`` Reed Business Information. THE NEWS WEEKLY OF TV, RADIO 8 INTERACTIVE MEDIA 54.95 B R 0 i JUNE 24, 2002 www.broadcastingcable.com EVERYBODY'S TALKING ON CABLE NEWS CHANNELS The battle between CNN's newsy Connie Chung, MSNBC's liberal Phil Donahue and Fox's right -wing Bill O'Reilly begins this week Mayor » PAGE 20 Bloomberg RADIO'S says New York ROYAL PAIN broadcasters The feds name the final price radio will have to won't get site pay to stream songs off the air on Websites, and they need to broadcasters aren't happy about it replace tower » PAGE 7 lost on 9/11 THOSE » PAGE 34 AUCTIONS? NOT NOW After seven delays, Congress finally halts the controversial auction process indefinitely » PAGE 10 Outta WHEN DIGITAL INTERFERES 41: DIGIT 591 NbI c I1'5 1 REr+D I 6.7 As stations power up their 111,IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII digital signals, :here's a JOHN ,IftHNt30N new fear they'll block KlVCI-TV" 21+5 WA rc T CIrJ WAY other signals BILL ! Nt::!,, Ml ;`.9t 02-775° » PAGE 30 r L -J se ABC 0 &0, Hearst -Argyle, Belo, Cox, ìpps-Howard, CBS 0 &0, Media General, annett, Dispatch, Post -Newsweek, Lin, redith, Raycom, Clear Channel, Young, Freedom, Sinclair, Benedek, SJL, Cordillera, Granite, Liberty, Hubbard and Gray Stations! DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCED BY MEDIA SALES BY KINGWOl PRODUCTIONS. INC. Rgnts Reserved. 02000 Harpo Productions, Inc. Photo Credit: Jake Chessum All Rights Reserved. Through 2006 On Th Allbritton, Sc McGraw -Hí11, Emmis, M Syndicated Television's Most Celebrated Talk Shaw IS Now... BROADCASIINGCABLE {www.broadcastingcable.com} Volume 132 Number 26 Top of the Week June 24, 2002 Cover. AP Photo / Ed Bailey BANNER UPFRONT Syndication ad sales are up 18% from last year, the sectors worst ever, to a total near $2 billion. » 6 FEES FOR STREAMING Nobody's happy about royalty rates radio stations and Webcasters will have to pay. » 7 FOOT IN MOUTH Broadcasting maverick Ted Turner has to apologize for remarks about Israel and Palestine. » 7 GOING, GOING, STOP Congress passes bill postponing indefinitely the auction of 700 MHz TV spectrum. » 10 MORE VIEWERS Arbitron's test of George Stephanopoulus promises to be impartial and hard -hitting on This Week. Portable People Meters suggests that TV viewership is higher than was thought. » 12 ON THIS WEEK Ex- Clinton aide George Stephanopoulus is named anchor of ABC News Sunday- morning program. » 14 COVER STORY LIFE LESSONS Nickelodeon show on same -sex parents draws 100,000 complaints and a 1.4 rating. » 14 TOWER HONORED 9/11 coverage takes lion's TROUBLE share of RTNDA'S Edward R. Murrow Awards for excellence in electronic journalism. » 17 Not on my island Mayor Bloomberg opposes New York broadcasters' site for a transmission DISCOVERED Proctor & Gamble signs tower to replace the one lost on 9/11. » 34 $50M deal to advertise on Discovery's cable Rosie O'Donnell participated in controversial nets, BBC America, and HD Theater. » 17 My Family Is Different on Nickelodeon. B &C Eye 4 Broadcast Ratings 22 Changing Hands 28 Not reserved Federal appeals court upholds Programming Classifieds 43 rules requiring utilities to lease unused pole News war CNN's Connie Chung takes on space to cable companies. » 27 Editorials 46 Fox News' Bill O'Reilly and, soon, MSNBC's Faceti me 38 Phil Donahue weeknights at 8. » 20 Technology Fates & Fortunes 40 Syndication Watch Paramount devises a Fifth Estater 42 Interference issues As stations move creative marketing plan for off -network to full -power digital transmission, problems Station Break 24 sitcom Becker. » 23 are expected to increase. » 30 The Week That Was 16 Focus Local broadcasters see abundant Complementary Set -top -chip maker ATI opportunity in the Austin, Texas, market. » 25 buys chip manufacturer NxtWave. » 32 Washington New head at Pinnacle Server manufacturer names J. Kim Finnell president and CEO. » 32 Industry split Big media companies are happy with the FCC's timetable for revising ownership rules; smaller owners aren't. » 26 Broadcasting 8. Cable/6 -24 -02 3 EYE ADVERTISING JOURNALISM Super Bowl Miffed over diss runneth over Fox News Channel anchor Neil Cavuto (below) went on a bit of a Spots in next January's Super tear last Thursday after failing to get an interview with Microsoft Bowl are selling out at a record and Verizon brass (the two are teaming on Internet access via pace, and for record dollars. there wasn't time for Roughly three -quarters of the DSL). Cavuto says a Microsoft rep claimed ads in the ABC game are the interview, although time was found for CNBC and CNN. REGULATION spoken for. Sources say it will Twice during his show, Cavuto flashed numbers and e-mail be 80% sold by July 4, leaving addresses for Microsoft on the screen, telling viewers to protest the 15 units for the scatter market. No NASA liftoff diss. "If you don't like me, you hate the show or Fox, just tell me," The average price? About snub. In top -rated Fox's FCC Chairman Michael Powell $2.25 million per 30- second he told B &C, referring to the perceived weeks ago received a spot, or about 15°/" more than newsroom, some staffers were shaking their heads. "It's Neil being several the $1.95 million Fox got last Neil," said one, "but people here feel it's unprofessional."-A.R. staff recommendation on year. There are several reasons resolving affiliates' complaints for the quick sales this year, in- against the networks. cluding a general economic up- He hasn't acted on the guid- turn. In addition, ABC Sports ance, however, to the and ESPN are sold together, so the Super Bowl is packaged with frustration of some fellow com- two other hot commodities: missioners. The Network Affili- Monday Night Football and ated Stations Alliance in March ESPN's Sunday -night game, one 2001 asked the FCC to declare of the highest -rated offerings on nets in cable. MNF is close to 80% sold, the Big Four violation at CPM rates 10% higher than of a litany of rules protecting last year's. Ed Erhardt, head of stations' rights, including the sales for ESPN /ABC Sports, right to reject network wouldn't comment on the num- programming and tct deny bers but said the networks' abil- reserve ity to leverage their top product network requests to "is having a very strong positive airtime without committing impact. " -S.M. specific programs. Media Bureau Chief Ken Ferree confirmed the power HOPE FOR ADELSTEIN recommendation's submission Star reveal The logjam may be breaking on but did not details. Kevin Costner, NYPD Blue's Den- FCC nominee Jonathan Industry sources believe that nis Franz and Will Smith are Democratic Majority among stars narrating pieces for Adelstein. Last week, Senate the staff called for dismissal the pilot of Universal Domestic Leader Tom Daschle (D- S.D.), for whom and that opposition to that dis- Adelstein works, said that his staff is in Television proposed magazine missal by Commissioners Kevin talks with the staff of Senate Minority series Good News (for fall 2003). Martin (above) and Michael Smith is also one of the show's Leader Trent Lott (R- Miss.) and that Copps is preventing Powell from executive producers. Charity work Daschle hopes an agreement can be by supermodel Tyra Banks (left) reached "before the end of next week." acting. A Martin aide confirmed will be highlighted in the seg- Upset with Democrats for voting down his he wants Powell to bring the ment narrated by Smith. Produc- choice for a federal judgeship, Charles matter before the commission Pickering, Lott has been blocking ers say the strip will tell up- quickly but wouldn't address lifting stories about the unique Adelstein's confirmation. Sources say his stand on the petition. A struggles and triumphs of inspi- Adelstein recently has seemed more confi- rational individuals, including dent about getting the fifth commissioner Copps aide did not return a call and slot but it all depends on whether Daschle by deadline. a. celebrities, public figures -B.M. everyday heroes. -S.M. and Lott can cut a deal. -P.A. 4 Broadcasting & Cable /6 -24 -02 ON SUNDAY, JUNE 9TH, OVER 25 MILLION VIEWERS WERE BLOWN AWAY BY TBC SUPERSTATION'S HO ENO= â ADU = 18-484 $5-54 Sure, we swept past the co petition. But that's nothing new. TBS Superstation is America's 1 Sunday Prime Time destination in basic cahle with households nd key adult demos. Now, that's what we call taking the country by storm! NO WO R THEY CALL IT THE SU ERSTATION. Nmnams rl:a, m0K1 ,n1M 17 .... ... ... Bs in nbiM v.w elop, 11 nl 9.4.r7 An mr.vins rer/MI y r+ Sysmm t,:.serl p). r prrn.nm w. nn.rrur.an 4MAn SON[!SIAIION SOt -1Ip (iy fMmr, -Mts Ilk 44 1 nt 47101ls 1454 Systeo) \O1 Tone WarrxrCnmplrn. MlRghtsReserverJ. TOP OF THE WEEK Syndie ad sales swing upward Upfront take nears $2 Columbia TriStar, That billion, a mighty recovery '70s Show and Dharma from year ago & Greg from Twentieth, and Providence and She By Steve McClellan and Spies from MGM/NBC Allison Romano Media Sales. TV syndication ad sales are up sharply DeWitt said SNTA from a year ago, much to the relief of members indicated that sales executives, who endured their "the real strength in the worst season ever last year when the mar- market came from adver- ket tanked because of the recession. tisers who had been Gene DeWitt, president of the Syndi- strong in syndication in cated Network Television Association, esti- the past but had cut back last last year.