Multichannel News back issues from April 1991:
Hi-tech promises lift ops' mood at NCTA. (cable television operators; National Cable Television Association)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Hi-Tech Promises Lift Ops' Mood at NCTANEW ORLEANS - The promises of advancing technology boosted the mood of last week's National Cable Show, but even techie dreams couldn't overcome continuing regulatory uncertainty and gloomy assessments of the industry's financial situation. ...
Digital's the buzzword at national cable show.
Apr 01, 1991; ... Digital's the Buzzword At National Cable ShowNEW ORLEANS - The curtain went up on the digital era in cable at last week's National Show here last week, serving notice that, thanks to digital compression, a lower-than-ever cost curve has been found to facilitate industry growth. ...
Courtroom TV wins Liberty, TCI backing. (Courtroom Television's agreements with Liberty Media and Tele-Communications Inc.)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Courtroom TV Wins Liberty, TCI BackingNEW ORLEANS - Courtroom Television reached an agreement in principle to sell an equity stake in its operation to Liberty Media and also picked up a carriage agreement from Tele-Communications Inc. According to several sources ...
Judge nixes antitrust filings. (Financial News Network merger with Consumer News and Business Channel)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Judge Nixes Antitrust FilingsA bankruptcy court judge in Montpelier, Vt., discounted letters from 30 state attorneys general who oppose the merger of Financial News Network with CNBC, court observers said. On March 25, Pennsylvania Attorney General Ernie Preate Jr. and ...
Prime affils to carry SCA NHL playoff games. (KBL Sports and Prime Sports Midwest to carry SportsChannel America's coverage of the National Hockey League playoffs)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Prime Affils To Carry SCA NHL Playoff Games NEW ORLEANS - In a move that may have far-reaching ramifications, Prime Network affiliates KBL Sports and Prime Sports Midwest will carry SportsChannel America's coverage of the National Hockey League playoffs, which start next month. ...
CTV inks affiliate agreement with TCI. (CTV Television Network Ltd.; Tele-Communications Inc.)
Apr 01, 1991; ... CTV Inks Affiliate Agreement with TCI NEW ORLEANS - What never happened with two comedy networks has finally happened with one. CTV: The Comedy Network signed a "major" affiliation agreement with Tele-Communications Inc. The deal, which was finalized last Monday night, ...
Cinemax introduces Max Advantage program.
Apr 01, 1991; ... Cinemax Introduces Max Advantage Program NEW ORLEANS - In the never-ending quest to boost pay TV penetration, Cinemax introduced what it calls a "risk-free" growth incentive program to its affiliates. Dubbed the Max Advantage, Cinemax said the program will go where ...
Ops still concerned over PPV Olympics. (cable television operators; NBC and Cablevision Systems Corp.'s 1992 Pay-Per-View Olympics TripleCast)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Ops Still Concerned Over PPV Olympics NEW ORLEANS - Some operators remain skeptical and others have many questions surrounding NBC and Cablevision Systems Corp.'s 1992 Pay-Per-View Olympics TripleCast. Amos Hostetter Jr., chairman of Continental Cablevision, stated in ...
CNN, Disney Channel, win Peabodys. (George Foster Peabody Awards)
Apr 01, 1991 ... CNN, Disney Channel, Win Peabodys ATHENS, Ga. - Cable networks last week copped two of the 26 prestigious George Foster Peabody Awards, which are handed out for excellence in the television industry. Cable News Network was cited for its coverage of the Persian Gulf ...
Ops lukewarm toward startup nets at show. (cable television operators' concern about Monitor Channel's religious affiliation, Courtroom Television Network's rates and Sci-Fi's financing)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Ops Lukewarm Toward Startup Nets at Show NEW ORLEANS - The Courtroom Television Network, Sci-Fi Channel and Monitor Channel booths were busy last week in what may be the proposed networks' last major opportunity before launch to pitch their products to operators. For a ...
HBO film sends youth strong AIDS message. (HBO and Co.)
Apr 01, 1991; ... HBO Film Sends Youth Strong AIDS Message HBO is most often touted for its original movies, but frequently its documentary programming is among the best on television. It has often tackled the AIDS issue, but a new half-hour, First Love, Fatal Love, attempts to warn adolescents of ...
Parliament to run on UA's U.K. channels. (United Artist Entertainment to televise House of Lord and Commons proceedings)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Parliament To Run on UA's U.K. Channels Like C-SPAN here in the U.S., United Artists Entertainment's British programming subsidiary has picked up rights to televise House of Lords and House of Commons proceedings in the United Kingdom. Debuting in November, The Public ...
'Elmhurst 8' systems will fund pay ad campaign. (group composed of Comcast Cable, Continental Cablevision, Jones Intercable Inc., TeleCable Corp., Times Mirror Cable Services, United Artists Cablesystems Corp., Viacom Cable and Warner Cable Communications)
Apr 01, 1991; ... |Elmhurst 8' Systems Will Fund Pay Ad Campaign NEW ORLEANS - An informal group of MSO marketing executives is devising an advertising campaign to trumpet the benefits of pay television, the executives said at last week's National Show here. Known as the "Elmhurst 8," ...
Time Warner feels good about Brown concert. (James Brown's live concert, Living in America)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Time Warner Feels Good About Brown Concert NEW ORLEANS - Time Warner plans to contribute over $1 million in marketing and advertising for its June 10 pay-per-view concert featuring James Brown. Living in America, the first live concert for Brown since 1988 and his ...
L.O. programming pulls in advertisers. (local origination programming)
Apr 01, 1991; ... L.O. Programming Pulls in Advertisers The "our town" appeal that draws viewers to local origination programming also lures advertisers, resulting in incremental revenues that not only cover programming costs, but contribute to the bottom line. Comcast Cablevision's New ...
'Good actor' test wins no Oscars from FCC.
Apr 01, 1991; ... |Good Actor' Test Wins No Oscars From FCC NEW ORLEANS - FCC commissioners and staffers indicated at last week's National Show that they are considering elimination of the "good actor" standard as one of three tests to determine whether a cable system should be returned to basic ...
Cable bill not likely to win bipartisan support. (cable television)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Cable Bill Not Likely To Win Bipartisan Support NEW ORLEANS - A bill to re-regulate the cable industry is unlikely to get the bipartisan support it needs to advance out of the House telecommunications subcommittee, Republican lawmakers told cable executives attending the National ...
Federal agencies: away with fin-syn. (broadcast networks' financial interest in programs they air and participation in syndication business)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Federal Agencies: Away With Fin-Syn WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Economics in separate filings to the FCC reiterated their preference for elimination of FCC regulations that restrict broadcast networks from taking a financial ...
Hype, or the real thing?
Apr 01, 1991; ... Hype, or the Real Thing? HDTV in 1991. One gigahertz of bandwidth in less than a year. Digital compression offering hundreds of video channels. Fiber to nodes serving 500 customers. Interactive services. Wireless voice and data communications. Skeptics tend to compare ...
ONI expands into PCN, digital compression. (Optical Networks Inc.; personal communications networks)
Apr 01, 1991; ... ONI Expands Into PCN, Digital Compression NEW ORLEANS - AT&T and Optical Networks Inc.'s foray into the cable business has now broadened to include personal communications networks and digital compression. The architecture for the marrying of cable and ...
C-COR forecasts continued losses in 3rd quarter. (C-COR Electronics Inc.)
Apr 01, 1991 ... C-COR Forecasts Continued Losses in 3rd Quarter STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - C-COR Electronics Inc. expects its losses during the third quarter to continue at roughly the same level as in the second quarter. The company did not detail what numbers it expects for the third ...
Jerrold looms large at NCTA convention. (Jerrold Communications)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Jerrold Looms Large at NCTA Convention NEW ORLEANS - At what was the most-technically-oriented NCTA show in eight years, Jerrold Communications demonstrated a slew of products that together constitute its most-important group of new offerings yet. Jerrold made its first ...
Four more come aboard the interdiction train. (Regal Technologies; Magnavox CATV; Oak Communications and Zenith Electornics)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Four More Come Aboard The Interdiction Train NEW ORLEANS - Regal Technologies, Magnavox CATV, Oak Communications and Zenith Electronics are the latest firms to jump on the addressable interdiction bandwagon. The new emphasis on outside-the-home (off-premises) ...
Nycor would sell Zenith's cable unit. (Nycor Inc.; Zenith Electronics Corp.)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Nycor Would Sell Zenith's Cable Unit Dissident shareholder Nycor Inc. plans to sell Zenith Electronics Corp.'s cable equipment division if it wrests control of the company. In proxy material sent to Zenith shareholders last week, Nycor said it would sell off ...
Broadcast executive tapped as HSN head. (Robert Sutton; Home Shopping Network Inc.)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Broadcast Executive Tapped as HSN Head ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Home Shopping Network Inc. (HSN) has named Robert Sutton, a broadcaster, as its new president, replacing Lowell "Bud" Paxson, who retired at the end of 1990. Generally regarded as the father of electronic ...
Financial mood sour at cable convention. (National Cable Television Association Cenvention and Exposition)
Apr 01, 1991; ... Financial Mood Sour At Cable Convention NEW ORLEANS - A sour mood consumed most of cable's financial players attending the National Show, who said the availability of bank loans for cable is worsening. Financiers agreed that what little optimism had been building was ...
Showtime shopping new pay service. (Showtime Networks Inc. considers starting a new broad-based, movie-driven network)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Showtime Shopping New Pay Service Showtime Networks Inc., confirmed last week that it is shopping around an "added-value" premium service similar in concept to the newly launched Encore cable network. Like Encore (which is backed by Tele-Communications Inc. spinoff ...
Judge OKs CNBC bid for FNN. (Judge Francis Conrad; Consumer News and Business Channel; Financial News Network)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Judge OKs CNBC Bid for FNN CNBC may have been handed the keys to Financial News Network, but the only certainty emerging from all the doings in bankruptcy court last week is that a high-stakes legal gamble, and not a big-bucks battle, will ultimately resolve the fate of the ...
New tools spur ops' ad sales. (cable operators and local interconnects say more sophisticated audience measuring tools help them attract advertisers)
Apr 08, 1991; ... New Tools Spur Ops' Ad Sales NEW YORK - Cable operators and local interconnects said more sophisticated audience measuring tools are helping them attract both local advertisers and national ad agencies who have been demanding that cable prove its local audience reach. ...
HLT-shy TCI pushes into bond markets. (highly leveraged transactions)(Tele-Communications Inc. moves toward bond markets as a source of capital)
Apr 08, 1991; ... HLT-Shy TCI Pushes Into Bond Markets In a major strategic shift, Tele-Communications Inc. hopes to escape the tight lending climate by moving heavily toward the bond markets as a source of capital. TCI's sale last week of $100 million of publicly traded senior bonds ...
Penney wants out of home shopping. (J.C. Penney Co. selling J.C Penney Television Shopping to QVC Network Inc.)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Penney Wants Out of Home Shopping After a four-year struggle, retailer J.C. Penney Co. plans to leave the cable shopping business by selling J.C. Penney Television Shopping to QVC Network Inc. However, the production company that actually programs JCPTV filed for a ...
TCI, McCaw will test PCS venture. (Tele-Communications Inc. plans joint venture with McCaw Cellular Communications to explore personal communications services)
Apr 08, 1991; ... TCI, McCaw Will Test PCS Venture Tele-Communications Inc., in a planned test venture with McCaw Cellular Communications, is about to join the growing throng of cable companies large and small that are exploring the potentials of personal communications services. The ...
Is MTV still revolutionary? (Music Television Networks Inc. faces new challenges as it nears its 10th anniversary)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Is MTV Still Revolutionary? MTV: Music Television faces a perplexing challenge as it nears its 10th anniversary this summer: how to grow up without growing old. Heralded as a mainstay of basic cable and as a network that made a great impact on the medium, critics now ...
MTV: don't watch us, buy us. (Music Television Networks Inc. encounters difficulties in attracting local advertisers)
Apr 08, 1991; ... MTV: Don't Watch Us, Buy Us "I want my MTV" isn't always the first thing that spills from the mouths of local advertisers. While everyone from operators to advertising executives agrees that MTV has national advertisers targeting teens sewn up, selling the network ...
Broadcast nets ready to bash cable again. (The Big Three networks and the National Television Association compete with the cable industry for advertising sales)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Broadcast Nets Ready To Bash Cable Again NEW YORK - The Big Three networks have some new ammunition in the annual battle with cable and independent TV for upfront ad dollars: the National Television Association. The seven-person-strong NTA staff just marked its first ...
Local ad sales: who's hot, who's not. (networks such as The Discovery Channel and Arts & Entertainment gain favor because they attract upscale advertisers)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Local Ad Sales: Who's Hot, Who's Not Cable networks that appeal to a higher-income, more-educated audience are growing increasingly popular among local cable ad sales executives who are looking to insert ads on services that can help them attract upscale clients who have never ...
New PCN technology to spark old debates. (personal communications network technology)
Apr 08, 1991; ... New PCN Technology To Spark Old Debates The cable industry's move toward trials of personal communications networks will renew explosive regulatory and competitive battles over local control and cable access to telephone poles, communications experts say. And if PCNs, ...
Action on cable bills a sign of spring. (pending cable television legislation)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Action on Cable Bills A Sign of Spring WASHINGTON - Communications lawmakers' attention should be drawn back to pending cable legislation when Congress returns from a spring break today. Eight bills that would make substantial changes to the 1984 Cable Act have been ...
NAB conference seeks to smooth cable relations. (National Association of Broadcasters)(relationships between local station managers and system operators)
Apr 08, 1991; ... NAB Conference Seeks To Smooth Cable Relations WASHINGTON - Although TV broadcasters will be bombarded with a lot of practical information on how to run their business at the industry's annual convention next week, they will also be given an opportunity to talk to cable executives ...
'Wrestlemania VII' buys down. (Titan Sports' 'Wrestlemania VII' did not live up to buy-rate expectations)
Apr 08, 1991; ... |Wrestlemania VII' Buys Down NEW YORK - Titan Sports' Wrestlemania VII did not live up to buy-rate expectations according to operators, leaving some to ponder whether the sports genre has finally peaked. The event, which sold at a suggested retail of $29.95, generated ...
Continental in heavy talks with ChicagoLand. (Continental Cablevision talks with The Tribune Co. to deliver ChicagoLand Television news channel to Continental's Chicago subscribers)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Continental in Heavy Talks With ChicagoLand Continental Cablevision is engaged in serious discussions with The Tribune Co. to deliver Tribune's 24-hour ChicagoLand Television (CLTV) news channel to Continental's 207,000 suburban Chicago subscribers and make an equity investment in ...
The Texas Connection.
Apr 08, 1991; ... The Texas Connection The Nashville Network's The Texas Connection moves into its second season April 13, picking up a host for this year's series: Jerry Jeff Walker. Executives for the network said his selection was a natural: the episode in which he was featured last ...
Encore debuts in four TCI systems. (premium cable service Encore debuts in four Tele-Communications Inc. systems)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Encore Debuts in Four TCI Systems DENVER - The premium cable service Encore signed two movie deals and made its debut in four Tele-Communications Inc. systems last week, while preparations continued for a June launch. Although no new affiliation deals have been made ...
And now: cubic zirconium from your local store. (use of cable to market the Puente Hills Mall in the City of Industry outside Los Angeles)
Apr 08, 1991; ... And Now: Cubic Zirconium From Your Local Store LOS ANGELES - Cable subscribers in 15 communities in Los Angeles County got an opportunity to shop at home recently, but the vendor wasn't QVC or the Home Shopping Club; it was their regional mall. Terry Migliaccio, ...
Midwest SC will distribute Twins games on PPV. (Midwest SportsChannel to distribute 34 Minnesota Twins baseball games on pay-per-view television)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Midwest SC Will Distribute Twins Games on PPV Midwest SportsChannel will distribute 34 Minnesota Twins baseball games on pay-per-view beginning in June, said Kevin Cattoor, vice president and general manager of the basic service. The PPV cablecasts, all home games, were ...
FCC to meet on new kidvid, fin-syn rules. (Federal Communications Commission to meet on children's programming ,financial interest and syndication rules)
Apr 08, 1991 ... FCC To Meet On New Kidvid, Fin-Syn Rules WASHINGTON - At its meeting this Tuesday, the FCC will adopt new rules implementing advertising restrictions for children's programming telecast on cable systems and broadcast stations. At the same meeting, the FCC will decide ...
Ops throw flag on WLAF local ad sales. (slow local ad sales for the fledgling World League of American Football on USA Network)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Ops Throw Flag On WLAF Local Ad Sales NEW YORK - Local ad sales for the fledgling World League of American Football on USA Network have gotten off to a slow start, said local cable ad sales executives, who said the WLAF has been buried under a myriad of winter and spring sports ...
BET pushes ops to sell local ads. (Black Entertainment Television aims to convince cable ad executives that it can sell outside the obvious urban areas)
Apr 08, 1991; ... BET Pushes Ops To Sell Local Ads Armed with new media kits, system profiles, and testimonials, Black Entertainment Television will make a big push this week to convince cable ad sales executives that BET can sell outside of the obvious urban areas. But while some ...
For cable-refusers, KBL-TV offers something extra. (KBL-TV Cable Advertising offers potential advertisers the added value of an association with special local events)
Apr 08, 1991; ... For Cable-Refusers, KBL-TV Offers Something Extra Offering potential advertisers the added value of an association with special local events has allowed KBL-TV Cable Advertising to crack key accounts and get incremental dollars, the ad sales rep outfit says. Some ...
Infomercials propel Suburban Cable's L.O. ad sales growth. (Suburban Cablevision finds program-length "concept advertising" easier to sell)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Infomercials Propel Suburban Cable's L.O. Ad Sales Growth Suburban Cablevision has found that program-length "concept advertising" on its local origination channel TV 3 is easier to sell than commercials within its L.O. programming. Infomercial-type features that ...
SBCA: stand-alone access bill may emerge. (Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association)(program-access issue may be introduced as stand-alone legislation)
Apr 08, 1991; ... SBCA: Stand-Alone Access Bill May Emerge WASHINGTON - Home satellite distributors and other cable competitors may push for stand-alone legislation on Capitol Hill that would require cable programmers to make their fare available to competing video delivery systems at ...
Cable questions telco franchises in New Jersey. (New Jersey Cable Television Association attorney Ray Perkins seeks clarification on state rules barring New Jersey Bell from providing cable services)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Cable Questions Telco Franchises in New Jersey When New Jersey Bell representatives walked into the state's Board of Public Utilities recently, expecting routine renewal of 10-, 20-and 50-year franchises in 20 communities, the company instead found New Jersey Cable Television ...
Better service in Utah deflects regulation. (improved customer service programs help cable television industry's efforts to avoid regulation in Utah)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Better Service In Utah Deflects Regulation Cable managers looking for new ways to wage the local public relations battle may want to review the latest chapter in the industry's struggle to avoid regulation in Utah. In one year, the state's cable business has gone from ...
Franchise bill dies in Fla. House. (bill promoting competition between cable companies loses support in Florida legislature)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Franchise Bill Dies in Fla. House A bill sponsors said would promote competition between cable companies, but that the industry claimed would lead to higher rates, died in the Florida House of Representatives last week. Steve Wilkerson, president of the Florida Cable ...
Federal judge: no easement, no access. (a Michigan operator loses its bid to wire the inside of apartment building where the developer plans to install its own SMATV system)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Federal Judge: No Easement, No Access A federal district court judge in Michigan has ruled that the Cable Act does not guarantee a cable company access to wire the inside of an apartment building without the property owner's permission when no formally executed utility easements ...
Cable Alabama to Huntsville: see you in court. (disapproval of merger with Comcast Cable of Huntsville Inc. prompts a suit against the city of Huntsville, Ala.)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Cable Alabama to Huntsville: See You in Court Cable Alabama Inc. has sued the city of Huntsville, Ala., following a City Council vote last month not to permit the cable company to merge its assets with those of Comcast Cable of Huntsville Inc. The City Council has ...
Vyvx proposes video net venture with cable ops. (Vyvx National Video Network proposes linking its long-distance video network with local distribution companies to form a national business network)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Vyvx Proposes Video Net Venture With Cable Ops As industry officials grapple with the challenge of developing new revenue streams made possible by rapidly evolving new technologies, Vyvx National Video Network has suggested that joint ventures be struck to link the Vyvx nationwide ...
Dropping money. (economic costs of servicing problematic in-home wiring) (column)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Dropping Money Despite the industry's justifiable and rapt attention on larger technical issues such as signal compression, wireless voice and ultra-high-capacity systems, the fact remains that perhaps 80 percent of all service calls - each costing from $25 to $45 - are caused by ...
Today's fiber is future-proof: vendors. (some industry engineers see no contradiction between the use of optical amplifiers and narrowcast programming)
Apr 08, 1991; ... Today's Fiber Is Future-Proof: Vendors Customers would be willing to spend nearly $20 more each month for video entertainment than they do now if they could get video-on-demand services, a three-year AT&T Network Systems study has concluded. The findings, reported by ...
FTC pulls plug on wireless company. (Federal Trade Commission acts on alleged fraud involving cable licenses)
Apr 08, 1991; ... FTC Pulls Plug on Wireless Company WASHINGTON - The Federal Trade Commission last week asked a federal court to prohibit Applied Telemedia Engineering and Management Inc., a telemarketing company in North Miami, Fla., from claiming that consumers who buy its services are almost ...
TCI's cash flow clears $1.3B. (Tele-Communications Inc.)
Apr 08, 1991; ... TCI's Cash Flow Clears $1.3B Tele-Communications Inc. joined the line of MSOs showing strong end-of-year results, with the number-one MSO posting $1.36 billion in cash flow for 1990. That 23 percent cash flow growth, plus strengthening in other financial performance ...
C4 unit files for chapter 11. (C4 Media South LP)
Apr 08, 1991; ... C4 Unit Files for Chapter 11 A unit of C4 Media filed for bankruptcy under pressure from bankers who were trying to foreclose on $30 million in loans. The unit, C4 Media South LP, filed for Chapter 11 protection from its creditors in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Alexandria, ...
S-A sees weak 3rd quarter. (Scientific-Atlanta Inc. reports sharply lower sales)
Apr 08, 1991; ... S-A Sees Weak 3rd Quarter ATLANTA - Scientific-Atlanta Inc. expects to report sharply lower sales and earnings for the third quarter ended March 31, with earnings well below the $3.3 million earned in the second quarter on sales of $123.9 million. Last year, S-A ...
MetroTEN Wireless files for Chapter 11. (Metropolitan Cablevision, operator of Cleveland's MetroTEN multichannel wireless company, files for bankrupycy case)
Apr 08, 1991; ... MetroTEN Wireless Files for Chapter 11 Metropolitan Cablevision, operator of Cleveland's MetroTEN multichannel wireless company, filed for Chapter 11 protection last week. MetroTEN plans to continue operations and is working on a cash collateral agreement with its ...
HSN settles suits for $33 million. (Home Shopping Network Inc.)
Apr 08, 1991; ... HSN Settles Suits for $33 Million ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Home Shopping Network Inc. settled three investor suits against the company for a total of $33 million, prompting the company to restate its second-quarter financial results and post a loss. HSN chairman Roy ...