cess Big Storys in Big Easy NAB BOARD = Taking Sides on Consolidation ****.-4(-13*4014406 s114(4H(*3-DIGIT 591 111111111 iNIIIhNIIIIII,IJIIlll BC07S184 AUG?7 REGB 1730 JOHN C JCNNSON KTVG-T! 979 NEPTLNE 3LVD BILL (ñ:3S, HT 59105-2129 www.americanradiohistory.com Dual speakers, built in 12V DC powered ... Panasonic AI-1175 BACK PANEL .114ic and line level inputs Video in/out and monitor nut .RS-422 control ports .Line audio and monitor tputs 100 Event memory Carry handle Headphone jack .............. For more iformatici call 1-800-528-8601 iLlpolrecuest ente pf -rifle co I- OM Till L IMICPRO The NY-1 k is a rewaret-d bade, or Warnet EnItrtarr -met axnpany r ,96 www.americanradiohistory.com ............. High quality TIT LCD monitors ........ ..... ... UVt:PKO 63-min. casseLe, DVCPIt( ) L- in cassette .. Mni DV Cassette in adaller ñn 111 u uc,t7 E. 42 i' r . ,. Tilt down monitor bridge DVCPRO reco ders _._.._.. ... Auto or manual pinch in/out editirg Audio out lerel controls 25 lbs, battery powered, frame accurate. DV diiáSOi11C conpatible, Digital editing. Here. Broadcast Now. BTelevisim Sysóms Company www.americanradiohistory.com http: //www.broadcastingcable.com Must Reading from Fast Pack January 20, 1997 TOP OF THE WEEK / 5 NATPE '97 The action on the floor at NATPE '97 in New Orleans kicked off a yearlong sprint among syndicators to lock up the most lucrative time periods available to first -run programing-prime access. Among major developments: King World Productions surprised some by clinching re- / newals for its access mainstays Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! on the NRTPE ABC -owned station group through the 2001 -2002 season. / 5 US West sets $4.1 billion debt offering The financing arm of US West Inc., parent of cable power US West Media Group and Baby Bell US West Communications, last week set a U.S. record with a $4.1 billion debt offering. The move prompted speculation that US West might be gearing up to buy a big chunk of Time Warner Entertainment's (TWE) cable operations. / 9 seeks consensus on retransmission rights Representative Rick Congressman WB network head Boucher (D -Va.) wants ASkyB and broadcasters to reach some agreement on an approach to local Jamie Kellner is bring- retransmission rights before he introduces legislation. / 20 ing his own money to efforts to buy TV sta- FCC FCC Chairman Reed Hundt's efforts to investigate tions in medium -size liquor ad investigation stalled markets that will ex- liquor advertising have stalled, a top aide says. There appears to be no clear direction on what steps pand The WB's over - to take, and most stations have decided not to accept the ads. / 20 the -air distribution. / 8 BROADCASTING / 31 CABLE /47 Network chiefs propose WB will bring movies to TBS first For the first summit on sweeps Lead- time, Warner Bros. has sold the network- broadcast- premiere ers of several networks, speaking window of its movies to basic cable. Among the titles will on a NATPE panel, agreed that be "Space Jam." "Mars Attacks!" and "Cobb." / 47 the current sweeps measurement Cable rates jumped 7.8% in '96 Cable televi- process is deeply Clawed. They sion subscribers in the U.S. saw average monthly bills for also criticized overreporting, basic service climb 7.8% in 1996, and rates are likely to go underreporting and out -of -home up this year as well. / 47 measurement. / 31 GE invests $1 billion in In his keynote address to Telemcg the Association of Local NBC brands GE Capital has Television Stations, HSN established a $1 billion fund for chairman Barry Diller last Ratings show 'Net gain for ESPN, Disney, week urged broadcasters in extending strong ratings in use by NBC affiliates to trade political airtime TV Guide ESPN's SportsZone drew their brands locally through local for a more relaxed regula- fourth quarter 1996 Website ratings -based on home PC media ventures. / 35 tory climate. ,' 38 usage -from PC Meter, building on solid numbers regis- tered during the third quarter. / 55 COVER STORY AmCy files bankruptcy In the latest chapter of an CBS's Andrew offline drama. online cyber- network American Cybercast is Heyward speaks filing bankruptcy and staying on the Web. / 56 twent-year CBS News TECHNOLOGY /57 veteran Andrew Heyward was named president of the Telstar 401 lost in space Satellite operator AT &T division. Some argue that Skynet Satellite Services abruptly lost contact with its Tel - CBS News has never faced star 401 bird last week, sending technical personnel for a tougher set of challenges. syndicators and networks into a chaotic pre -NAPTE week- Heyward speaks with end of securing backup capacity for their video feeds. / 58 BROADCASTING & CABLE. Cover photo by Tom Sobolik/ Changing Hands 44 Datebook 80 In Brief 84 Black Star/ 26 Classified 63 Editorials 86 Net Ratings 39.41 Closed Circuit 15 Fates & Fortunes 82 Washington Watch..25 4 January 20 1997 Broadcasting & Cable www.americanradiohistory.com Broadcasting & Cable (7 Making waves at NATPE Eyemark 4 looks to revive 'PM Magazine': KW games roll through 2002; WB, Geo team on nature show; 'Vibe' strikes chord By Cynthia Littleton Chung and Maury NEW ORLEANS Povich. Warner Bros. un- The action on the floor at NATPE veiled a new pact '97 in New Orleans last week with National Geo- kicked off a yearlong sprint graphic Television to among syndicators to lock up the most develop a wildlife/ lucrative time periods adventure reality IIavailable to first -run strip. Targeted for an programing: prime access launch in fall King World was 'rock solid,' renewing 'Wheel." Jeopardy!' access. 1998, the half -hour Station sources say show is tentatively titled National Station sources say Eyemark decid- Eyemark Entertain- Geographic Tonight. ed to move forward with plans to resur- ment is preparing to A number of shows were unveiled at rect PM Magga =ine after floating the take another stab at the convention, including Warner idea to a handful of buyers. PM Mago- PM Maga =ine, the Bros.' weekly farce based on the =ines re -entry could complicate the former Group W Productions local/ "Police Academy" movies and a new picture for Paramount's Hard Copy national magazine strip that ended its Mike Hammer detective series, again and DreamWorks Television's efforts 14 -year run in 1990. with Stacy Keach. from MG /Perin. to launch the Chung/Povich project. King World Productions proved the Nonetheless, the crop of new product The CBS O &Os are understood to naysayers wrong by clinching renewals on display was comparatively thin. be considering replacing Hard Copy for its access mainstays Wheel of' For- On the other hand. Warner Bros.' with PM Maga=ine as the prime access tune and Jeopardy! on the ABC -owned CityWeb and other broadcast -oriented lead -in to Entertainment Tonight. Both station group through the 2001 -2002 online ventures emerged this year as a Hard Copy and ET. which cost the season. The shows have also been parallel market to the analog program- CBS O &Os an estimated S30 mil - renewed for three years on the A.H. ing on display at the show (see box. lion-$40 million per year. are due for Belo and LIN Broadcasting groups. page 6). renewals on the group in mid -1998. Access upgrades for Paramount's At the same time, Paramount is Real TV are starting from the top down. Windows of opportunity? grooming its freshman reality strip beginning with the show's switch in S n(lic :Hors smell opportunity in access Real TI as a new companion for ET in in fall 1998 because some markets. As evidenced by the renewals are due and WCBS -TV arrangement. Paramount is ratings for first -run shifting its focus on Hard Cope from strips are down almost access to early fringe. where the show across the hoard. But has a history of performing well as a this year's convention news lead -in in Chicago and other key also provided evi- markets. dence that in syndica- For DreamWorks, the prospect of tion, the more things PM Maga:ine coming back on the CBS change. the more they stations narrows the list of potential stay the same. distribution partners for the show. A PM Magga =ine is the well- placed source says Eyemark latest familiar name passed on the opportunity to distribute and format to be the Chung/Povich project in meetings Eyemark plans to revive 'P.M. Magazine. pulled out of retire- with DreamWorks officials at NATPE New York next fall from daytime on ment for syndication. Warner Bros. last week. Fox apparently has talked Tribune's wPtx(Tv) to Hard Copy's 7 confirmed last week that its revival of with DreamWorks about a possible p.m. slot on WCBS -TV. The People's Court is a firm go for network deal for the show. DreamWorks Television is said to next fall. Saban Entertainment is bank- Eyemark officials have been kicking be focusing on landing the NBC - ing on the enduring appeal of one of around the idea of reviving PM Maga- owned station as the launch group for TV's earliest children's franchises with =ine ever since CBS's new syndication its high -profile project with Connie The All-New Captain Kangaroo. arm was formed last year in the wake Broadcasting a Cable January 20 1997 5 www.americanradiohistory.com Top of the Week of Westinghouse Electric Corp.'s 1996 fees were probably cut in half. which that everybody gets it." said Steve acquisition of the broadcast giant. Eye - may have been one incentive for an Mosko. CTTD's senior vice president.