Than EBU /OIRT to Put Everything
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meetings were more frequent. ings, pulling ABC back into a tie with CBS winter Olympics ever televised. But the coordination process proved for the season. Over the two weeks of prime-time difficult because with 37 European coun- For that week, the games accounted for coverage, ABC averaged a 23.7/37 -an tries participating, authority had to be two -thirds of ABC's programing -29 of 44 11% increase in rating and a 12% increase granted by each to spend money on half- hours -and produced a 22.6 average in share over the Innsbruck coverage. specific items. This was turning out to be a rating and 35 share. Figures show that 38 million viewers per cumbersome process, with little progress With the cost per commercial minute average minute watched these Olympics, being made, and one year ago CTV finally $135,000 for the Olympic games, ABC compared with 31 million per average got the authority to spend money on had 25 major advertisers committing at minute for Innsbruck, and ABC research behalf of the world's broadcasters. least $800,000 worth of advertising time estimates that 170 million people nation- The Canadians were in a better position each. wide watched some or all of the coverage. than EBU /OIRT to put everything But if advertisers were pleased with the together, given their familiarity with the first week's results, they were no doubt One of the most popular pastimes at the United States, and the close proximity. But happier when the next batch of figures was Olympic games was trading and selling it was still a monumental job, and the revealed. pins: small charms with logos of com- Canadians insist that a host broadcaster, For 201/4 hours of prime -time coverage panies or teams, some with flags of vari- providing all the necessary services, will the second week, ending Feb. 24, ABC, ous nations, and some with the Olympic be absolutely essential in future Olympics. averaged a 24.5 share and a 38 rating. This rings. One of the hardest pins to find was Johnny Esaw, vice president for sports was up from 21.2/33 for the second week that of the Taiwan team, which was barred at CTV, said there would be "bitter op- of the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics -a jump from participating in events under its position" from Canadian and European of 16% in both rating and share. In addi- own flag and went home. But by far the broadcasters if there were not a true host tion, the Saturday (Feb. 23.) telecast, with most popular pins were those with the for the 1984 summer Olympics in Los a 28.9/47, had the highest rating of any ABC logo, different varieties of which sur- Angeles, which ABC will also televise. Colson thinks that ABC isn't equipped to be a host, simply because of the structure of American television. The Europeans, he said, are used to a system where things are done on a cooperative basis, and BET to show. Paramount Studios' pay TV division will make 16 black- oriented films although ABC tried to accommodate the available to Black Entertainment Television, cable satellite programer that began world, it simply was not in a position to do transmitting two hours weekly of programing -mostly movies -on Jan. 25. so. "We'll insist before we sign notes that someone provide us with the basic re- interna- quirements: a world picture and Riding on TV. Television stations in 85 cities have signed to carry finals of Houston con- tional sound delivered to our master Livestock Show Rodeo from Astrodome as one -hour special during period between to Col- trol. We also want space operate," Thursday (March 6) and March 17. Program was taped by Blair Pro -Rodeo Enterprises, design a building and son said. "We won't division of John Blair & Co., and marks beginning of second year of production of had to pay for it by the square foot." (They professional rodeos for telecast. Latest rodeo special will be sponsored by Toyota, Adolph in Lake Placid.) pay $33 a square foot Coors Co., Levi Strauss & Co., Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. and Curtis Mathes Co. (TV set unhappy about The Japanese were also manufacturer). Blair Pro -Rodeo produced and distributed three programs in 1979 and seem nearly the lack of a host, but did not plans to double output in 1980. as upset as the Canadians or Europeans. Toshioki Tanaka, of NHK, said: "We're O happy so far, except for some circuit trou- Attention: writers. Writers Guild of America East Foundation is offering eight fellowships ble and the blackout. In principal, ABC in screen and television writing, each with a stipend of $3,500. Applications and details isn't the host, but they're trying very hard. may be obtained from foundation at 555 West 57th Street, New York, 10019. Our operation is going very well" O The faces in the ABC control room at Syndicator's note. KTU TV) Los Angeles has signed 10 -year renewal for Levy- Gardner- Lake Placid were familiar. Roone Arledge, Laven Productions' The Rifleman, assuring former ABC -TV show of 27 years of continuous president of ABC News and Sports, was showings, according to Dick Colbert of Colbert Television Sales. Program is now seen in 30 executive producer of the coverage, while markets, but Los Angeles has distinction of having show longest. Jim McKay, long -time ABC commentator, o was host. There were also familiar faces at the In. Three new shows will be joining CBS -TV prime -time line -up: The Tim Conway Show, events: Frank Gifford, Chris Schenkel, Al one -hour comedy- variety series, will debut Saturday, March 22,8-9 p.m. NYT, replacing The Michaels, Bill Flemming. Chisholms. Conway is Dummy Productions project, Joe Hamilton, executive producer. But covering these Olympics was tricky; Flo, spin -off of Warner Bros Alice, will premiere Monday, March 24, 8:30 -9, replacing for the first few days, the stories concern- House Calls. Ron Landry, Tom Biener and George Geiger are supervising producers. ing problems at Lake Placid, such as the Universal Television's The Contender will debut Thursday, April 3, in special 90- minute faulty transportation system, grabbed as episode at 10- 11:30, replacing Knots Landing. Jon Epstein is executive producer. much attention as the events. The calls to Chisoims, House Calls and Knots Landing have not been canceled by CBS, however. ABC concerning its coverage were mixed: CI some viewers were incensed that ABC was ignoring the problems, while others Four In a row. Hallmark Cards Inc. has committed to its fourth Hallmark Hall of Fame complained that the network was paying presentation on CBS -TV for 1980 -81 season. Norman Rosemont Productions, in too much attention to the problems, and association with Marble Arch Productions, will produce Charles Dickens's "Tale of Two year not enough to the games. One ABC Cities" It will be Hallmark's 137th production and begin 30th of series. spokesman remarked that that must mean they were.doing their job well. And from Columbia Pictures Television... Production has been temporarily shut down Press reports about the coverage were on six -hour NBC -TV miniseries, Beulah Land, after Feb. 19 heart attack of director, Virgil also hot and cold, but the ratings showed Vogel, on location in Natchez, Miss. David Gerber is executive producer. Columbia has also that the viewing public was very much in- announced that The Quiz Kids, half -hour weekly children's show, will go into production terested in the coverage. March 1 at WNAC -TV Boston for RKO Television Stations. For the first week, the Olympics gave ABC a 2.5 -point win in the prime -time rat- Broadcasting Mar 3 1980 57 .