The Fifth Estate R I E I I A D O T E L V S O N C A B L E, ,CA 4 R d d 1i1 4 E BroadcastingmMar19 v-:;t-3. , ALL Lid')a6th WHERE THERE 1 EFFE VIACOM.. ,,.,..e, .m.,,,satom ,R2 Van. ,nman* Inc nrs, qv. 18CE4 NG 3111A31S3M IS 3A0210 3 !v]ew A2iV2;S11 W34 1H!-;I2flh(101 3031100 N19E311C 20Z-LZV C6/n0 )rAf £91r1Z-LZViGOEv tBOEb 11OIC-****-x;*r*=*X-'íz Wedidiftjusttopthecom This February, ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT continued its phenomenal growth, improving performance by as much as 122% where we aired in access. We were also #1 in New York MARKET STATION TIME NEW YORK* WABC 7:30P LOS ANGELES KNBC 7:00P CHICAGO WBBM 6:30P SAN FRANCISCO* KGO 7:30P DETROIT* WXYZ 7:30P MIAMI WTVJ 7:30P ST. LOUIS KTVI 6:30P PHOENIX KTVK 6:30P WFSB 7:30P WM 6:30P CINCINNATI WKRC 7:31W Copyright R? 1990 Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved. SOURCE: NSI FEBRUARY 19R9 VS. FEBRUARY I4.I00ARBI ition. We topped ourselves. knocking off "Wheel of Fortune" for the second consecutive sweep* with added wins in Washington D.C. and Atlanta. We think you'll agree. Ratings like these are hard to top... even for us. FEB. '89 PROGRAM RATING PERCENTAGE INCREASE ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT + 17% ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT + 4% ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT + 14% ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT + 6% ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT +12% FAMILY FEUD +122% GERALDO +36% INSIDE EDITION + 76% ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT + 9% INSIDE EDITION + 10% ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT + 7% THE ACCESS FRANCHISE FOR THE 90's... AND BEYOND. Broadcasting Mar19 Vol. 118 No. 12 Harry and the Hendersons, 68 GAGA BUYS Last chance for fin -syn based on theatrical film starring FOX/LORBER John Lithgow. Japanese firm, GaGa compromise ...FCC puts pressure Communications, buys 58% of on networks and Hollywood to reach agreement on 38/ MOVIETIME Los Angeles -based CHANGE financial interest and syndication rules. PAGE 27. NAME N /video distributor Fox/Lorber Movietime entertainment Associates. news cable network changes its name format, and 95/ LIKE FATHER, NBC 51% its becoming E! Entertainment sells of Television June 1. LIKE SON Building on foundation in Network agrees Cleveland 0 &0... 44/ NAB FORUM: syndication laid by his late to sell control of WKYC -TV Cleveland to Multimedia GOOD NEWS AND BAD father, John Claster has for about $65 million. Sale would, among other things, expanded Claster Television During NAB legislative into animated syndicator, give NBC more flexibility to buy additional stations forum, Representative Ed steadily building revenues and and rescue network in market where it has historically Markey promises to push viewers. AM improvement bill and give underperformed. PAGE 28. hearing to if carry/must pay arguments. On down side is his hope for children's TV bill, DEPARTMENTS reinstatement of fairness and FCC field hearing...FCC new political ad rate policy. Advertisers Index 94 searches for key to effective competition and Business 68 46/ HOPE FOR HDTV By the Numbers 15 Included in proposed FY Cablecastings 56 1991 FCC budget is $500,000 Changing Hands 70 for FCC's HDTV standard - Closed Circuit 6 setting effort. Datebook 22 Editorials 98 51/ GOOD BUSINESS Fates & Fortunes 91 FOR CABLE Fifth Estater 95 For the 77 National Cable Television Record Association Chairman Robert In Brief 96 Miron says NCTAs new In Sync 63 customer service standards International 64 makes good business and Law & Regulation 44 political sense. Masthead 23 The Media 51 considers whether to hand rate regulation back to 54' NPR'S Monday Memo 24 cities during commission field hearing in St. Louis. PROGRAMING On Radio 54 Programing 35 PAGE 29. STRATEGY Satellite Footprints 52 The Thistle and Shamrock Stock Index 18 30/ SHOWTIME moves from APR to NPR as Syndication Marketplace 42 ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox latter redefines its "larger give advertisers preview of cultural aims." Technology 59 programs in development. 55/ ARN FINDS Broadcasting (ISSN 0007 -2028) is pub- 33/ CABLE DRAFT lished 52 Mondays a year by Broadcasting NICHE IN AM Publications Inc.. 1705 DeSales Street, N.W., OPPOSITION American Radio Networks Washington, D.C. 20036 Second -class post- Senate Commerce lines up more than 250 affiliates age paid at Washington. D.C., and additional offices. Single issue $2 except special issues Committee's staff draft on cable for its 24 -hour, live talk, $3.50 (50th Anniversary issue $10). Sub- draws complaints from satellite -delivered service. scriptions. U.S. and possessions, one year cable, city organizations and $70. two years $135, three years $190. Ca- telcos. nadian and other international subscribers 59/ ON THE ROAD TO add $20 per year. U S. and possessions $235 yearly for special delivery. $100 for NAB: VIDEOTAPE first -class. Subscriber's occupation required. 35/ MCA GETS 72- Annually: Broadcasting Cable Yearbook In hopes of attracting more (I) and Whoopi $115, Across the Dial $9.95. Microfilm of Jean Stapelton EPISODE DEAL broadcasting buyers, Goldberg, stars of CBS's 'Bagdad Sony Broadcasting is available from University Microfilms, 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor, Cafe' (premiering March 30), meet MCA TV reaches agreement Corp. and Ampex Corp. are with Fox Television Stations Inc. offering composite digital VTR's Mich. 48106 (35mm, full year $55). Postmas- with advertisers during network's ter, please send address corrections to unveiling of development plans and its six O &O's for 72- that are more portable and Broadcasting, 1705 DeSales St.. N.W., for 1990 -1991 TV season. episode production order for less expensive. Washington, D.C. 20036. Why did Americom broker more radio station sales in 1989 than all other brokerage firms combined? 1989 Radio Station Sales (in millions) by Brokerage Firm: $1,000 - $868 $800 - $600 - $400 - i $163 $129 $128 $97 $200 - $63 $47 $35 $30 $24 $23 $21 $19 $68 0- iAVA iVAí7i,ií `O/ 6 J 4 ee4J ,o G d`' y` s."4, C.) +4;'), .0 +.0,- 4Zs. 's.'' Ir.". ó.- Here's Why: 1. Quality Inventory for Buyers to Choose From -- "Americom doesn't market losers. They concentrate on those properties that are successful or can be successful." Al Kaneb. President. Barnstable Corporation. 2. Americom Helps Sellers Get the Highest Prices for Their Radio Stations- - "Americom gets some of the highest prices in the industry and yet the prices can be financed." Ed Christian. President. Saga Communications. Inc. 3. Through Trust Earned by Maintaining Confidentiality and Performing- - "Americom's technical competence, perseverance, and commitment to our success have earned the respect of all of us at Group W Radio." Richard Harris. Chairman. Group W Radio. Inc. Call one of us today to confidentially discuss your plans for 1990. Bill Steding Dan Gammon Paul Leonard Peter Handy Top - 25 Markets Northeast and Central Southeast West A MER ICOM Radio's New Breed of Professional Brokerage and Financing Specialists 1130 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. / Suite 500 / Washington, DC 20036 / (202) 737 -9000 Closed Circuit 1 Closed Circuit 1 Closed Circuit 1 Closed Circuit 1 Closed Circuit 1 talks over legislation HDTV authority. recently, WNBC -TV anchor Chuck WASHINGTON between Inouye and National Scarborough. Association of Broadcasters NEW YORK M *A *S *H move On schedule have picked up with strong likelihood of breakthrough. WNYw(TV) New York is National Association of Clearing the ice rescheduling its late night Broadcasters says its if Power struggle lineup to please M *A*S *H carry/must pay proposal will SportsChannel America Ambassador Bradley fans who go to bed early. Show, be ready for Senate believes it is doing well at nine Holmes acknowledges that he which currently airs at Communications million subscribers after one is "troubled" by reports that midnight, will move to 11 p.m., year in business. Of all hockey Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Representative Edward Markey replacing Night Court. Inouye (D- Hawaii) before markets, said Sharon Pontin, (D- Mass.), chairman of Reason for change, according end of month. Inouye promised SCA vice president of affiliate House Telecommunications to WNYW source, is because to introduce idea for sales and marketing, only Subcommittee, is "station was overrun with consideration when parent St. Louis and Detroit remain introduction of phone calls from yuppies considering uncleared, "and we're Commerce Committee legislation that would make who did not want to stay up moves cable bill. Under if working on Buffalo," she said, Commerce rather than State until midnight to watch carry/must pay law, cable adding that biggest hitch in Department lead agency in M *A *S *H." Replacing show at systems choosing to carry one current cable environment is representing U.S. before midnight will be hour Kojak. local signal channel capacity broadcaster international bodies that are Lost in shuffle was syndicated would required to carry all constraints. Latest SCA be developing high- definition show, After Hours. locals would be forced approach to that problem: and television production to pay percentage of their special offer centered on the standards (BROADCASTING, revenue for signals. The National Hockey League's ANGELES March 12). Holmes, who as funds would be divided among Stanley Cup playoffs. Some coordinator and director of LOS stations and networks. operators may carry playoffs Bureau of International Promo partner in April and May, but have Communications and Keeping tabs "flexibility" to put off actually During NBC's development Policy, is Information State's launching SCA until as late as presentation to major FCC opted not to put one of point man in HDTV matters, 1, 1991. advertising executives last its own in room where Jan. says there have been no Thursday, high -level network Hollywood and networks are from industry or complaints executive told BROADCASTING trying to hammer out new fin - Empty chair other elements of that "major" new retailer is on syn rules, fearing that it NBC still has not government (including decided on verge of signing as cross - could compromise any later Commerce) about manner replacement for Deborah promotional partner for rulemaking effort by FCC.