BroadcastiiiIA6i 61st YEAR FIRST IN TELEVISION CABLE RADIO SATELLITE L.A. STATIONS SUBPOENAED FOR RIOT FOOTAGE / 21 J CABLE GAME SHOWS ROLL DICE FOR CHANNEL SPACE / 28 AUTOS MOVE SPOT MARKET ALONG ROAD TO RECOVERY / 38 EASTERN REGION CENTRAL REGION WESTERN REGION Nate Garner Carolyn McCrory Barbara Kirbach 1230 Avenue of the Americas 401 North Michigan Avenue 2049 Century Park East New York, NY 10020 Chicago, IL 60611 Los Angeles, CA 90067 Phone: 212 -408 -9150 Phone:312 -644 -5413 Phone:310- 201 -2300 Fax: 212-956-2585 Fax: 312 -670 -4546 Fax:310 -201 -2305 NETWORK S 1992 USA NETWORK 9 IIIIIIII ÌI g * * * * * * * * ** * ** * ** 3 -DIGIT 554 tent.U77 "4f.FìnuP naa93 ßk202 152 o BRDíJKLYN CENiE NN D5430 How far will we go to get your television feed on the air? Good reports are coming in from all over. Vyvx is making big news just about everywhere you look broadcasts include the Democratic and Republican these days. It's not hard to see why. Major broadcast and National Conventions and professional baseball. cable networks are turning to us for the kind of reliable But unmatched reliability and superior transmission transmission and superior broadcast quality our nationwide are just half the story. The networks also appreciate the fiber-optic network is known for. In the last year, Vyvx was fact that we go the extra mile where service is concerned, chosen to carry coverage of such key events as the Soviet doing whatever it takes to provide alternate access route; coup, Desert Storm and the Super Bowl. Other important into our network. Plus, unlike satellites, our fiber-optic igual is secure from theft, making exclusive news or Discover for yourself why networks are making Vyvx ports coverage just that - exclusive. their first choice for news, sports and entertainment Perhaps best of all, we're just as affordable as satel- broadcasting. For a copy of our ites. And, unlike satellites, setting up broadcast time is as capabilities brochure, call us today Vyvx asy as making one phone call. In fact, once you're con - at 1-800- 324 -8686. With Vyvx on the tected to our network, we can have your broadcast on the scene, there's no telling how far tir on an emergency basis in minutes. your network will go. A Revelation in Sight and Sound THE WILTEL TELEVISION SERVICES COMPANY WILD L Broadcasting m ERhc ccdIK . ai i ill 111 li'i,, 01 ! a1111r.- g The 'Cable's New Horizons' opening session for NCTA '92 set the tone for an exploration of expanded cable services TECHNOLOGY KEY TO BRIGHT CABLE FUTURE Malone, Mooney, others tell NCTA convention that fiber/digital combination can open doors to digital telephone, high -speed data, interactive multimedia By Peter Lambert NCTA President James Mooney's "Thee is increasing credibility in annual address went further. "The this argument that the cable industry From start to finish, the National biggest telecommunications story of is ready to be a video dialtone provid- Cable Television Association's the decade may turn out to be not er. An infrastructure is being put in '92 National Show in Dallas last telcos creating broadband networks," place because of pay per view...that week hammered home one central he said, "but cable technology and can provide other services." message: architecture proving to be the most Moreover, he added, many believe Already reaching the most U.S. efficient means of delivering the next "there is nothing to fear from the tele- homes with the greatest bandwidth, generation of communications ser- phone companies." If cable investors cable operators can prepare to carry vices." feared telco entry a few years ago, he mobile and landline telephone ser- Three days' sessions on fiber op- said, now "the impression has begun vices and high -speed interactive tics, multi -directional cable architec- to take hold that the cable industry data -as well as digital PPV and tures, digital compression, high -speed can beat them; that having broadband HDTV -all at little more than standard data delivery, interactive multimedia capacity in the home-that open com- upgrade costs and, here and there, and personal communications ser- petition-is not necessarily bad for the purchase of local, alternate ac- vices (PCS) sought to give flesh to the cable industry. It may be good." cess routes to and from long- distance those claims. Addressing FCC policy chief Robert carriers. Pepper's contention that the telcos Wall Street is watching With no additional burden on its appear "more caretakers than risk - core video business, TCI President Industry confidence may have been takers,' one attendee -taking a ses- John Malone told the show's opening fired by security analysts, such as sion floor microphone to identify him- panel, cable can enhance its position Dennis Leibowitz, senior vice presi- self as the only one of 65,000 as "the most cost -effective highway to dent of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Southwestern Bell employes excited the home" for every imaginable com- who said investors now believe cable munications service. can meet all comers toe -to -toe. Continues on page 16. 4 May 11 1992 Broadcasting This Week BHC OFFERS CONFIDENT and packaged goods $310 MILLION lag behind. CABLE / 4 Fiber optics and TELCOS WATCH FOR WWOR -N digital compression have AND WAIT / 41 positioned cable to best telcos as "the most The possibility that Bid tops Disney offer, reregulation may cost -effective cable news Pinelands board could highway to the home," stall is good to telephone companies, NCTA convention- still accept better offer which eers were told last week. believe a telco- cable crossownership By Geoffrey Foisie provision has a good ABC FALL chance of getting into the BHC Communications, a low - SCHEDULE DUE / 21 next rereg attempt. profile station group, raised its ABC Is expected to visibility significantly last week Game show host Wink NEWS DEPARTMENTS release its fall schedule Martindale pitches the by thwarting the proposed merger be- Business 38 Tuesday, May 12, Game Channel at NCTA tween Disney's KCAL -TV Los Angeles Cable 28 with the makeup of its (p. 28) and Pinelands, parent company of Tuesday and Wed- Radio 26 nesday night lineups GAME CHANNELS Television 21 hinging on the fate of Top of the Week 4 PREVIEWED / 28 The Wonder Years . Washington 41 Two game show chan- FEATURE FBI SUBPOENAS nels, backed by deep - SECTIONS pocketed companies Bicoastal 20 L.A. TAPES / 22 and incorporating By the Numbers 52 As part of its inves- interactive technology, Changing Hands 39 tigation into the police are set to launch in 1993. Closed Circuit 18 department's response Backers hope the Datebook 43 to the riots, and to help it revenue provided by 900 - Editorials 66 identify those who number participation Fates & Fortunes 60 committed violent acts, by viewers will entice Fifth Estater 59 the FBI has served operators to the For the Record 53 service. subpoenas to Los In Brief 64 Angeles TV stations Monday Memo 63 for tapes of their aired AUTOS FUEL Open Mike 44 BHC Chairman Herbert Siegel: coverage. The stations SPOT / 38 Ratings Week 25 Is he laughing last? are expected to comply. National spot WWOR -TV New York. By making an spending was up RAB PUSHES AD $18- per-share cash offer for the New 4.1% in the first indi- TASK FORCE / 26 quarter, and local York station, BHC also may be cating network -sized ambitions, since The RAB board has was up 5.3 %, it already owns KCOP -TV Los Angeles. recommitted itself to fueled primarily by creating an industry- a rebound in But is last Thursday's agreement wide task force to automobile the last move? The definitive agree- promote radio to na- spending. Food ment, expected to be filed with the tional advertisers. The Securities and Exchange Commission continuing slide in ad Shape of ABC's Tuesday and this week, makes clear that Pinelands revenue, and a sympa- Wednesday nights is still free to accept a better offer. thetic response from hinges on fate Those dissatisfied Pinelands share- Katz Radio, may boost of 'Wonder Years' holders who insisted Disney was real- the plan's prospects. 21) (p. ly buying Pinelands, rather than the other way around, will now see how Founded in 1931 as Browd.mdng. the News Magazine of the Fifth Estate. Bnvuhusrmg.Trlrrnvn,e introduced in 1946. Tote lion acquired interested a purchaser Disney is, if at in 1961. GSA- owing introduced in 1972. Broadcasting/Cable introduced in 1989. If rune rmsn ,. a registered trademark of Reed Pubinhtng (Nederland) R.V.. used under license. Reg. U.S. Patent Office. all. As of Friday, the entertainment Incorporating The Fifth Estate TEI.E%Itilll\ Broadcasting CJ Cable company had not responded, having Brra 'All ning (ISSN 0007 -20281 (CST #1233974571 is puNtshed weekly with one additional special issue in /antlers by The Cahnea officially been informed of Pinelands' Publishing Co. (subscription includes all issues). Cahnen Publishing Co.. at 47S Park Ave South.. Neu York. NY 10016. is a division of Reed merger agreement with BHC only just Publishing USA. 275 Washington Si. Newton. MA 112158.16.30: Terrence M. McDermott. President/Chief Operating Officer: Frank J. Sibley. Executive Vice Presiiknr. John J. Beni. Senior Vice PrestrknUGeneral Manager. Neil Perlman. Senior Vice President/Group Publisher: Jerry before last Thursday's public an- D. Neth. Senior Vice PresidenvPublishing Operation: J.l. Walsh. Senior Vice President/Finance: Thomas J. Dellamaria. 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