The Fifth Estate R A D I O T E L E V I S I O N C A B L E S A T E L L I T E Broadcast i ng ii Oct 24 Still leading the industry. Pioneering numerous "firsts" in radio and television. Sharing in the spirit of innovative local-station operation and independence. Forging new technologies in satellite services for stations and syndicators. Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. 3415 University Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55414 ZTT9£ 1V 113MXVW 50+2T N:119 ZZT NCOii sVS-1nV 06/AOtv )17I +79£71 ZT19£ THE KARATE KID PART II Motion Pictures Columbia Pictures Televisi A unit of Columbia Pictures Entertainmen November 14 Special Report Local TV and Cable Journalism On November 14, 1988, Broadcasting will present the best and the brightest in local TV spot news, investigative reports and public service efforts from stations and cable systems around the country. In this Special Report, broadcast and cable journalists show- case their talents with hundreds of examples of the who's, what's, where's, when's and how's of the past 12 months, including: Spot News...from toxic spills to presidential elections. Investigative Reports...shady deals revealed, unsafe products discovered, and more. Public Affairs... blood drives, food drives, debate sponsorships, and a host of other community services and outreach efforts. This Broadcasting Special Report promises to be one of the year's best -read issues. Space reservations and copy closing November 4, 1988. The People Who Can Say "Yes" Read Broadcasting. i I e Nees Magazine of the F tth Estate New York: (212) 599 -2830 Washington: (202) 659 -2340 Los Angeles: (213) 463-3148 "We met with three different brokers and felt Americom knew the buyers for our station." "Our board was unanimous for the { reasons: 1) their track -record of suc- cessful sales at good prices; 2) the quality of their professional staff; and, 3) the selling process they proposed helped assure us it would be kept ab- solutely confidential -- which it was. ';, < We are very satisfied with the out- come and think it was a good deal for both parties. We both got what we wanted." Samuel R. Simpson, Jr. President, WMSP(FM), Harrisburg, PA What other radio station owners say about Americom: "Americom brought me the top price and maintained the confidentiality of the transaction." Jack Long, President, Media Concepts, Inc. Top Prices Quality Stations off Us A MER ICOM 1 Radio Station Brokerage & Financing 1130 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. / Suite 500 / Washington, DC 20036 i (202) 737 -9000 Vol. 115 No. 17 BroadcastingiiOct 24 comparative renewal Broadcasting Corp. for about Hill action Hundredth Congress settlements to stem "abuses." $65 million. passes TVRO and children's ad bills as it prepares to 64 /SMPTE TAKES adjourn. PAGE 27; 101st Congress will see reprise of 52 /DECISION ON MANHATTAN FRANCHISE FEES unresolved communications issues. PAGE 28. Meeting at Jacob Javits U.S. district court judge in San Convention Center in New York Francisco supports Century City, members of Society of The rights Federal's claim that city of Palo Motion Picture and Television Alto, Calif.'s cable franchise fee Engineers attending group's stuff... is unconstitutional. 130th technical conference and Professional basketball equipment exhibit hear call for 55 /GOING FORWARD standardization. continues to make its Revisions to Warner presence felt in Fifth Communications -Lorimar 87 /THRILL OF VICTORY Estate, with NBA rights Telepictures merger agreement Aaron Daniels, former Olympian fees climbing and ad change stock exchange ratio and current president of ABC and provide for further financing rates rising. Then there Radio Network, has brought that of Lorimar before deal closes. competitive spirit to broadcast is host of college medium. preseason and playoff 55 /TVB: NOW games on broadcast TV AND THEN DEPARTMENTS and national and Television Bureau of Advertising Advertisers Index 86 regional cable services. examines second straight year of mid -single digit revenue Business 55 Survey of rights picture, growth and growing competition Changing Hands 61 followed by team -by- from other media for that money Closed Circuit 8 team breakdown of NBA Datebook 22 Editorials 90 rightsholders, begins on PAGE 35. 57 /TISCH'S KEY TO PROSPERITY Fates & Fortunes 84 Fifth Estater 87 CBS President and Chief For the Record 70 Self-promotion. On -air Executive Officer Laurence In Brief 88 promotions for ABC, CBS and NBC begin, with three In Sync 68 networks collectively using up more than $1 billion of International 58 their own air time running about 21,000 separate Journalism 69 commercials. PAGE 30. Law & Regulation 51 Masthead 14 31 /WAITING sports magazine program. The Media 48 FOR THE HITS Monday Memo 25 On Radio 50 In what program analysts say is 48 /HEAT IS ON Open Mike 23 one of worst seasons for new Wireless cable operators see Programing 45 first -run programs, no hits have medium making headway in its Riding Gain emerged from new batch of struggle to secure rights to offer 50 shows. cable programing services to its Special Report 35 Stock Index subscribers. There is still way to Tisch says broadcast television 54 Technology 32 /ABC'S OF ABC go before medium has all networks will prosper if they 64 programing it needs to compete Where Things Stand 10 Among topics Capital Cities/ effectively nurture and promote with, or at least effectively programing that audiences want ABC executives discuss with Broadcasting (ISSN 0007 -2028) is pub- complement, conventional to see. press lished Mondays a are peoplemeters; cable. 52 year by Broadcasting possible $20 million loss from Publications Inc., 1705 DeSales Street. N W. Washington, D.C. mega mini -series War and 20036. Second -class post- 58 /MIPCOM age paid at Washington. D C.. and additional Remembrance and new 50 /UP AND UP '88 offices. Single issue $2 except special issues segment for World News Tonight Two surveys released by NAB American program industry $3 50 (50th Anniversary issue $10). Subscrip- with Peter Jennings. and BFMA show radio salaries takes to MIPCOM TV market in tions, U.S. and possessions one year $70. two years $135, three years $190. Canadian TV, and national /regional growing numbers. Satellite and other international subscribers add $20 advertising rising. co- productions and obtaining per year U S. and possessions $235 yearly 45 /COMING UP rights are among issues facing for special delivery. $100 for first- class. Sub- Next round of syndicated international gathering. scriber's occupation required. Annually: 51 /RENEWAL REFORM Broadcasting o Cablecasting Yearbook programs includes several talk $110, Across the Dig( $6.95. Microfilm of shows, some children's In comments to FCC, Broadcasting is available from University animation projects, game shows broadcasters and others argue 63 /RADIO SALE Microfilms. 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. Mich. 48106 year and reality -based programs, in that license renewals should be After 30 years in radio business. (35mm, full $55). Postmas- ter. please send address corrections to from Roger Neuhoff agrees in addition to court show dick based on station's programing Broadcasting. 1705 DeSales St . N W. clark productions and weekly and that cap should be put on principle to sell Eastern Washington, D C. 20036 Cu In his debut performance, Freddy slashed the record books, carving out huge time period increases in 17 of the 18 overnight markets. And in the 18th market, he equalled last year's perfor- mance. That's what we call a very sharp premiere! Oct 87 Freddy's Freddys Market Station Time Period HH Share HH Share Increase New York WWOR Sat 12:00AM 8 12 +50% Los Angeles KHJ Sat 10:00PM 8 14 +75% Chicago WMAQ Sat 12:00AM 16 18 +13% Philadelphia WTXF Sun 6:00PM 11 16 +45% San Francisco KOFY Sat 10:00PM 3 5 +67% Boston WFXT Fri 10:00PM 4 6 +50% Detroit WXYZ Fri 12:30AM 14 19 +36% Dallas KTXA Sat 8:00PM 4 15 +275% Washington WDCA Sat 9:00PM 7 8 +14% Houston KTXH Sun 8:30PM 4 17 +325% Cleveland WUAB"" Sun 9:00PM 4 15 +275% Minneapolis KSTP Sat 11:00PM 14 16 +14% Atlanta WGNX Sat 9:00PM 4 8 +100% Seattle KCPQ Thu 10:00PM 5 6 +20% Miami WCIX Thu 8:00PM 6 9 +50% Denver KDVR Sat 11:00PM 6 18 +200% Hartford WTXX Sat 11:00PM 4 7 +75% Sacramento KRBK" Sat 9:00PM 7 7 - NEW LINE CINEMA THE REST CC1osedCirc-.; commissioners' agenda this week, Oswego, Ore., where market has been all How-to on must carry Common Carrier Bureau Chief Jerry Brock shook up by new format. Three weeks ago, expects tying of "loose ends" and WHOS(AM) Decatur, Ala., began Presley This Friday's meeting of National subsequent FCC action "very soon." Next around clock. Now it seems there may be Association of Broadcasters local carriage meeting is scheduled Nov 17. chance of format going national. Group of task force promises to be lively. Group must Orbital slot decisions will set Texas investors is looking into possibility of formulate legislative strategy for must carry comparative -renewal-like precedents as developing all -Elvis satellite delivery. will pass constitutional muster. Number that operators vie for limited orbital positions. Presley estate claims late singer's of options will be presented ( "Closed Five applicants have requested 101 discography boasts more than 650 songs. Oct. 17). Among latest idea to Circuit," degrees west longitude and two want 93 is that cable's surface suggestion degrees west, both of those slots among license repealed entirely compulsory be only six allocated for "hybrid" Eyes on S.F. and that broadcasters be granted broad (simultaneous C -band and Ku -band) use.