Some Like It
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Co linos 1 THE NEWSWEEK,e OF TV, RADIO & INTERACTIVE MEDIA $4.95 r R JUNE 4, 2001 www.troadcastingcable.com summer NBC hopes its Downer ensemtle comedy a big upside. Chance! has Fri 'SPECIAL REPORT TOP 25 ABLE OPS Our annual list shows how DBS growth is chancing the irldus_ry o INSIGHT FROM MIKE Michael Willner, chief of Insight Cable, tells Washington what cable needs as he prepares to betone NCTA chairman o CNN CBS: COULD IT HAPPEN? Maybe combining parts of CBS sews with CNN makes sense. But that doesr't mein ifs an idea that can be pulled off Some like it 3 -DIGIT 59 gist nets are learning DC075184 AVG02 RIEGH 226 ble already knows: JOHN C JOHNSON KTVm-TV r sizzles » PAGE 22 $45 WATERTON WA", BILLINGS, MT 59102-77:53 A PRINCESS FROM THE BEGINNING. A WARRIOR TO THE END. 1 9 9 6 - 2 0 0 1 1 BROADCAST1NC CABLE {www.broadcastingcable.com} Volume 131 Number 24 Top of the Week June 4, 2001 CBS -CNN TALKS The time may have come for a news alliance. » 6 SPECIAL REPORT INTEGRATED ADVERTISING Procter TOP 25 CABLE 8, Gamble agrees to spend $300 million on 12 Viacom outlets next year. » 8 OPERATORS SMILEY'S NEW HOME Ex -BET Momentum shift Counted for the first time in talk -show host Tavis Smiley will be a BROADCASTING & CABLE'S annual survey, DBS makes contributor to ABC News. » 8 up for cable's slowing growth. » 30 LOCAL STORIES Station results from the May sweeps. » 10 Downer Channel is part of NBC's CBS' Dan Rather may be sharing the stage summer initiative. wth CNN news folk. ee page 22. NEW MUSIC Viewers can go online to help program Rainbow's revamped Much Music USA. » 14 AD SLUMP The economy takes a toll at Promax /BDA, but organizers say foreign firms will make up the difference. » 16 HUGS AND KISSES CBS and its affiliates bury the hatchet. » 18 WANT ADS On- air /online employment KTTV(TV) Los Angeles' Good Day LA was a services could be new revenue stream for May sweeps winner. stations. » 19 B &C Eye 4 Programming Broadcast Ratings 26 No doldrums Broadcast networks plan a Classifieds 58 summer o` original programming. » 22 Datebook 55 Editorials 62 Business as usual Cable is ready to meet broadcast's summer challenge. » 24 Fates & Fortunes 54 Fifth Estater 56 Washington Financial Wrap -Up 16 On cable Q &A with NCTA's likely new Focus 29 chairman, Insight's Michael Winner. » 44 Jessell's Column 20 Station Break 28 Taking their seats Kathleen Abernathy Copps (l) and Abernathy (c) took office at Syndication Ratings 27 and Michael Copps are sworn in at the the FCC, but Martin has to wait. Web Watch 51 FCC. » 47 Interactive Media Technology Cue the contest Web -based sweepstakes Routing cortrol Turner picks Thomson drives viewers to NBC programs. » 50 system to haidle 18 cable channels. » 52 Broadcasting & Cable /6 -4 -01 3 HEYE 1 AFFILIATES When they danced No one died at last week's CBS affiliates meeting, but it reminded us that, not too long ago, these little wingdings were something like, well, harmonious. Take, for example, the 1982 CBS affiliates meet- ill ing, when, as the old Broadcasting magazine pointed out, the big SYNDICATION` moment, entertainment -wise, was a chorus -line dance number by, Praise the get this, "wives of affiliates and network executives" (pictured). Rosié s lifeline? messenger They got a standing ovation, we reported, blithely unaware that, less Is this her final answer? Sources than 20 years later, such network/affiliate chuminess -not to men- say Rosie ( "I'm leaving and I'm Veteran Miami newsman Ike tion such blatant chauvinism-would be impossible to imagine. not kidding ") O'Donnell is looking Seamans had more than 100 mes- Back then, CBS had caterers who, between courses, served affil- to host the possible syndicated sages waiting for him Friday, iates and other guests sherbet in ice -sculpted bowls that looked like version of Who Wants to Be a largely in praise of a story he had decorative swans-1,200 of those, as a matter of fact. Things Millionaire? when and if O'Donnell done the night before. A good seemed easier, and why not? Things were good, and cable was, gives up her Warner Bros. talk Well, yes, and no. The response? comparatively, an infant. Affiliates nodded in total agreement when show. Rosie is a a huge Millionaire WTVJ(TV) story he reported con- Gene Jankowski, then- president of the CBS broadcast group, said fan and would arguably be a good cerned a great big problem: what's he doubted advertisers would ever fall for cable television, which fit for a stripped version of wrong with P/ news. confused the potential audience with actual eyeballs. "I suspect a Millionaire, a project still in the Seamans said that the story grew major re-evaluation of cable is about to take place," Jankowski told speculation phase for Buena Vista from his experiences on panels dis- the gang. He got that right.-P.J.B. Television. cussing journalism. "They were sud- An O'Donnell spokesperson denly more contentious, more bitter, admits only that she has had con- than they'd ever been. Normally, versations about doing another TV people kill the messenger for bring- show with Millionaire executive ing bad news. Now we're getting producer Michael Davies. Rosie reg- killed for not bringing the news ularly talks about leaving her day- they want." The prescription? time chat show when the contract Seamans' findings indicate that peo- expires after 2002, and insiders a range news ple want broad of - say a syndicated Millionaire would including crime, accidents and even debut no earlier than that. Buena car chases -but with a better sense Vista would not comment. -S.A. of proportion and relevance.-D.T. BUSH'S TELCOM STYLE administration -based telcom shop. That's a say they meet with him when they need to an Wiley, With the new FCC almost settled in (with the huge difference from the Clinton -Gore White talk to administration official. exception of Kevin Martin, who waits out res- House, where telcom was a top priority. Rein and Fielding attorney Nancy Victory olution of a paperwork glitch), the Bush Martin was filling a temporary slot in the supposedly will be nominated to head the White House can take credit for getting that National Economic Council while he worked National Information and Telecommuni- job done in record time. The White House on FCC appointments; now John Ackerly is cations Administration. "Right now, they seems to be willing to let the FCC be its cen- doing that job, as special assistant to NEC are just trying to get confirmations through tral office for all things telcom and has been Director Larry Lindsey. Ackerly covers com- and scratching where it itches," said one unconcerned about setting up any kind of merce and technology, and industry sources industry source. -P.A. 4 Broadcasting & Cable /6 -4 -01 Alt S P E EA.F144,$_i( 0 THINK FAST . "My customers can't always agree on what machines they like, but there's no argument about what their favorite channel is." Proprietor Lyle Lovtt Motorsports Dealership Houston, Texas Lyle Lovett knows his customers are watching Speedvision. The only network totally dedcated to the guys who love speed and the lifestyle that goes with it. You too can serve this "underserved" market and tap into the rrilions of local ad sales dollars spent ear year to reach the vehicle enthusiast. Just another reason why cable Lyle Lovett Matorspor oparators are launching Speedvision all over America. Now in over 40.000,000 ho _seholds nationwide. MIN Jr, Call Speedvision Today EAST (203) 406 -2500, CENTRAL (312) 832 -08C8 and WEST (3 -0) 268 -2100 or for more info log on to sv- oln -afi iates.com. TOP OF THE WEEK works and doesn't have to consult with Microsoft. The software maker, a 50 -50 A CNN suitor? equity partner in MSNBC, is, for all practi- cal purposes, a silent partner on the TV Why CBS or ABC would like to link with the cable network side, although it does have input on the MSNBC.com Web site. By Steve McClellan and But with CNN and Dan Trigoboff CBS, "the key difference," In a media world where vertically inte- says Wolzien, "is you're grated conglomerates dominate the dealing with two en- landscape, NBC is perceived as the trenched institutions. And weakest link when its combined assets are that makes it a lot harder compared with those of AOL Time to work it out unless you Warner, Viacom and Disney. But the say, 'We're going to fold Peacock enterprise -with cable networks the two institutions to- MSNBC and CNBC as additional outlets gether and make them for its newsgathering resources -has the one.' Otherwise, you have news model right. That's why CBS News all kinds of governance and CNN are once again engaged in seri- issues." ous talks about combining forces in a But, he adds, the eco- merger or a joint venture. nomic downturn may be Both sides confirm that the talks are just the spur to consum- ongoing but also stress that it's hard to say mate a deal between CNN when or even if a deal will get done. and someone -CBS or However, one CBS source says its ABC. Indeed, both CNN prospects have been heightened by the and ABC News have em- change in leadership at the Turner Broad- barked on aggressive cost casting System group, now headed by CBS stars, like Dan Rather, could find a 24 -hour outlet for news cutting, including layoffs.