AIM IFBXBBBHL * ALL FOR ADC 07099 40711590374P 19980622 edl ep SADC LAURA K JONES, ASSITANT MGR WALDENBOOKS 42 MT PLEASANT AVE 180 WHARTON NJ 07885-2120 1111111H111111111111111111111111111111111111:1!::W11111111 Vol. 8 No. 13 THE NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE MEDIA March 30, 1998 $3.25 RESEARCH MARKET Optimizing INDICATORS National TV: Slow The Upfront Second quarter is still soft for the major net- New planning works. The WB reports tools could affect strong interest in its top buying patterns in shows, but buyers say CONFESSIONS it's not representative this year's market; of the market. buyers and sellers OF A Net Cable: Strong disagree over how Second quarter is sell- PAGE 4 ing fast, with CPM pops at 10 percent. Telecom NEWSPAPERS and computers are CLIENT buying as upfront Audit Bureau hopes run high. Kids market may be held up Proposes until the end of April. Rule Change Spot TV: Robust Market remains tight Would allow through second quar- newspapers to sell ter Movies are hot, discounted subs with studios makinc buys for May and to selected groups June "pre -summer" openings. PAGE 6 THE MARKETPLACE Radio: Consistent Sales are booming ii A Slowdown most categories. Autos are spending heavier in In 2d Quarter What do they really think recent weeks. An in- during a media review? The crease in national radio Scatter Sales networks could scare inside story of a $20 million off local advertisers. Winter Olympics, spot TV account pitch. PAGE 26 NFL, `Seinfeld' Magazines: Cautious With third quarter near- factors combining ing, epicurean titles ex- to soften market pect a wait -and -see atti- tude from drugs and re- for the networks medies, autos and large PAGE 9 Upfront Could SAG food companies. Travel, confections and snacks 1 3 > will deliver big-time ii An actors strike may chase clients to cablePAGE 4 May issues. 481919111 0 ewsfor TheNewswithBrian William 15The Mews usishiredan Vil..ams 2.01 PH ET Tiiuesdas. Mach 24, 1994 -MicrosoftInconel Esph. Ov Air THENEWS WITHBRIAN WILLIAMS Quick 'ournt up on 'The News oin Erian Williams and NBC Novacorrespondent; for Commerce tie innreports on the lop news bout Ls stores of the day. Sports Ta k Bari- Tensioninthe Gat total News Ar he Srteduie ar__LkaLtzLL.. r echnology ware Arctivr5 living yigitLcappL., DI Air biln7Cris- Weather n ,,1f1 Waking up widerthekink: 4.4,.5t4Eggri_LaTionEsw.o,f ,1!n-;-,, Prime -time viewers tu-n to The 'yews with Brian Williams for the best of NBC News in one hcur on MSNBC. Hoiseholds up 122% Adult25-54audiences up iii% since 10/97. Weeknights 9pm ET/PT www.msnbc.com For Advertising/Sponsorship Information, Call The New Leader in Cable Jon Spaet, VP Advertising Sales at 212-664-3472 and Internet News Source Nielsen Mecia Research, Gala -4 Explorer Progarr Data,February 1?98Vs October 1997. PErcer{ iccreases based on 9 J M ET Telecast HH andA:5-54 000s. -idgemailtait MEDIAWEEK March 30, 1998 http://www.mediaweek.com PAGE 3 Laura Fc.Jones APR 0 1IX AT DEADLINE FCC Retreats on Free Airtime for Politicos Carat North America to Buy Mass. Agency FCC chairman William Kennard last week backed off from his Carat North America, the national independent media specialist, plan to have the agency consider free airtime for candidates in has agreed to acquire Newton, Mass.-based Freeman Associates, a federal elections. In response, Sen. John McCain (R -Ariz.), media agency for high-tech and information technology marketers. chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee and one of Carat will pay $5 million upon closing and an additional $7.5 mil- Kennard's most vocal opponents, issued a two -word press lion, subject to Freeman meeting certain growth objectives over a release: "I'm pleased." Kennard was recently asked by President three-year period. Freeman, with billings of about $175 million an- Clinton to look into whether the FCC had jurisdiction to impose nually, counts America Online among its clients. free airtime requirements on broadcasters as part of their public service obligation. Kennard's announcement that he would pur- Worth Parent Loses Fidelity, Gains Partner sue the idea provoked Rep. Billy Tauzin (R -La.), chairman of the Capital Publishing has found a new investment partner, thereby House Telecom Subcommittee, to propose a bill to cutting its ties to former majority -owner Fidelity block the FCC from using any of its budget to Capital, the business development and venture capi- review the matter. The Senate threatened to add INSIDE tal arm of Fidelity Investments. Announcement of such a rider to the Bosnia emergency -funding bill. the partner is expected next week, pending both the Meanwhile, in every appearance at appropriations completion of due diligence and Justice Department hearings recently, Kennard has been lambasted. In approval, as required by the Hart Scott Rodino Act. his statement last week, Kennard admitted that it New York -based Capital, publisher of Worth, Civi- would be impossible in the current climate to push lization and American Benefactor, began its search the airtime issue. However, the FCC will continue last November through the investment banking firm to solicit comments and advice. Paul Taylor, a lead- of Ladenberg, Thalmann and Co. ing Washington proponent of free airtime, said he was not depressed by Kennard's retreat. "We have Addenda:After nearly a year at the helm of seen the vehemence of Congress and the broadcast Mirabella as editor, Roberta Myers has been lobby in opposition to it, but we know there's sup- promoted to editor-in-chief...Mark Begor, vp for port for it among the public," Taylor said. "The investor communications for NBC parent General issue will be getting more attention over the next MTV's Graden dances Electric, has been named senior vp and chief several months." to a 14 -to -24 beat financial officer. He replaces Warren Jenson, who is 12 joining Delta Air Lines...Fox news veteran Susan Seeds of Paxson Sale: 'Poppycock' Sullivanhas been named news director of In response to published reports that Paxson Com- TV SPORTS WNYW-TV in New York. Sullivan moves over from munications is considering selling some or all of its 16 sister Fox -owned WITG-TV in Washington, where 70 -plus television stations and abandoning efforts to she served as vp/news director since 1996...Fi- launch a seventh network (billed as PaxNet), Dean LOCAL MEDIA nancial talk radio pioneerBernard Meltzerdied Goodman, president of Paxson Television, issued a 20 last week. Meltzer, known as "Uncle Bernie," hosted terse statement: "Poppycock." Goodman noted that What's Your Problem for 20 years on New York's West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Paxson "possesses sig- MAGAZINES WOR-AM. He was81...Irvin Kornfeldhas been nificant capital resources" for acquiring more TV 32 named vp of Billboard Music Group and associate stations and programming, including $630 million publisher for Billboard magazine, published by BPI from last year's sale of its radio station holdings to THE MEDIA ELITE Communications, publisher of Mediaweek. In his Clear Channel Communications. 38 new position, Kornfeld will be responsible for ad sales for Billboard and Musician magazines. Fox Kids Packages Creepy Idea Taking aim at ABC's highly rated new "One Saturday Morn- Correction:Due to erroneous information supplied by a ing" programming block, Fox Kids Network said last week that public relations firm connected with the show, the company it will package three "creepy" series under the banner "The No providing the radio simulcast of A&E's recent Live by Request Yell Motel." Effective April 4, Fox Kids will be airing Goose - special with Michael Bolton was incorrectly identified (Cable bumps, Eerie Indiana: The Other Dimension, and Ultimate TV column, Mediaweek, March 16). MediaAmerica Inc. Goosebumps within a 9-10:30 a.m. rotation. handled the simulcast. MEDIAWEEK (ISSN 0155-176X) is published 47 times a year. Regular issues are published weekly except the last week of July and the second and fourthweeks of August and the last two weeks of December by ASM Communications, Inc., a subsidiary of BPI Communications Inc., 1515 Broadway, New York, NY, 10036. Subscriptions are$125 one year; $215 two years. Canadian subscriptions $280 per year. All other foreign subscriptions are $280 (using air mail). Registered as a newspaper atthe British Post Office. Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y. and additional mailing offices. Subscriber Service (1-800) 722-6658. MEDIAWEEK, 1515 Broadway, New York, NY, 10036.Editorial: New York, (212) 536-5336; Los Angeles, (213) 525-2270; Chicago, (312) 464-8525. Sales (212) 536-6528. Classified (1-800-7-ADWEEK). POSTMASTER: Send address changes toMEDIAWEEK, P.O. Box 1976, Danbury, CT 06813-1976. Copyright, 1997 ASM Communications, Inc. PAGE 4 http://www.mediaweek.com March 30, 1998 MEDIAWEEK MEDIA *IRE Bulmer Leaves Family Circle Upfmnt's SAG-ging For Workout as fitness' Pub Diane Bulmer will be flexing her publish- ing muscles at Gruner + Jahr's Fitness. Media buyers say they will hold and cut budget After more than three years with G+J's Family Circle, the last two as associate NETWORK TV /By Betsy Sharkey publisher, Bulmer has joined the women's health book as publisher. Fitness' previous If the potential for a strike by members of publisher, Margery Gladstone, recently the Screen Actors Guild still looms as the iltHHIAKLk:(?) left to join American Health for Women at May upfront season begins, a distinct pos- Nu t Readers' Digest Publications. sibility since the SAG contract does not Bulmer, 37, has held senior -level expire until June 30, agency media execu- advertising management positions at tives suggest it will likely delay their UNFAIRTO ACTORS G+J's Rodale's Prevention and upfront commitments, affect what .their clients Hachette Filipacchi's Woman's Day.