Industry Overview)
Jan 06, 2003; ... Media companies dramatically slowed the pace at which they axed employees as the economy slogged through 2002, but that doesn't mean your job is safe quite yet. TV and radio stations, networks, publishers and other media outlets laid off 11,516 workers through November, and the ...
The NAB, sans the sands. (Fast Track).(meeting to be held at Las Vegas Convention Center)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... Some shuffle-bus fans may be put out, but the NAB has decided to confine its confab (April 5-10) to THE LAS ...
Cable 2002, by the numbers. (Fast Track).(highest-rated cable network in 2002 was Lifetime Television )(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
Jan 06, 2003 ... LIFETIME TELEVISION ended 2002 as the highest-rated cable network, while ESPN claimed the lion's share of the year's top programs. Lifetime averaged a 2.0 household rating, according to TURNER BROADCAST analysis of NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH data, on par with its 2001 marks. ...
Joe and Jane sixpack, apply here. (Fast Track).(consumer advisory committee for for DTV broadband availability)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... The average citizen will get a chance to advise FCC Chairman MICHAEL POWELL and his colleagues on the consumer impact of DTV broadband availability and low-power FM radio under a rechartered CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The panel also will focus on stopping consumer fraud and improving ...
Aaron around the world. (Fast Track).(CNN's NewsNight with Aaron Brown to be simulcast on CNN International)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... CNN is ready to share Aaron Brown's quirky prime time newscast with its international network. Beginning today, CNN's NewsNight with Aaron ...
Twentieth Television. (Bottom Lines).(RICHARD DUMONT )(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... RICHARD DUMONT is the new vice president of advertising and promotion at TWENTIETH TELEVISION, ...
A&E. (Bottom Lines).(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... A&E introduced a new Saturday-night lineup anchored by two acquired dramas, Crossing ordan and Third Watch, pairing them with its original forensic series, Cold Case Files. Both acquisitions are rich propositions for the network. A&E ...
Infinity Broadcasting. (Bottom Lines).(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... INFINITY BROADCASTING will face charges in early February--rought by the NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD in an administrative court--hat two of its Detroit radio stations, WWJ(AM) and WXYT-FM, ...
Fox cooks up fix for DTV: claims new chipset developed with Philips and an Australian university solves indoor reception problem. (Top of the Week).
Jan 06, 2003; ... Fox, Philips Research and Australian National University have created a new digital TV reception chipset that they say solves many of the multipath reception problems that have plagued indoor reception of DTV signals--and also demonstrates the viability of the 8-VSB transmission standard. ...
FCC report: cable subs slipping; though value-adding MSOs thrive; DBS services posting big gains. (Top of the Week).
Jan 06, 2003; ... After decades of nonstop growth, cable subscribership appears to be declining, the federal government noted last week. The prediction was included in the FCC'S 9th annual report on video competition, which tacked industry trends for fiscal year ended June. The agency felt ...
FBI nabs alleged DirecTV hacker. (Breaking).(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... WASHINGTON--The FBI has nailed a 19-year-old Russian college student accused of stealing documents detailing DirecTV's new encryption system and circulating those details among satellite hackers. Igor Serebryany was arrested in Los Angeles ...
Sweeney's new duties. (Breaking).(Anne Sweeney)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... LOS ANGELES--As part of a corporate reorganization, Anne Sweeney, president of Disney's Cable Networks Group, is taking over all kids TV programming and production at Disney, including kids blocks on ABC Network, ABC Family and international channels. "Going forward all these divisions ...
Delays quiet Tremors. (Breaking).(Sci Fi Channel delays launch of original series)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... NEW YORK--Sci Fi Channel, coming off the success of Taken, is delaying the premiere of its latest original series, Tremors, ...
B&C Indices. (Top of the Week).(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... <Pre> WEEK OF DEC. 26-JAN. 2 B&C INDICES WEEK YTD THE B&C 10 -3.7% -1% BROADCAST TV GROUPS 2.5% 1.2% CABLE TV MSO'S 2.1% 1.5% RADIO1.8% 0.2% CLOSEWEEK YTD Dow Jones...
AOL/TW plays tough with Fox Sports: MSO refuses to pay higher rates in Fla., Minn.; Fox cuts them off. (Deals).
Jan 06, 2003; ... The annual year-end friction between cable operators and programmers has left two Fox Sports networks dark in the homes of close to 2 million AOL Time Warner and Advance/Newhouse subscribers. In Florida, Fox Sports' Sunshine Network cut its signal when Time Warner's 10-year ...
Stations mean business on retrans. (Cable).(retransmission content issues between stations and cable operators discussed)(Industry Overview)
Jan 06, 2003; ... Cable operators and broadcast stations mostly dodged year-end bullets over retransmission consent, but one CBS affiliate in Macon, Ga., went dark on several local systems on New Year's Day. Mid-sized and small station groups are increasingly agitating for cash payments from ...
The long arm of KOB. (Station Break).(KOB-TV Albuquerque reporter helps capture suspect)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003; ... ALBUQUERQUE -- KOB-TV Albuquerque reporter Nell Simon helped police capture a Lebanon, Tenn., woman accused of the statutory rape and abduction of a 14-year-old boy she'd home-schooled. She was apprehended after she turned up in New Mexico as the beneficiary of a local charity. ...
KIRO shares news wealth. (Station Break).(KSTW-TV signs with KIRO-TV for newscast)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003; ... SEATTLE -- Viacom's KSTW-TV Seattle has contracted with local Cox-owned CBS affiliate KIRO-TV for a late-night newscast. Expected to premiere early this year, the newscast will be produced by KIRO-TV and use its anchors. The deal was announced last week by John Woodin, vice president and ...
Powell exits WHUT. (Station Break).(Adam Clayton Powell III resigns from WHUT-TV)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003; ... WASHINGTON -- In a Surprise announcement, Adam Clayton Powell III said he was resigning as general manager of WHUT-TV Washington, effective Jan. 11. Powell said the hours had been difficult for him and that he hopes to spend more time with his family. Powell said he'll also be ...
Reporter nominated for labor secretary. (Station Break).(Conroy Chino )(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003; ... ALBUQUERQUE -- While a KOB-TV reporter was assisting police (see lead item), a former one was preparing to render government assistance of a different sort. Reporter Conroy Chino has been nominated by New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to be the state's secretary of labor. Although Chino has ...
KTLA comes up roses. (Station Break).(station gets good ratings for Tournament of Roses Parade)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003; ... Overnight ratings gave bragging rights to KTLA's coverage of the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day. Its show, hosted by Bob Eubanks ...
Sinclair speeds centralcasting: group will add News Central to three stations already offering news. (Top of the Week).
Jan 06, 2003; ... Sinclair Broadcast Group plans to take its ambitious News Central on the road to its stations in Oklahoma City; Raleigh, N.C.; and Rochester, N.Y., during first quarter 2003. Since each of the stations already have news operations, the move signals a change in direction for the ...
Deliver us. (Programming).(Discovery plans marathon of live births)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003; ... Discovery Health's warm-and-fuzzy baby programming is getting up close and personal: a 10-hour marathon of live births, with camera crews set up in delivery rooms in at least three different hospitals waiting to take baby's first picture. Showing births live on TV is not new ...
Like mother. (Jurisprudence).(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003; ... The news that Liza Minelli and husband David Gest were suing Viacom-owned VH1 over a remark in a New York paper (New York Post) by an unnamed network executive regarding difficulties with their TV show (now cancelled) set off deja vu alarms with PR pro Ted Faraone. Back in the ...
It's a guy thing. (In the Loop).(more men watched National Football League games on networks)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003; ... The National Football League games on the broadcast nets drew a lot more men to the set this year than last. Fox had a 13% gain in men 18-34, and a 7% gain in men 18-49. Fox had an overall gain of 5%, with total viewership climbing to an average 16.2 million viewers. CBS ...
May May exit NAB. (Washington).(Jim May in running for CEO position at Air Transportation Association)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003; ... Before this week is out, NAB may have to start thinking about a new No. 2 executive behind Eddie Fritts. Jim May, NAB's executive VP, government relations, for almost 15 years, is on the short list (two or three candidates) to replace Carol Hallett as CEO of ...
Friend of the family. (Regulation).(close relations between William Duhamel and new FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003; ... William Duhamel, president of the Rapid City, S.D.-based Duhamel Broadcasting, hopes new FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein learned something about the needs of stations in small and rural markets during his formative years in South Dakota. The Adelstein and Duhamel families ...
Killing VNS may be way to fix voter polling. (Top of the Week).(Voter News Service may be scrapped)
Jan 06, 2003; ... With two blown elections in a row, Voter News Service may soon be history. It's not a fait accompli, but there is a consensus among network news executives that scrapping VNS is the best way to insure that vote counting and exit polling go smoothly during the 2004 presidential ...
Syndicators roll out new talkers, formats. (Special Report: NATPE Buyers Guide).
Jan 06, 2003; ... After Dr. Phil showed in 2002 that smash hits still can happen on daytime TV, syndicators will escort several famous names to the sunlight hours in 2003 hoping it can happen again. Warner Bros. Domestic Television is developing a talk show for comic Ellen DeGeneres and another ...
Off-net shopping list is short for '03. (Special Report: NATPE Buyers Guide).(off-network television shows offered at NATPE)
Jan 06, 2003; ... The off-network field is a little thinner at this year's NATPE conference, reflective of the recent lack of mega-hit TV shows to draw on. Last year's big entry was Warner Bros.' Will & Grace, and that show has performed according to expectations, routinely coming in fourth ...
Sony seeks bidders for eBayTV. (Special Report: Sony Pictures Television).(Sony Pictures Television plans show based on partnership with eBay)
Jan 06, 2003 ... In an attempt to create a new genre for daytime television, Sony Pictures Television is developing eBayTV for fall 2003. "Shows that create a new genre and break new ground are the franchise," said John Weiser, executive vice president of Sony Pictures Television. "When eBayTV ...
Ellen takes another shot. (Special Report: Warner Bros. Domestic Television).(Ellen Degeneres plans variety/talk show)
Jan 06, 2003 ... Ellen DeGeneres is coming back to television with her own variety/talk strip that will highlight her comedy and her "everywoman" approach to life. "Ellen is a sensational talent who has spent the past twenty years preparing herself to do this show" says Jim Paratore, executive ...
Daytime gets royal treatment. (Special Report: Universal).(new Universal Domestic Television show features Sarah Ferguson, duchess of York)
Jan 06, 2003 ... England's royal family meets daytime talk in Universal's new show, Fergie, starring Sarah Ferguson, duchess of York. "With this show, we are trying to present emotional stories, real stories of real people," says Steve Rosenberg, president of Universal Domestic Television. "We ...
Going for two in a row. (Special Report: King World).(King World to shop daytime variety/talk show at NATPE)
Jan 06, 2003 ... It doesn't happen often in the giant lotto game that is syndication, but King World is hoping it can launch a hit two years in a row. King World comes to NATPE with Dr. Phil to brag about and with its new daytime variety/talk show--Living it Up! With Ali and Jack--already cleared in 65% of ...
Hip mom wants to have a chat. (Special Report: Warner Bros. Domestic Television).(Sharon Osborne gets talk show)
Jan 06, 2003 ... Reality comes to daytime with Warner Bros.' new reality talk show starring Sharon Osbourne. Osbourne, the heart and soul of MTV's hit reality show The Osbournes, will bring her brand of straight talk to the new show. 'It's all about Sharon," says Jim Paratore, executive vice ...
At NBC, real world grows up. (Special Report: NBC Enterprises).(NBC Enterprises brings reality shows to daytime)
Jan 06, 2003 ... With Starting Over, NBC Enterprises is bringing to daytime the type of reality programming that has become popular in prime time. From the producers of MTV's Real World and Road Rules, Starting Over will select six or seven women to live together in a house and work on accomplishing ...
Second-year shows prepare to go nationwide. (Special Report).(television programs)(Industry Overview)
Jan 06, 2003; ... Some shows on the NATPE slate this year will look familiar to regular NATPE attendees: Buena Vista's The Wayne Brady Show, Twentieth Television's ExTreme Dating and Twentieth's Good Day Live all had limited rollouts last year, but are headed into national syndication this year. ...
Smaller distributors offer some goodies, too. (Special Report).(Litton Syndications offers tv show starring Rita Rudner)
Jan 06, 2003; ... If NATPE shoppers aren't interested in what the major studios have to offer, they have a few other places to look. If stations have a hole in late-night, South Carolina-based Litton Syndications is shopping Ask Rita, a talk/relationship/comedy half-hour strip featuring ...
For last time, NATPE goes to the big easy: syndies, major station groups will show, but it'll be less grand with most in hotel suites, again. (Programming).
Jan 06, 2003; ... After the industry suffered the shock of last year's declining NATPE, 2003 will be a year of transition for the venerable programming conference. The show will spend its last year in New Orleans, trying out some new ideas to replace the grandiose exhibition booths of old and preparing for ...
Affils irked by shifting practice: fear ABC is removing a powerful Sunday-night news lead-in. (Programming).(affiliates concerned about TV network's prime-time plans)
Jan 06, 2003; ... ABC's January efforts to bolster its prime time schedule has some affiliates worried that the network's speculative steps forward guarantee their affiliates will be taking steps backward. Specifically affiliates and news directors are concerned about the decision to move The ...
When good press does little good. (Programming).(discussion of cable networks' approach to Television Critics Association tour)(Industry Overview)
Jan 06, 2003; ... Twice a year, cable networks catch a few precious moments to plug their latest wares to television critics visiting Los Angeles from all over the nation. Programmers painstakingly select shows, line up talent to draw jaded critics and plunk down prized promotional dollars. But presenting ...
Ratings. (Programming).(top 25 television shows for 12/9-12/15/02)(Illustration)
Jan 06, 2003 ... <Pre> RATINGS \ Dec. 9-15 Nielsen Media Research Top 25 Shows Adults 18-49 RANK/PROGRAM AA GAA 1 Frieds 5.4 6.3 2 Seinfeld5.1 5.7 3 Seinfeld (wknd) 4.5 5.6 4 Everybody ...
Inside edition's a quiet hit. (Strip).(show to start 15th season)
Jan 06, 2003; ... King World's Inside Edition will celebrate the beginning of its 15th season by dropping a small hint during a short segment on the Jan. 9 show. But even though the show isn't going to spend much time on-air crowing about its accomplishment, its producers realize how hard it is to last as ...
ET weekend hates football. (Syndie Insider).(Entertainment Tonight Weekend hit by football preemptions)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... Weekly hours got a ratings boost in the week ending Dec. 15, according to Nielsen Media Research's national ratings. Paramount's Entertainment Tonight Weekend jumped the most, leaping 94% from the prior week to score a 3.5, much closer to its regular average. ET Weekend had ...
Wheel of fortune loves football. (Syndie Insider).(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... An online component will be launched to support "NFL Players Week" on the syndicated Wheel of Fortune game show. During the week of Jan. 6-10, NFL players will compete on the show to win money for their favorite ...
New Buena Vista exec taps new biz VP. (Syndie Insider).
Jan 06, 2003 ... Robert Kaplan has been named director of development for Buena Vista Productions, said Holly Jacobs, executive vice president of BVP last week. Kaplan will report to Karen Glass, BVP's vice president of development. Kaplan will take pitches for first-run syndicated television programs, ...
Ratings watch. (Programing).
Jan 06, 2003 ... <Pre> RATINGS Dec. 23-29 WATCHabc Week 14 MONDAY8.9/15 8:00 55. Monk 3.7/7 8:30 9:00 2. Monday Night 11.6/20 9:30 Football--Pittsburgh 10:00 Steelers vs ....
AFTRA-NBC battle heats up. (Programming).(American Federation of Television and Radio Artists )(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003; ... The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has stepped up its campaign to unionize NBC's Chicago Telemundo station WSNS(TV), acquired when the companies merged last year. AFTRA is pressuring advertisers to boycott the station and says it may also target the NBC's ...
Scarred but positive. (Market Focus: Oklahoma City).
Jan 06, 2003; ... The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, left for Americans memories so strong that the mere mention of the date is enough to conjure up a myriad of images. But the residents of Oklahoma City had been speaking in that kind of verbal shorthand since April 19, 1995, when the destruction of the Alfred ...
Automakers drive ad sales again in '02: big three are within the top-five advertiser ranks. (TV Buyer).(Nielsen Media Research data)
Jan 06, 2003; ... With 10 months of data in (January-October), General Motors is on its way to repeat as the biggest advertiser spender of 2002. According to data supplied by Nielsen Media Research's ad tracking service Monitor-Plus, GM spent $1.8 billion in measured media through the first 10 ...
Local TV pleased by ADS growth. (EBB & Flow).(alternate delivery systems: direct broadcast satellite)(Nielsen Media Research data)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003; ... Direct-broadcast-satellite penetration levels continue to climb and that's making local broadcasters absolutely giddy. Nielsen Media Research recently issued data for November showing that wired cable penetration hit a six-year low, falling below 70%. The main reason ...
Ford goes interactive with spots: wink communications provides real-time play-by-plays. (Bowl Games).(Ford Motor Co. sponsors interactive portion of ABC's Bowl Championship Series)
Jan 06, 2003; ... The Ford Motor Co. underwrote a major expansion of the interactive-TV component of ABC's Bowl Championship Series Jan. 1 to Jan. 3. For the first time, Ford sponsored the entire interactive portion of the four-game series that decides the national college football champion for the 2002 ...
Celebrity endorsements. (Hot Spots).(most effective commercials and celebrities discussed)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... Major celebrities accounted for 11 of the top 20 most-effective commercials in 2002, if you include GEOFFREY THE TALKING GIRAFFE, the TOYS R US pitchman. Excluding Geoffrey--who was featured in three of the top four ads-celebrities who actually breathe and eat appeared in eight of the top ...
Forecasts. (Hot Spots).(survey indicates economic recovery will continue through 2003)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... The recovery will continue at a deliberate pace through 2003, according to a survey of 55 economists by THE WALL STREET JOURNAL last week. The widely held view of those economists is that corporations are expected to reinvest their recuperating profits after two years of cost cutting, the ...
Agency consolidation. (Hot Spots).(Colby & Partners absorbs most of D'arcy Masius Benton & Bowles office in Los Angeles, CA)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... COLBY & PARTNERS in Los Angeles will be picking up much of the Los Angeles office of D'ARCY MASIUS BENTON & BOWLES. The agreement in principle follows the recent PUBLICIS GROUPE decision to fold D'Arcy in the wake Publicis's acquisition of BCOM3 GROUP. But Colby has yet ...
Sponsorships. (Hot Spots).(Toyota Motor Sales USA to advertise in National Geographic Channel's special)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA has bought the exclusive rights to advertise in NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL's springtime special, Surviving Everest The two-hour special, set for April 27 at 8 p.m. features the climb up the mountain by the sons ...
Profits later. (Hot Spots).(KPMG survey shows expectations of US auto sector)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... A survey released last week by KPMG indicates that the domestic auto industry doesn't expect a return to pre-recession profit levels until 2005, largely due to the slow pace of the recovery and consumer expectations for aggressive financing incentives (try 0%). The survey was ...
NAB pushes DTV 'flex time': says calendar dates should give way to penetration figures. (Washington).(National Association of Broadcasters wants digital television deadlines pushed back)
Jan 06, 2003; ... Broadcasters want more time to meet some of their critical DTV build-out obligations. In meetings with FCC officials, including Commissioners Kathleen Abernathy and Jonathan Adelstein and DTV task force chief Rick Chessen, the National Association of Broadcasters pitched the idea of ...
Do call. (Capital Watch).(discussion of FCC's "do not call" rules)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... Broadcasters and cable operators have asked the FCC for leniency in revised "do not call" rules the agency is crafting for telemarketers. The National Association of Broadcasters has asked that the FCC clarify that prerecorded messages sent by radio and TV stations to remind ...
Nets defend news study. (Capital Watch).(local news coverage by affiliates)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... The Big Four broadcast networks are jeering affiliates' complaints about an FCC study showing 0&Os offer more local news. In response to a filing two weeks ago by the Network Affiliated Stations Alliance and the NAB, the networks said the affils' demand that stations be compared ...
FTC slams padded breast claims. (Capital Watch).(Vital Dynamics)(Brief Article)
Jan 06, 2003 ... The Federal Trade Commission has settled with Vital Dynamics, a California company over the deceptive marketing--including extensive TV and radio ads--of the Isis "breast-enhancement" system. The ...
Physician, wound thyself. (Capital Watch).(TV-Turnoff Week)
Jan 06, 2003 ... Anti-TV activists are asking the FCC to require stations to air messages urging parents to limit children's viewing time and warning them that excessive TV viewing has negative health, academic and other consequences. The TV-Turnoff Network said the requirement should he imposed as a ...