BC-1988-05-09.Pdf
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The Fifth Estate R A D I O T E L E V I S I O N C A B L E S A T E L L I T E MI iroadcasti ng ii May 9 FIRST WE LISTEN lrnerica's Most Responsive Radio Networks 21I9E 1V M1'XdYN Sett 9G1E ZZT iGt Sds-lntt ZTI9L 10 cé/AOtti )17I +7c4.71 Meet the local muscle. The GOLDEN GIRLS. They're your insurance policy against the competition. They proved it three years in a row by dominating the most competitive battle- ground on television, the toughest turf in the business, Saturday night. They shot down everything the networks could throw at them. Action hours, sitcoms, the Olympics, the World Series, and even such blockbuster movies as Superman and Rocky Ill. GOLDEN GIRLS is the kind of break- through show that brings people to a set, and keeps them there all night. Its appoint- ment TV and ifs the only show available for at least the next five years with the muscle to change an entire daypart. Its your last chance to anchor and elevate complete program blocks, even in the most com- petitive television environment ever. The GOLDEN GIRLS. If they've got the firepower to blow away Superman and the World Series, imagine what they could do for you. The toughest bunch of mothers on TV. Available for Fall 1990 or 1991. GOLDEN GIRLS c 1988 Touchstone'ictures and Television ¡ Vol 114 No. 19 BroadcastingeMay9j 2111111 Sizzle and substance at NCTA 88 page 23 NBC stakes claim in cable page 24 Viacom ends first round of `Cosby' marketing page 29 SKETCHING OUT THE DIMENSIONS D ABC's Nigh/tine France, for 1988 MIP -TV international programing provides seven -and -a -half hours of coverage from market. International TV business is growing fast Israel, providing, in host Ted Koppel's view, context and mood of show and industry is upbeat. But some to Arab -Israeli problem. PAGE 30. problems are evident as MIP -TV market unfolds. Coverage of event begins on PAGE 46. LEAVING 'nix o Tim McDonald resigns as president of TVX Broadcast Group, following completion of MOTIVATED D Two 24 -hour motivational networks for financing for purchase of Taft stations. PAGE 30. AM stations target new demographic niche. PAGE 56. NcrA 88 o Almost 14,000 gather in Los Angeles for NCTAs annual convention, where programing, SO FAR, SO GOOD FOR CABLE . Amid reports technology and legislative matters draw industry of cable's growing penetration and revenues, attention, PAGE 23. HDTV is again in spotlight, PAGE allegations of anticompetitive activity are being 31. Hill aide, Mark MacCarthy, says burden is on heard. So far, government agencies appear to see cable to prove that telcos should continue to be no reason to act, but some on Hill are concerned. excluded from cable business, PAGE 32. Republican PAGE 59. Senator Alan Simpson from Wyoming says Senator Al Gore's (D-Tenn.) TVRO bill is not moving this year, TURNED DOWN O FCC KOED but aide to Gore says it will "come up in some form," rejects Inc.'s application for renewal of its license to noncommercial KOEC(TV) PAGE 37. Pay cable services show new growth, PAGE San Francisco. 39. Home shopping networks expected to be $2- Company will appeal, says KoED president and CEO, Tiano. PAGE 61. billion business by 1990, PAGE 40. Clearwater, Fla. - Anthony based Home Shopping Network plans new 24 -hour cable network that would report on entertainment CTS NEWSMAN D CBS's Eric Ober has spent 20 of his industry, PAGE 41. The Movie Channel unveils new 22 years at network directly connected to news. look, backed by marketing campaign in excess of That involvement in newsroom decisions, he says, $5 million, PAGE 42. has provided "preparation for everything I've had to do in life," including readying him for his most PROGRAMING IN PARADISE D Almost 7,000 program current post as president of CBS Television Stations. buyers, sellers and producers meet in Cannes, PAGE 87. INDEX TO DEPARTMENTS Business 52 Fifth Estater 87 Masthead 20 Riding Gain 57 Cablecastings 54 For the Record 70 The Media 69 Satellite Footprints 69 Changing Hands 64 In Brief 88 Monday Memo 21 Special Repon 31 Closed Circuit 6 In Sync 68 On Radio 56 Stock Index 58 Datebook 18 Journalism 65 Open Mike 20 Technology 67 Editorials 90 Law & Regulation 59 Programing 46 Where Things Stand 10 Fates & Fortunes 83 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS: American Chiopractic Assn. 71 D American Stock Exchange 57 o Blackburn Capital Marxets 64 D Black Entertainment Television 43 D Buena Vista Television Covers 2, 3. 4 D Chaplin & Millar. Inc. 56 D Cinetex '88 33 D Classified Ads 75 -82 0 Communications Equity Associates 67 0 Norman Fischer & Associates, Inc. 66 D Georgia. The University of 35 o Group W Productions 12 -13 c Harris 7 0 Heller Financial 65 D King World 16 -17 0 L'Ermitage Hotels Cover 5 D Lorimar Syndication 4 -5 0 Media Venture Partners 68 D National Bank of Washington, The 43 D Professional Cards 73 0 Services Directory 72 0 Showtime/The Movie Channel, Inc. 8 -9 D Joe Sullivan and Associates, Inc. 83 D Tribune Entertainment Co. 22 D United Stations Radio Networks Front Cover o Ward -Beck Systems Ltd. Cover 6 o Broadcasting (ISSN 0007 -2028) is published 52 Mondays a year by Broadcasting Publications. 1705 DeSales Street. N W Washington. D C 20036 Second -class postage paid at Washington J and additional offices Single issue $2 except special issues $3 50 (50th Anniversary issue $10). Subscriptions. U S. and possessions one year $70. two years $135. three years $190. Canadian and other international subscribers add $20 per year. U S. and possessions $235 yearly for special delivery S100 for first -class. Subscribers occupation required. Annually: Broadcasts rig D Cablecast ing Yearbook $110 Across the Dial $695. Microfilm of Broadcasting is available from University Microfilms. 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. Mich 48106 (35mm, full year $55). Microfiche of Broadcasting is available Irom Bell 8 Howell. Micro Photo Mansfield Road. 44691 Division. Old wboster, Ohio ($37/yr.) Postmaster please send address corrections to Broadcasting. 1 705 DeSales St . N W Wa,h,ngton. D C 20036 'C- ((i1osed Ci: _1 ability of stations to generate profits three to five cents per subscriber per On or off? despite ups and downs of network month beginning next year. That may not programing. Ober said that potentially in seem like much, but one operator said Some confusion emerged last week over offing is purchase of station in sunbelt reason for tentative nature of proposal was state of talks between NBC and Turner market. that increase would call for alterations in Broadcasting System concerning possible some existing contracts. That caveat may distribution of some events from summer make pitch for increase tougher, despite Olympic games on cable. Last week, Concerned over Cerritos BET's partial ownership by Tele- network affiliate sources said they had Communications Inc. Financial News FCC could wind up hearing from Senate received word from NBC that talks broke Network is looking in its Communications Subcommittee Chairman also at adjustments off, and that there would be no cable rate card, to three -and -a -half cents in year Daniel Inouye (D- Hawaii) if commissioners distribution. But NBC executives one, five -and -a -half cents in year two and sanction Common Carrier Bureau decision maintained last week they had not ruled out seven -and -a -half cents in year three in new last month to grant waiver to General some form of cable carriage deal with contracts, up from roughly two -plus cents Telephone Co. to own and subcontract Turner, albeit one where NBC controlled all currently. building and operation of cable system to advertising connected with cable NBC did not disclose its fee structure for serve city of Cerritos, Calif. (BROADCASTING, exhibition. Still, any form of cable carriage Tempo, but sources said the network was April 18). Inouye, at private luncheon with with upcoming Olympic games did not talking about a rate somewhere between cable executives during last week's settle well with some affiliates contacted four and 10 cents per subscriber per National Cable Television Association last week. "We've been selling those games month. Coming down the pike will be Turner convention, stated his concern about very well, based on exclusivity," said one Network Television, which plans to charge bureau's action and indicated Congress station executive. Big sales pitch, he said, operators 15 cents next year. might into it," if was that viewers would only be able to see "look the "FCC proceeds with games from one source -NBC. this interpretation," senator told BROADCASTING. NCTA will ask FCC to reconsider decision as well as file appeal in Fighting the pirates court. Call for contributions Frustrated by runaway piracy of scrambled satellite signals, companies involved in Group W Radio President Dick Harris, head Vote of confidence home satellite industry would like to work in of new National Association of concert to limit piracy by, among other Broadcasters fund -raising task force on Judging from early program renewals for things, more carefully controlling radio music licensing, is sending out letter fall, not yet announced, ABC's program distribution of programing and using to 30 station executives and group heads development last season was best effort in Videocipher II descrambling technology. To soliciting support in raising $1 million from several seasons. Three new shows from that end, Satellite Broadcasting and industry. Money will be used both to pay off season just ended were given early Communications Association, principal remaining legal debt (about $250,000) renewals last week -Hooperman, group representing home satellite industry, from last round of negotiations with ASCAP thirtysomething and mid -season's Wonder plans to ask Justice Department this week and BMI, which ended early last year, and Years.