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Broadcasting` 'Rh ]cD í DISNEY CH., PARAMOUNT TAKE DBS PLUNGE DirecTv makes programing and equipment splash at Consumer Electronics Show By Peter Lambert DirecTv broke the cable and stu- dio program- access ice last week, signing The Disney other Hollywood studios.) In ex- dealt with, every alternate distribution Channel, as well as Paramount Pic- change, the National Rural Telecom- technology," said James Boyle, tures pay -per -view movies and spe- munications Cooperative will cover spokesman for Discovery Networks, cial events, onto its direct broadcast satellite costs for those programers, which has taken the access law to satellite service, scheduled to launch investing $250 million to gain exclu- court. "We just don't think govern- 150 digital TV channels to 18 -inch sive distribution rights in rural areas. ment should mandate we have the home antennas next year. DirecTv says it "will prominently mar- same terms as with cable operators, DirecTv used last week's Interna- ket The Disney Channel in urban lo- when the situations are different." tional Consumer Electronics Show in cations." Las Vegas to announce the contracts "We have no quarrel with, and have Continues on page 25 and demonstrate equipment. The Disney deal comes three months after Congress passed the 1992 Cable Act mandating cable ac- PRIME NETWORK, cess-one of several elements of the act cable is opposing in court. "In the end, programers are going SPORTSCHANNEL TO MERGE to always look for varied means of distribution that reach different audi- Liberty Media will own 50% of new partnership; ences," Disney Channel President Rainbow, NBC share the rest John Cooke told BROADCASTING. "You always argue about the time -frame, By Rich Brown Communications Inc. spin -off Liberty but programers will end up in new Media Corp. last Thursday closed the technologies, sooner or later, maybe Top regional cable sports pro- no -cash transaction with Cablevision depending on regulation. graming suppliers Prime Net- Systems Corp. affiliate Rainbow Pro- "The reality is there is a law, and work and SportsChannel Ameri- gramming Holdings Inc. and NBC. the outcome is that programers will ca have reached a long- anticipated Liberty Media Corp., which owns 77% sign," said Cooke. "My suspicion is agreement to merge their operations, of Prime Network parent Affiliated Re- there are other entities that have al- creating a combined national sports gional Communications (ARC), will ready signed or will sign very soon." programing service reaching 41 mil- own 50% of the new partnership; DirecTv has committed to sign up lion households nationally. Rainbow and NBC, which are equal 20 cable services by its March 1994 Following more than two years of partners in SportsChannel America, launch. (It is also negotiating with two on- again, off -again negotiations, Tele- will each maintain a 25% share of the 4 Jan11 1993 Broadcasting Weekly Series Now Set for Fall '93 It's the Wild, Wacky and Wonderful Weekend World of Widget The Good Swashbuckler Widget Super Hero Widget Interstellar Cop Widget Sir Knight Widget Mega Brain & Tracker The Bad Mega -Slank Flim Flam McSham Dr. Dante Mr. C.U. Later Alligator Renegade Brain Units F! Pint Mutant Henchpersons Muscle Head He's the awesome alien hero with terrific transformation powers that give him wondrous disguises. He's here to help solve some of earth's most pressing problems. His comedy TV adventures and award winning animation make Widget a classic kids evergreen TV series. , His loyal legion of adoring fans now covers the world! 65 Half hour episodes Contact Zodiac: Tel 212.582.5599 Fax 212.582.7006 Z O D I A C LI Recommended for children's viewing by the nea CALICO 01993, Zodiac Entertainment All Rights Reserved national education association JAN E WHITNEl E ARN E D HER YOUNG NEW YORK WCBS 9:OOAN NOV. '92 NOV. '91 3 +2000A W18-49 SH DETROIT 1:OOAN NOV. '92 NOV. '91 +138% W18-49 SH Source: NSI /SNAP As Dat TELEPICTURES PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH SCRIPPS-HOWARD PRODUCTIONS HAS ALREADY STRIPES WITH WOMEN. LOS ANGELES KCAL 11:30PM JOV. '92 JOV. '91 7 +57°/a W18-49 SH 11TLANTA WSB 1:00AM JOV. '92 10V. '91 6 +317% W18-49 SH SACRAMENTO KOVR 12:30AM dOV. '92 4OV. '91 W18-49 SH PORTLAND KATU 12:00AM OKLAHOMA CITY KWTV 1:00AM 10V. JANE NOV. JANE '92 WHITNEY 33 '92 WHITNEY 33 10V. NOV. '91 15 +12O% '91 18 +83% W18-49 SH W18-49 SH 9JAE WHITNEY S II 0 W WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION Proven. Not Just Promises. A Tune Wams Entertainment Comp -ay © 1492 Warner I1n, All Right, Re.end. new partnership. Liberty paved the way for the deal ThisoWeek last week by purchasing ARC shares in Los Angeles -based Prime Ticket re- DISNEY SIGNS ,;s11111s may specifically prohibit gional sports network and other proper- broadcasters from ONTO DBS / 4 ties. The purchase made Liberty sole claiming retransmission - general partner of ARC and marked the In a big step for direct consent authority broadcast satellite (page 59). exit of Daniels, said to have been one jt1_1ÌIi service, DirecTv the - of the obstacles in closing Prime signed the Disney PREPPING FOR SportsChannel deal. Channel and THE INAUGURAL / 60 Managing general partner of the Paramount Pictures PPV new Prime -SportsChannel partner- onto its system, set to A mobile camera ship is James Dolan, president and launch next year. positioned in the CEO of Rainbow; Jeff Ruhe, currently presidential limo is HAPPY RETURNS one of the innovations president and COO of SportsChannel the networks hope to America, is president and COO of the FOR 'DEEP put to use on new venture, and Daren Miller, cur- SPACE' / 32 Inauguration Day. rently vice president of Liberty Sports, A strong starting is executive vice president. NBC Ca- week for Paramount's BURCNILL BUYS ble Ad Sales, which currently handles Deep Space Nine will PETRY STAKE / 62 sales for cable network CNBC and likely land it in the record Thomas Burchill, SportsChannel America, is selling ad- books as the highest - president and CEO of vertising. rated regularly Hearst/ABC- Viacom While executives involved in the scheduled syndicated Entertainment Services, deal said there was no cash involved, series debut. which runs Lifetime, was interest has purchased a maj- ARC given a one -third in NEW 'ANIMALS' Prism and in SportsChannel Philadel- ority stake in rep firm phia, the two regional sports channels FROM ZODIAC / 34 Petry Inc. from its chairman, David owned by Rainbow and NBC in the Zodiac Entertainment Allen. Philadelphia market. is looking to its name for Workmen construct The new Prime -SportsChannel a 1994 launch of camera stands for TV Power Animals, VIDEOCIPHER venture, which will have a combined a weekly coverage of animated feature Inauguration (p. 60). EXPORTS OK'D / 66 reach of 41 million of the nation's 57 based on animals in the million cable subscribers, plans to The U.S. Commerce Chinese zodiac. computer network. Department has cleared make the two networks available on a the way for General standalone basis outside areas MU MOVES ON BACK TAXES Instrument to sell its served by a regional sports channel. KIDS / 44 SOUGNT FROM Videocipher -RS Prime network presently distributes its encryption technology in lineup of live and taped events to 15 MCA Family Enter- DOLAN / 56 the export market. A tainment hopes to build regional sports channels reaching 26 Cablevision System subsidiary of Mexico's a block of children's Chairman Charles Grupo Televisa may million homes across the country; programing with its first - Dolan, facing an IRS be the first customer. SportsChannel America delivers its run animation project demand for $500 million breaking sports news and occasional Exosquad as a in back taxes, penal- NEWS DEPARTMENTS events to eight regional SportsChan- cornerstone. ties and interest, Business 62 nels representing 18 million homes disputes the claim Cable 50 nationally. By comparison, the nation- PUBLIC TV and says he is, in fact, Radio 54 al ESPN sports network reaches virtu- EXPANDS INTO due a refund. Technology 66 ally all cable subscribers nationwide. CABLE / 50 Television 32 Dolan said he dismissed specula- ATTACKS ON Top of the Week 4 public tion that SportsChannel would shut PBS and local Washington 56 stations are moving RETRANS / 58 down any of its less profitable regional aggressively to The 103rd Congress FEATURE SECTIONS services, as the company did with its develop programing to opened with two Bicoastal 44 Los Angeles operation late last year.