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I I TOP OF THE WEEK I I second -quarter financial results, released Blair entertainment showed an increased be represented by ABC Television Spot last Thursday. A special $17.4- million loss and operating income also declined for Sales. Commenting on the transfer, which charge was equally offset by a gain on the Blair's owned stations and representation will probably take place in the next few disposal of Blair's printing operations. business. months, Michael P. Mallardi, president of Both operating and net income for Blair The company's television representation Capital Cities/ABC's broadcasting division showed improvement, largely as a result of a division received some bad, but not totally said: "Only the unusual circumstances and reported improvement at the company's di- unexpected, news last week when Capital opportunities created by the Capital Cit- rect marketing subsidiary, ADVO systems, Cities /ABC announced it was withdrawing ies /ABC merger have caused this change." which showed a $5 million operating profit, its four stations: KFSN1 -TV Fresno, Calif.; Reliable sources have estimated Blair's an- compared to an operating loss of $5.7 mil- WTVD(TV) Raleigh, N.C.; WPVI-TV Philadel- nual commission income from the four sta- lion in the previous year's second quarter. phia, and KTRK -TV Houston, which will now tions at approximately $6 million. Fox network begins to take shape

Stations so far affiliated company's total reach would be by March Chicago (ch. 32), KDAF -TV Dallas (ch. 33), represent 80% of U.S. TV homes, 1987, when the prime time program service wTTG(TV) (ch. 5) and KRIV -TV all but two top -30 markets is launched. "The critical threshold is the Houston (ch. 26). Other major independent 80% we've reached at this point," he said. station groups participating in the FBC ser- Anchored by six of its owned -and -operated "Many of the skeptics should now be im- vice so far include Cox, Malrite Communi- stations in the top IO markets, Fox Broad- pressed with the wide acceptance of FBC." cations, Meredith Broadcasting, Outlet casting Co. revealed its first 79 affiliates last So far, FBC has announced three pro- Communications, Scripps- Howard, Taft, week. All of the stations are independents, grams for its prime time package, including TVX Corp. and United Television. The although Fox has indicated it will pursue two situation comedies and one hour-long, complete list follows: agreements with network affiliates in those action -adventure series. The include markets for (accounting about 15% of the Down and Out in Beverly Hills, based on the Market (Rank) Station (Channel)Owner country) where independents are not on the movie of the same title by Disney's Touch- air. With the exception of two markets, FBC stone films, and Duet from Gary David New York (1) WNYW (5) Fox has secured an affiliate in each of the top 30 Goldberg in association with Paramount. (2) KTTV (5) Fox markets. The two exceptions are Boston and The action show is Jump Street Chapel, Chicago (3) WFLD (32) Fox Philadelphia (4) (29) Taft . Fox is in the process of acquir- from Stephen J. Productions. In WTAF Cannell Oc- (5) KTVU (2) Cox ing wxNE(TV) Boston (ch. 25) and will not tober, FBC will launch Gate Night with Joan Boston (6) talk about any plans it has for the station Rivers, a one -hour . All the inde- Detroit (7) WKBD (50) Cox until the deal is done, but it is assumed the pendent affiliates have signed two -year com- Dallas (8) KDAF (33) Fox station will be FBC's Boston affiliate. In mitments to carry both the Rivers late night Washington (9) WTTG (5) Fox Milwaukee, FBC is close to signing WCGV- show and the full prime time program pack- Houston (10) KRIV (26) Fox (11) 19 Inc. TV (ch. 24), company executives said last WOIO (19) Ch. age. Fox officials say there will be some Pittsburgh (12) WPGH (53) Meredith week. flexibility in agreements reached with net- (13) KCPQ (13) Kelly The current lineup covers about 80% of work affiliates. (14) WCIX (6) Taft U.S. television homes, including 44 of the Thirteen of the first 79 FBC affiliates are (15) WATL (36) Outlet top 50 markets. David Hilton, vice presi- VHF stations and the remaining 66 affiliates Minneapolis (16) KMSP (9) United dent, affiliate relations, FBC, said agree- UHF. The Fox -owned Tampa (17) WTOG (44) Hubbard station group is the St. Louis (18) KDNL (30) Cox ments with several other stations in the low- largest participating group in the major mar- (19) KDVR (31) Camella er part of the top 50 were close to kets and includes WNYW -TV New York (ch. Sacramento (20) KTXL (40) Camella completion. He declined to project what the 5), KTTV(TV) Los Angeles (ch 5), WFLD -TV Baltimore (21) WBFF (45) Chesapeake Phoenix (22) KNXV (15) Scripps -Howard Indianapolis (23) WXIN (59) Outlet Hartford (24) WTIC (61) Chase Outsider lunches off limits at FCC Portland. Ore. (25) KPTV (12) United (26) XETV (6) Bay City TV Radically altering the (Tquana) ground rules for what has been a way of doing business for Orlando (27) WOFL (35) Meredith years, the FCC is developing a new interpretation of its ethics rules to prohibit Cincinnati (29) WXIX (19) Malrite commissioners and staff from accepting entertainment or lunches of any value from Kansas City (30) KSHB (41) Scripps- Howard lobbyists and others who have interests before the agency. The exceptions: FCC Nashville (31) WCAY (30) TVX Columbus (33) WTTE (28) Chesapeake personnel may still accept free meals that are incidental to a business purpose; for New Orleans (34) WNOL (38) TVX example, at a banquet where they are giving a speech. There is another exception Oklahoma City (36) KAUT (43) Heritage for friends and personal relationships. But the rest of the freebies are out. Some (38) KSTU (20) Adams Comm. commission personnel last week were interpreting the restrictions as applying to Raleigh (39) WLFL (22) TVX Memphis (40) WMKW (30) TVX meals with reporters covering the agency. Grand Rapids (41) WXMI (17) TV 17 According to an FCC official, the commission started looking at its ethical rules Providence (42) WSTG (64) Prov TV'Unlld after Commissioner Patricia Diaz Dennis requested guidance when she arrived at Harrisburg (44) WPMT (43) Mohawk the agency. Officials had originally advised her and other FCC personnel to refrain San Antonio (45) KRRT (35) TVX Norfolk (46) TVX from accepting lunches WTVZ (33) from interested parties that exceeded $35 ( "Closed Circuit," Birmingham (47) WDBB (17) Channel 17 Assoc. July 28). The decision that a tougher standard was required arose after the agency Dayton (48) WRGT (45) Dayton TV subsequently consulted with the Office of Personnel Management's Office of Govern- Louisville (49) WDRB (41) Blade Comm. ment Ethics. Greensboro (50) WNRW (45) TVX Albany (51) WXXA (23) Albany TV Inc. An FCC official said ethical standards presented a "gray area" and that federal Shreveport (53) KMSS (33) Media South agencies had leeway in interpreting them. "The fact that we are applying the rules Flint (54) WSMH (66) Flint Broad. this way does not mean other agencies will be," the source said. Little Rock (55) KJTM (38) TVX The ultimate decision to go with the "no freebies" standard, which some fear may W Palm Beach (56) WELK (29) Malrite Mobile (57) WPMI (15) Hess isolate the commissioners from their constituents, was made by Chairman Mark I.Mehaa (59) KSAS (24) Channel 24 Ltd. Fowler. Jacksonville (61) WANG (30) Mainte Albuquerque (62) KGSW (14) Provi Journ

Broadcasting Aug 4 1986