"K RATINGS up SHARES ARE IME
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Broadcast ingc FIRST IN TELEVISION CABLE RADIO SATELLITE VOLATILE FISCAL YEAR FOR FIFTH ESTATE / 14 CABLE -READY TV NETWORKS WOO AFFILIATE SUPPORT / 88 NATPE '92: THE YEAR OF LIVING DOWNSIZEDLY / 10 "k RATINGS UP SHARES ARE IME +33% HH SHARE FROM DEBUT WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC TELEVISION DAVID SALZMAN DISTRIBUTION A ENTERTAINMENT +s At"yltlm,< g**************** 3-DIGIT 554 p009»1a.+^"^ APR92 BR012 167 BR6JKLYÑ CENTS MN 55430 ,Y-rOlTUiopV._.e International distribution by JTHE rentantl CORPORATION Source: Nil STO Un RTG through w/o 11r18/91 New YorkRorontolLondon /Athana/Sydnay/Madrld Baywatch Productions Is a subsidiary of ALL AMERICAN National Advertiser Sales COMMUNICATIONS TVH- RIZONS a division of LBS Communications Inc. Broadcastingo ca INTV '92: DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN? Recession is biggest issue on minds of those attending convention in San Francisco, but INTV President Hedlund is encouraged by lowered interest rates and revenue likely to be generated in year of Olympics, elections By Randy Sukow and increased advertiser spending. second thoughts about that," he says. "Just hope it's sooner rather than lat- A vote on the bill is expected on Jan. The recession tops all other con- er," he says. 27. cerns for independent television Cable legislation is the biggest po- But beyond their desire for must stations as their association litical issue going into the convention. carry, independents are not in the meets this week (Jan. 8 -10) in San Hedlund's latest reading of the situa- mood to do battle with cable. Many, Francisco. Association of Indepen- tion is that the Senate bill (S. 12), with especially Fox Broadcasting Co. and dent Television Stations President its must -carry provision, will pass by its affiliates, see room for strategic James Hedlund sees optimistic alliances (see page 34). signs for an advertising sales In spite of favorable signs, the upturn in 1992. In the short- future of the INTV convention is term, he suspects some of the in question. Hedlund projects fi- smaller, weaker stations are in nal registration of 750 attendees danger of going dark. in San Francisco, down from Upheavals caused by today's 850 last year and 1,200 in 1990. economy suggest coming fun- Could 1992 be the last year damental changes for indepen- INN holds its own standalone dents and INN itself, even after convention? Probably not, Hed- the recovery arrives. lund says, but it may be one of "It's pretty bad," says Steve the last. Bell, senior vice president and The expense of going to sev- general manager, KTLA(TV) Los eral different conventions is Angeles, in a special INN inter- forcing many stations, affiliated view with BROADCASTING editors and independent, to change (see page 28). "Now where their travel habits. "We used to does it go for the future? We're think nothing of the general taking a very, very conservative, manager or general sales man- cautious view of next year." ager going to three or four con- Maybe the only consolation ventions," Hedlund says. "Now for indies is that their advertising they are coming back to me and revenues are not declining as saying we could have only one. quickly as those of network affili- Although I think that we have ates (see page 36). The tradi- great sessions, I have no illu- tional boost of an Olympics/ sions that our convention is election year is anticipated. Re- more fun than NATPE's." cent declines in interest rates For the past five years, INN also bode well. has held discussions on the U(TV President Hedlund says the recession and cable I agisla- "The salespeople and reps Hon will be on the minds of those offending the come nfion. possibility of combining efforts are just hearing that the first with NATPE, the other perennial quarter may be the start of the turn- an overwhelming margin. "It's going January convention host ( "At Dead- around," Hedlund says. Home and to light a fire in the House. It will serve line," Dec. 23). "I don't think we ever automobile purchasing and refinanc- to get a lot of Republicans who, out of seriously considered a 'merger' with ing at lower rates will translate into loyalty to the White House, tried to NATPE. It was more a case of if the money in many consumers' pockets stonewall cable legislation to have price is right, we would hold a conven- 4 Jan 6 1992 Broadcasting tion without screenings immediately prior to the opening of NATPE," he ThismWeek says. The last serious conversations with NATPE were held several months INN -CABLE the top -of- the -line gold ago, and the groups are not likely to package: the $170 DETENTE? 34 meet again until late this month, after / price tag includes an Olympic warm -up both conventions are over. If a deci- Amid expected talk jacket. sion to combine in 1993 is made, it of recession at this year's INTV conven- will have to be made quickly. Hotel tion, association KEILLOR'S RADIO arrangements for INTV 1993, tenta- President Jim ROMANCE 86 tively planned again for San Francis- Hedlund hopes to steer / co, will have to be completed by Feb- the membership As commercial radio ruary. toward a working marches forward, "The syndicators would love to be alliance with cable Garrison Keillor able to exhibit only once and yet have television. His position compares his Prairie Home Companion all of the independent- station people dovetails with that of Fox Broadcasting, and American Radio there as well as all of the affiliate peo- which is developing Company to the ple," Hedlund says. The idea is also strategies to enable Alamo, "and everybody supported by INTV members "who INTV meets in San its affiliates to knows the Alamo don't like having to be out of the office Francisco amid tough times participate with cable in was lost a long time for an extended period in January at (pp4,34). additional channel ago." Yet sometimes, two different conventions in separate opportunities. he says, "you need to cities." RECESSION - look reality in the OLYMPIC face and deny it." There would be drawbacks from WEARY INDIES / 4 INTV's viewpoint. The association GOLD / 78 Attendees at INTV CROSSOWNERSHIP would lose revenue from exhibit and come to San Francisco During a COMPROMISE 88 suite rentals. Joining forces with an- battered by a hard promotional push / other group could result in a loss of year, but hopeful that lasting from mid - Safeguards pro- prestige and identity for INTV. The lower interest rates November through posed by the FCC on 100,000 show is also still a service to some will usher in a December, network -cable cable subscribers members who like to get an early look turnaround as early crossownership may as the first quarter of signed up for the help pave the way to at some of the shows before NATPE. 1992. Olympics Triplecast. a compromise between Some small syndicators prefer INTV Two- thirds opted for broadcast affiliates and its specialized membership to the BELL RINGS FOR and their networks at higher cost of exhibiting before winter CABLE / 28 the NAB NATPE's broader range of attendees. board meeting Jan. 10- Only about a third of INTV's mem- In a BROADCASTING 16. NBC hopes to ber stations affiliated with the Fox net- interview, Steve Bell, have a deal worked out senior VP and work even sooner. attended last year's convention general manager of in Los Angeles (BROADCASTING, Jan. Los Angeles inde- ACTV GAME FOR 7, 1991). Even fewer are expected in pendent KTLA(TV), says INTERACTIVE / 90 San Francisco this year because the independents and Fox affiliates meeting, held in con- cable have already ACTV has narrowed its vision of interactive junction with INN in the past, will be "gone down the television from a held in New Orleans in conjunction aisle together" and stop all the cornucopia of formats to with NATPE. should "fussing and fuming." a game channel for There could also be substantially On the programing home- viewer less press coverage of INN. Report- side, Bell says he's participation. The ers attending the TV critics tours at happy it's a buyer's company is offering Los Angeles studios, held about the market, if only there equity to cable same time as INN, were given com- were something to Steve Bell urges peace operators who agree to carry the channel. plimentary registrations to INTV. "We buy. with cable (p.28). have about 15 press people regis- tered for the convention, and at Founded in 1931 as Broadcasting, the News Magazine of the Fifth Estate. Broadcasting -Telecasting introduced in 1946. Television' acquired INN in 1961. Cablecasring' introduced in 1972. BraadcasdnglCable introduced in 1989. Broadcasting® is a registered trademark of Reed this time last year we had about 85," Publishing (Nederland) B.V., used under license. 'Reg. U.S. Patent Office. Hedlund says. Incorporating The Fifth Estate T'E I.E\ I till )\ Broadcasting q Cable Alternatives to joining with NATPE Broadcasting (ISSN 0007-2028) (GST #123397457) is published weekly with one additional special issue in January by The Cahners Publishing Co. (subscription includes all issues). Cahners Publishing Co. is a division of Reed Publishing USA. 275 Washington St., Newton. have been considered but are not MA 02158 -1630; Terrence M. McDermott, President/Chief Operating Officer; Frank.). Sibley. Executive Vice President: John). Beni. Senior Vice President/General Manager; Neil Perlman. Senior Vice PresidenI/Group Publisher; Jerry D. Neth, Senior Vice President/Publishing likely. INN decided not to hold the Operation; Ji. Walsh. Senior Vice President/Finance: Thomas J. Dellamaria. Senior Vice President/Production & Manufacturing: Ralph time of the year Krupp, Vice President/Human Resources; Neal Vitale, Vice President/Consumer Publishing.