,'Cahnersa $49E roadcastingiCab www.broadcastingcaG le.c cirf r RUN Syndication's newcomers brace for the race Nielsen rates neowner Bi g -dia line` ufor- WIIIIIIIIIIIIII1111IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII **i ***********+f**if*3-DIGIT 591 hi -tech V/C s BCC 751 84 AUGOO REGB 192 r ! JOF N C JOHNSON KT p-TV 26! WATERTON WAY ISPECIAL REPORT BILLINGS. MT 59102-7755 Digital cable programmin www.americanradiohistory.com Discovery Digital Networks ranks tti among people likely to subscribe to a digital cable package and among emerging networks that operators are most interested in carrying. Source: ..999 Beta Cable Subscribers study '1999 Beta Cable Operator study In-depth information on topics viewers care about. The quality of a digital picture with í. the high standards and appea of Discovery programming. Interactivity, dedicated web sites with chat rooms tied to programming topics. This is the future of television and Discovery Digital Networks is leading the ay. ouery NETWORKS CI t11ÇL ® oscoyerypeopie F o r e i m o r n f o r m a t i o n p l e a s e c o n t a c t w w w. d i s c o v er y. c o m D o n n a T h o m a s at 7 0 4. 5 5 7 2 4 5 3 www.americanradiohistory.com ßro1casipCaIe August 23.1999 www.broadcaatingcalle.com Volume 129 Number 35 TOP OF THE WEEK / 4 Cable deals on hold FCC not eager to grant ownership- cap relief for AT &T's plann( d MediaOne takeover. / ii Encore's billion -dolly r play Movie deal to link with tech - nology touted as `the future )f pay TV.' /9 Media giants play PI R field Replay's investment round follows stakes taken in rival I'iVo. / 10 FCC proves weak ca ble ally On open access, agency says both sides' arguments r gay rest on faulty premises. / 12 Kweis Mfume Clinton PSA a hit Ant -violence ad gets prime time on 30 NAACP sees boycotts : head networks. / 12 `Whitewash' backlash brings t eats against For more late-bre eking news, see "In Brief" Big Four. advertisers and talen agencies. 4 / on , rages 60-61 On track for first run 15 rew shows are putting OADCASTING / 35 the finishing touches on their pre niere episodes and Nielsen sells f )r $2.7B Dutch publisher is com- joining in the race For viewers th s fall. / 14 mitted to software a Id technology upgrades at the ratings Illustration Clockwise: Richard Simmons, service. / 35 by Tom Richmond ; Dr. J,y Brown, Queen Latifah, `Millionaire' off to a flying start Upstart game Louie Anderson, show attracted 10 n illion viewers and likely to return dur- -r-, Martin Short and Tie ing the upcoming se ason. / 37 Carrere CABLE / 39 Cable jobs goi 7g begging Shortage of qualified people pushes MSC s to up incentive packages to get them aboard. / 39 Fuzz vision doomed channel? NIE ..SEN FINStA Turner 's bid to attract women via new network may h eve been hurt by too many cooks. / 40 Not âlenn's problem Ex -Jones Pat Mitchell was to head Interc tble chairman quietly sells bulk of Turner effort. stock. / 41 ECHNOLOGY / 42 -,:7----COVER STORY Thomson: 8-VSB does work with help from Indianapolis NBC a Ffiliate, set maker defends transmission 4111:1V41,1111114 Z"1 system. / 42 The digital jungle It's CBS' directior : Do-it- yourself Eye net takes survival of the equity stakes in Wry nchead.com, Jobs.com. / 44 fittest for pro- grammers who Changing Hands 55 Editorials 62 Nielsen Ratings 38, 41 venture into the Classifieds 46 Fates & Fortunes 58 Site of the Week 44 land of digital Closed Circuit 11 Fifth Estater 57 Station Break 36 cable. / 22 Cutting Edge 43 In Brief 60 Washington Watch 13 AU UST 23, 1999 / BROADCASTING & CABLE 3 www.americanradiohistory.com BroadcasfmgßCable TOP oi NEEK NAACP sees boycott ahead `Whitewash' backlash brings threats against Big Four, advertisers and talent agencies By Joe Schlosser changed with respect to opportunities as executives and producers and to a In an effort to put more minorities in lesser extent talent. We won't even front and behind the camera, mention the corporate structure, which NAACP President Kweisi Mfume is absolutely abysmal." said he is making preparations for a Executives from all four broadcast net- possible boycott of two of the Big Four works acknowledged meeting with broadcast networks during the upcom- Mfume last week, but each opted not to ing November sweeps period. discuss specifics. Mfume told BROADCASTING & Late last month, the NAACP pur- CABLE that NAACP executives are also chased 100 shares of stock in the parent looking into taking action against companies of all four top broadcast net- major cable networks, Hollywood tal- works and Mfume said he plans on mak- ent agencies and possibly boycotting ing a lot of noise at board meetings until the nation's top national TV advertisers "boards of directors recognize that there in coming months. has to be an imperative for change." Nearly two months after blasting the Mfume said the NAACP is also gath- Big Four broadcast networks for devel- ering data on the top 100 advertisers in oping fall schedules that were "a virtu- the country and that a boycott of the top al whitewash" due to an absence of 25 advertisers may be in the plans, as minorities in major roles, Mfume came well. He said any call for a boycott to Los Angeles last week to meet with Mfume says the NAACP will not act against advertisers would run separate- executives at CBS, NBC and Fox. alone. It's meeting with 'four major' ly from the proposed network boycotts. On Thursday, the NAACP leader met Hispanic groups in Baltimore next week. "We want to bring to light those adver- with CBS Television CEO Leslie networks and putting plans for such a tisers who continue to support such a Moonves, Fox Entertainment President boycott in place. He said that the segregated system," he explained. Doug Herzog and NBC's West Coast NAACP will not drive any such boy- In terms of cable, Mfume said that head Scott Sassa and Entertainment cott alone. Hispanic and other minority industry is not free of the criticism his president Garth Ancier. A week earlier, organizations will also be involved, organization has placed on the broad- Mfume had met with ABC Television Mfume notes, adding that he is meeting cast networks. He singled out Disney - President Pat Fili- Krushel in New York. with "four major" Hispanic organiza- owned ESPN for its lack of diversity "The meetings were good and pro- tions in Baltimore this week to discuss behind the camera. ductive from the standpoint that initial the boycott option. "When you look specifically at the dialogue has taken place," Mfume said. "If we are forced to use that option, it ESPNs of the world and the way the "It remains to be seen however, will take place during the sweeps weeks, structure of an ESPN is, what we see is whether or not this generates real both in the fall and during the spring," an outright denial of opportunity there progress. I'm cautiously optimistic, but Mfume said. and jobs are not available off-camera. I'm a realist at the same time and I Mfume said he told the top network ESPN may be as bad, if not worse, than know that change is not going to hap- executives that the NAACP's empha- some of the networks" pen in and of itself. There has to be a sis is not only aimed at the hiring of ESPN on Friday defended its com- real imperative to bring about that more diverse cast members, but on mitment to diversity, saying in a state- change and so the position of the placing more people of color in top ment that it "is committed to providing NAACP to create that imperative has executive ranks. He said the media has opportunity throughout our organiza- not changed at all." put the emphasis on the acting front, tion. We are proud of our progress in Regarding a possible boycott of two but that is really not where the atten- the area of diversity and we continually of the networks during the important tion should be placed. seek to improve our efforts." November sweeps period, Mfume said "We are gathering data and we cer- Meanwhile, Hollywood talent agen- it remains an option and that "it's fair to tainly welcome [the broadcasters] to cies may also be targeted, Mfume say that it is going to be a reality unless give us the opportunity to understand warned, calling them "an absolute something changes that is significant what they may be doing outside of the throwback to the days of old" on their part." He did not disclose data that we may not be aware of," he "The agencies have been very quiet which two networks would be targeted. said. "We want to try and understand about all of this, but we have not been Mfume said the NAACP is gathering what the dilemma is from their per- overlooking the fact that they are prob- employment, programming and other spective, but we recognize that in 50 ably the worst example of diversity that data on all four of the top broadcast years of television that very little has we have found, he said. 4 BROADCASTING & CABLE / AUGUST 23, 1999 www.americanradiohistory.com ur company started in 1909 "In the newspa GG0 when my grandfather was on his honeymoon.