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- wwwbroadcastingcabIe.comIf .- -Thf z 54 S5 B&C'S ANNUAL RANKING The Top able SO ***** **************3-mGrT 591 BC075184 AUG99 REGB Z88 JOHN C JONNS014 KTIPO-TV 265 WATERTON WAY BULINGS, HT 59102-7755 li'..--:,-..7.....:.71»...H.:-::'>,...:-:.:'.../. www.americanradiohistory.com Don't min He'll just be staring at ESPN this fall fo gbout I iø ESP., INC www.americanradiohistory.com Football isn't just a pastime. It's a passion. And now, with a full season of NFL programming and NFL 2Night joining our already extensive lineup, ESPN offers more hours of football than any other network. So guys like this will have more than they can handle. T H E W O R L D W I D E L E A D E R I N S P O R T S cr---c ni. - iye sPORTscLwssic C-34IE3T- popo2 Es-r-n www.americanradiohistory.com http: //www.broadcastingcable.com Must Reading from 13Matb& Fast7rack April20, 1998 TOPO /6 Court KO's EEO FCC officials at week's end were mulling their legal options and the future of broadcast equal employment opportunity regulation after a devastating defeat. / 6 `Brooklyn' going south? CBS's Brooklyn South, the latest cop show from producer Steven Bochco, may not get another season and could be the latest drama casualty. / 10 UPN, Disney together again The final touches have been put on a four -year deal that brings the two -hour block of Disney product to UPN starting in fall 1999. / 11 the Anaheim Angels With help from Primestar, CBS Fox buys into Lakers After watching rival Walt Disney acquire Cable fires back at Coaxial Com- and Mighty Ducks sports franchises, Fox has bought its way into the Los Angeles Lakers munications in Columbus, Ohio, and may get a piece of the Los Angeles Kings and Clippers in the near future. 11 for dropping CBS's Country Mu- / sic Television last month. / 12 TCI looks to the Rainbow Tele- Communications Inc. likely will wind up with a majority interest in Rainbow Programming Services. but Rainbow executives will manage the venture. /14 BROADCASTING / 74 4 COVER STORY " `King' canceled Eyemark Entertainment, citing poor Cable's 57 million -sub club Aller ratings, canceled The Gayle King Show after just one sea- three years of dramatic consolidation, this son. The King program was averaging a 2.0 rating/8 share dear's list of the top 25 MSOs has barely nationally, according to Nielsen changed, with only Media Research. / 74 two large operators ABC closes San Francisco changing hands. /28 bureau With the retirement of tChuck Lillis remakes longtime network correspondent Ken Former US West Kashiwahara, ABC News will close MediaOne The Love Boat' resur- executive Chuck Lillis talks its 20- year-old San Francisco bureau faced with near- Titanic about the controversial Media - as part of its cost-cutting. / 74 ratings for UPN. / 76 One makeover and his thoughts TECHNOLOGY /85 on the future of cable. / 54 Cover photo by David Cornwell Panasonic talks progressive and interlace Panasonic's systems integration group will design. build and release of progressive -scan program- CABLE /65 equip a facility for the ming to ABC's 10 owned stations and its 213 affiliates. / 85 Cablevision launches local news franchise In a news center converted from a Bronx bowling alley, Cablevision Systems Corp. Chairman Chuck Dolan intro- CyberStar aims at satellite 'Net biz CyberStar duced a basic cable news channel last week. / 65 is on target to launch the first national satellite- delivered Internet consumer service. 87 Ergen sees hurdles in local fight Echostar Com- / munications Corp. Chairman Charlie Ergen expresses Changing Hands .. 83 Datebook 100 Fifth Estater 101 reservations about the outcome of his fight to carry local Classified 88 Editorials 106 For the Record.... 98 broadcast stations on his Dish network. / 66 Closed Circuit .... 18 Fates & Fortunes . 102 In Brief 104 WE'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH CLASSIC BONE THE NEW FACE STRUCTURE. OF MMIV MA) COMEDY. ILL 4 April 20 1998 Broadcasting & Cable www.americanradiohistory.com It's our programming they love. It's our marke ' that attracts them. Both the 1997 BetalS, -Áj Advertising Age confirmed our a":±_r_; gnetism. A &E ranked second for NU /2 Channel and Quality. A &E ranked fourth for Importance to Enjoyment of Cable. Advertising Age named A &EE997 Cable TV Marketer of the Year. Escape the ordinary. WESTERN CENTRAL NORTHEAST SOUTHEAST MID- ATLANTIC 3ANADiA (310) 286 -3000 (312) 819-1486 (212) 210-9190 (404) 816.8880 (212) 210-1485 (212) 218 -9124 SOME. Y A RESEARCH CABLE SUBSCRIBER STUDI; MOINNER 199RÁ UtEEEV6EOdI *ORBS All RIGHTS RESERVED. PHOTO: CMIUIR SEl6EE OUTIINI II11! www.americanradiohistory.com Broadcasting & Cable Court KO's EEO In case involving Missouri radio stations, court says FCC's rules are unconstitutional By Chris McConnell fill vacancies quickly. "It's the federal government FCC officials at week's end ............, telling you how to run your were mulling their legal business," adds Udel Richar- options and the future of son, president of wcTo(AM) broadcast equal employment Columbia, S.C. Richardson opportunity regulation after suf- says he has encountered no fering a devastating defeat in their problem meeting the require- efforts to defend the 27- year -old ments, but adds that the rules program. c have posed problems for sta- Reviewing sanctions imposed on tions in other markets. Clayton, Mo.'s KFUO -AM -FM for Other broadcasters are look- violations of the commission's EEO ing forward to reduced paper- ..--;::::-.71 rules, a three -judge panel of the U.S. ^¡ñ =^r - work. wATB(AM) Cumming, Ga.. Court of Appeals in Washington .....",.^:° "°- >w,..-. General Manager Barry Holt found the rules unconstitutional ;w : says that his station has hired and overturned requirements that . additional staff just to docu- ... _-.. __. -...',1.- °¡== stations actively recruit minorities. ment its recruiting efforts. "Even assuming that the com- Hubbard Broadcasting's mission's interests were com- Robert Hubbard agrees that pelling, its EEO regulations are _ the EEO paperwork "feels quite obviously not narrowly tai- goal to be gone." lored," Judge Laurence Silber- But both Holt and Hub- man wrote. bard add that they plan to The ruling, if it survives an expect- maintain their minority ed appeal, would eliminate rules that recruiting efforts. "We're going require TV and radio stations to establish to be very aggressive in maintaining If the court's ruling stands, FCC EEO and maintain programs aimed at recruit- a diverse work force," adds Cosmos paperwork will be a thing of the past. ing minorities. Stations are required to Broadcasting President James Keelor. document those efforts and to file annual argued both points when the FCC con- Such assurances did not appease employment reports with regulators. ducted a 1994 inquiry into its EEO rules. civil rights activists and other support- Reviewing the rules, the judges Last week, however, industry leaders ers of the rule. Two days after the deci- rejected FCC efforts to defend the were avoiding a show of public applause. sion, Rainbow Coalition founder Jesse recruiting requirements on the basis of They said stations will still seek minority Jackson met with Assistant Attorney promoting diversity in programming. employees, despite the court ruling. "We General for Civil Rights Bill Lan Lee "The commission never defines exact- are confident that broadcasting execu- to discuss the decision. ly what it means by 'diverse program- tives will continue to diversify their work "We urged the attorney general and ming,- Silberman wrote. "The gov- force," National Association of Broad- the president to appeal this decision," ernment's formulation of the interest casters President Eddie Fritts said. Jackson said after the meeting. He seems too abstract to be meaningful." "Broadcasters are in the business of added that he hopes this week to discuss The current rules also require sta- trying to reach as many people as possi- the case with Attorney General Janet tions to undertake the same efforts to ble," added James Hedlund, president Reno as well as President Clinton. recruit women. Although last week's of the Association of Local Television Commerce Department Assistant ruling did not address that portion of Stations. Capstar Broadcasting Partners Secretary Larry Irving said the admin- the EEO program, judges indicated the was quick to issue a statement pledging istration will be working with the FCC same rationale would apply to a review to maintain its existing EEO program. to determine its next course of action. of those requirements. But other broadcasters say that they "If it stands, it could have a devastat- Broadcasters have long complained will not miss the EEO rules and the ing effect," Irving said of the ruling. Of that the EEO rules impose paperwork threat of sanctions. "I regard it as help- broadcast industry pledges to maintain headaches. Smaller stations serving com- ful," Larry Fuss, president /general man- recruiting efforts. Irving added, "Rules munities with a small minority popula- ager of WDTL -FM Cleveland, Miss., says aren't in place for the good actors. tion have also argued they have trouble of the court's decision. Fuss maintains There are some broadcasters who will offering salaries high enough to attract that the recruiting requirements make it slide backwards." and retain minorities. Broadcasters difficult for stations in small markets to FCC Chairman William Kennard 6 April 20 1998 Broadcasting & Cable www.americanradiohistory.com The Jerry Springer Show has been called a lot of things lately, but neuer this... www.americanradiohistory.com 1 JERRY SPRINGER'S THE FIRST TALK SHOW TO BEAT OPRAH IN A SWEEP. F e b r u a r y 1 9 9 8 H H Ratings 1.Jerry Springer 8.7 2.Cprah Winfrey 8.4 3.