BroadcastingoDec10 Reaching over 117,000 readers every week 60th Year 1990 TELEVISION / 56 RADIO / 96 BUSINESS / 91 SATELLITE / 105 INTV: `Little train' Tribune examines Weak retail SkyPix and Comsat end chugs toward L.A.; British radio channel market impacts talks, questioning Tic Tac Dough' departs joint ventures TV advertising each other's bankability ' l WBZ -TV BOSTON (NBC) ACCESS! KDFW -TV DALLAS (CBS) EARLY NEWS LEAD -IN! WJZ -TV BALTIMORE (ABC) NETWORK NEWS DOW ADJACENCY! WISP -TV WKRC -TV TAMPA (ABC) CINCINNATI (ABC) EARLY -LATE FRINGE EARLY -LATE FRINGE DOUBLE RUN! PLUS DOUBLE RUN! MANY OTHERS! JOIN THE UPWARD TREND! 65266 VM 3NV)IOdS 3AV 3NOOfl ZO S 3 n VOV 7N05 AäV2l8I l At SU87 T6/030 )13A 68663qS0ä3E15266 266 I I01 G-f:********* * *, **= *w RELEASED FROM CROSBY LIBRARY GONZAGA UNIVERSITY I hear Warner Bros. is already on the road with something big in first-run for the fall. Is that so? r 1\2_1jrßr-á D2 has expanded the li It was only a matter of time. Now Sony D-2 Now it can cc composite digital video offers broadcasters some- thing they've been waiting for. Time compression. It's an option now available on the DVR -18, Sony's c three hour D -2 VTR. c The DVR -18's time With the DVR-18's optional time e compression, you can squeeze more out of the time you've got. e compression and expansion feature is remarkably advanced. A single plug -in module provides full audio data recovery as well as precise digital pitch correction for two stereo pairs of audio signals at The DVR -18 gives you ti the same time. For example, your main audio compressed program without losing a generation. channels and your SAP. All without the need for Of course, the DVR -18's time compression The DVR -18's pitch correction any external equipment. makes it easy to keep your audio in tune, without the need Plus, the DVR -18 gives you Sony's advanced for external equipment. picture processing for the highest quality video playback. And since it's digital, you'll get a time and expansion isn't the only reason why broad- nits of video and audio. repress them. The DVR -18 also has an optional serial digital interface. Which means simple, convenient e connection to other digital equipment. C When you compare the size of a Sony DVR -18 to a regular 1 -inch video tape recorder, you'll find FC the DVR -18 to be about three times smaller. That's t e a pretty big advantage to a TV station, where C space is always at a premium. To find out more information about the , The DVR-18 lets you compress tion of time compression. four audio signals at the same time. casters should consider D -2. The DVR -18 offers DVR -18, call 1 -800- 635 -SONY. recognizable color pictures at shuttle speeds up Because if you haven't thought about to 100X play speed. It can also accommodate all what Sony D-2 technology can do for your station, three D -2 cassette sizes. So it can give you a full maybe now is the time. three hour capacity. And it can pre- stripe tape stock SONY at three times normal speed for insert editing. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL GROUP m4 n 0m n m n m -r I Broadcasting LI Dec 10 THIS WEEK will be notified their torch bearer for The Challengers was 47 / CABLE of fates this week or next. independent stations. To downgraded from 3 p.m. COMPETITION foster increased station on WLS -TV Chicago to 2:30 STANDARDS participation and sales, the a.m., and sources have 53 / MARKEY INTV convention indicated that WNBC -TV New The FCC is set to issue AGENDA planning board has instituted York is ready to move the new effective competition a to promote show of its Passage of a contest out coveted 7:30 standards for the cable visitation of distributors' p.m. slot. industry, which could bring comprehensive cable regulation bill is House screening suites. the basic service of most However, 18 companies that cable systems under Telecommunications 67 / SOMETHING Subcommittee Chairman screened at last year's municipal regulation. The INTV gathering have pulled SPECIAL FCC is proposing a three -part Ed Markey's top priority. out this year to possibly Advertising expenditures test: systems whose The subcommittee concentrate declining budgets in Hispanic TV and radio penetration exceed 50% or chairman also plans to on NATPE's Jan. 14 -18 increased to $480 million - who have six broadcast develop separate International Program plus in 1990, even as this stations in the market would legislation addressing the Conference. segment of the media be subject to regulation. issue of permitting industry continued to Other tests would likely telephone companies to offer outpace its English include the amount of video services. -language multichannel video 59 / SWEPT OUT counterparts. Advertisers are coming to the table, but competition and "a good 56 / INTV HANGS Post- November sweeps actors" test. the industry is still grappling TOUGH results claimed the first with problems of audience official game show definition and measurement. 49 /DEIAYU Despite the growing casualty last week, with ITC In both TV and radio, number of distributors Domestic Television ratings services are in heated According to Nielsen declining to screen new informing clients that it will battles for market Media Research, the number programs for the Jan. 3 -5 discontinue distribution dominance. Meanwhile, of prime time programs INTV convention in Los March 8. Among other first - programers of Spanish- far this season is repeated so Angeles, INTV officials say run game show strips language TV have ever larger 37, up 48% from the 25 the lobbying organization facing the battle for survival, libraries from which to programs repeated up to this remains a healthy and vital Buena Vista Television's choose, and Hispanic radio point a year ago. More An inside look at Hispanic communications (page 67) operators continue to reruns are seen as a network thrive with techniques strategy to keep costs borrowed from English - down in revenue -scarce a language radio. Using Networks fourth quarter. narrowcasting and niche are also putting off schedule targeting to compete with changes and cancellations mainstream stations, they until first quarter 1991 to are winning in markets such avoid losing advertising as Miami, Los Angeles, money. That also means New York and San Antonio. fewer holiday specials. 50 /IT'S IN THE MAIL 85 / FRIENDLY COMPETITION Producers are awaiting word from the networks on In an unusual what will happen with arrangement, Fox affiliate many first -year shows. All of WOLF -TV Scranton, Pa., the networks have given has reached an agreement back-end orders to most of with the ABC affiliate their new shows, but there to air woLF-TV's 10 each -with the exception of p.m. newscast exclusively ABC-have at least a on the competitor's airwaves. couple first -year series that It all begins Jan. 2, 1991. 6 This Week Broadcasting Dec 10 t!!0 and vowed their plans for the 86 / LOOKING TO newest generation of NEXT YEAR direct -to-home TV will There were no become reality, together breakthrough deals for new or separately. programers at the Western Cable Show, but most 107 / NEW MEDIA express confidence they will be able to weather A group of Western media another difficult year in experts gathered in Prague to 1991 as they search for help Czechoslovakians channel space and redraft their country's new operator interest in carrying media law. them. 91 / HOLIDAY BLUES 110 / NO EASY Retail spending by CHOICE consumers is expected to be Faults with all three of the off this Christmas, which FCC's proposed bands for is bad news for TV stations digital audio broadcasting that have developed a were discussed in comments dependency on ad revenue to the commission's from department stores, WARC -92 inquiry. But one discounters and other proposal, 1493 -1525 retailers. A survey of TV Rerunning network shows such as The Wonder Years' is one way to curb fourth -quarter costs (page 49) MHz, seemed to emerge as sales managers indicates a the most realistic option. gloomy holiday season, its interpretation of the ethics pointed less to doubts The National Association of with several looking at new rules, making them "more about SkyPix's digital video Broadcasters said that the marketing methods to responsive, more consistent compression technology FCC "cannot be rushed" and bring in new money. with the ethics law," said than to the ability of each should not choose any the FCC general counsel. party to raise money. Both DAB band until transmission 96 / TRIBUNE KICKS companies said they remain system design questions TIRES champions of mid -power are answered. 102 / FIN -SYN EN Tribune Broadcasting has BANC HEARING been quietly checking out INDEX British communication Rich Frank, president of Founded in 1931 as Broathasting. the Advertisers Index 134 companies to determine Walt Disney Studios, is News Magazine of the Fifth Estate. Business 91 Broadcasting- Telecasting* introduced whether, and with whom, expected to use the Dec. in 1946. Television* acquired in 1961. Cable 86 to form a joint venture for a 14 FCC fin -syn en banc Cablecasting* introduced in 1972. hearing to push for Cablecastings 90 Broadcasting /Cable introduced in 1989. new national "speech" "'Reg U.S. Patent Office. Copyright Hands 92 (news /talk) channel to be modification of the prime Changing 1990 by Broadcasting Publications Inc. allocated on the AM band time access rule. Disney Classified Advertising 124 Incorporating by the U.K.