906Z0 30N3GIAM AT PRESS TIME IS IN31CIA3N38 B9 wA-nlivm snwINVAH NAMOI Big 3, studios talk D1706fAV6E680013TO LEttrbZOOT Los ANGELEsRepresentatives of the Holly- ' wood production community and the major TV networks met here Sept. 20 to discuss efforts to relax financial interest and syndication rules, agreeing to meet again next month. Sources on IMI=1/01. Thursday said the studios pressed to have INTV President Preston Padden included in the talks, but they are said to have backed down because they feared the networks would break off talks if they kept pushing for Mr. Padden's inclusion. Nonetheless, MPAA President Jack Valenti said he believed the meeting had "progressed usefully." Composer buys TV outlet Published weekly by NEw ORLEANS ---Composer and record producer Quincy Jones purchased WNOL-TV, the TVX Crain Communications Broadcasting Group -owned independent here, for an undisclosed sum last week. TVX purchased the Entire contents copyright 1989 by Crain Communications Inc. station in April 1986 for $13 million. The station $1.50 A COPY; $49 A YEAR All rights reserved. SEPTEMBER 25, 1989 (Continued on Page 39) INTV, NAB Networks battle N.Y. cable station get strong By ADAM BUCKM AN Stall reporter A controversial new cal.le "station" fall start in Rochester, N.Y., la inched on schedule at 5 p.m. last Th irsday with By WILLIAM MAHONEY an episode of "Knight R der" while Los Angeles bureau chiet its foes were attacking the very idea of the channel on Capitol HiL. LosANGELES The fall season started Both the Association of Indepen- strong for ABC, CBS and NBC last week, de- dent Television Stations and the Na- spite new competition on Monday night from tional Association of Broadcasters the Fox Broadcasting Co. lineup. last week sent strongly wo cicd letters The debut of new series last week drew to legislators on Capitol Hill protest- strong viewer sampling for the networks, par- ing the transformation of the Roches- ticularly on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs- day, but earned only modest gains against See editorial, Page 12. Fox on Monday. Here's a breakdown of how 15 new series ter cable channel into a vi Thal inde- fared last week: pendent TV station. Seven new programs won their time peri- The cable station, opera..ing under ods last week: NBC's "The Nutt House," the call letters WGRC, ha: bought a "Sister Kate" and "Hardball"; CBS's "Major number of evergreen and r ewer syn- Dad," "The People Next Door" and "Island dicated shows, including "ALF" and Son"; and ABC's "Doogie Howser, M.D." "Perfect Strangers," to fill its 6 a.m. Two new series placed second in their to post midnight program schedule. time periods: ABC's "Chicken Soup" and In its letter to legislators, INTV "The Young Riders." argues that the cable system , which is Six new programs placed third: the CBS owned by Time Warner subsidiary series "A Peaceable Kingdom," "Wolf," "Res- American Television & Co:nmunica- Former FCC chief Dick Wiley isexpanding his influence in Washington. cue 911," "Top of the Hill" and "The Famous lions Corp., has positioned Aself as a Teddy Z"; and FBC's "Alien Nation." competitor to Rochester's On)adcast In individual night results from last week, stations, yet doesn't fall t nder the CBS won Monday with its slate of six come- jurisdiction of Federal Corimunica- Wiley still mighty dies, including three new programs. tions Commission regulations. (Continued on Page 39) "The Time Warner 'spin doctors' positioned their merger as America's INSIDE: chance to stride boldly across the after all theseyears world stage," says the letter from U.K. firm faces MTM losses By DOUG HALONEN TVS Entertainment'sJames Gatward INTV President Preston Padden, Washington bureau chief which was mailed to 16 U.S. senators says MTM is headed for cutbacks. and 25 U.S. representatives. WASHINGTON During July's Sovran Bank Tennis Classic at "Instead, this vertically integrated the Washington Tennis Center's posh new stadium here, the programing and cable giant seems to action of most interest to broadcasting and cable industry TCI improving people skills have set its sights on conquering a insiders was taking place off the court. 8 Tele-Communications Inc.'s new target closer to home-namely, Roch- Watching the match from a private box was Al Sikes, who strategy targets customer service. ester, N.Y." would soon be sworn in as chairman of the Federal The letter warns that cable systems Communications Commission, and Sherrie Marshall, nominee that operate their own stations would for an FCC seat. Working on common goals move broadcasters to unfavorable From time to time, luminaries from in and around the 16 channel positions, and that cable's (Continued on Page 37) Broadcasters and cable operators (Continued on Page 3S) discuss their mutual problems. 2 ELECTRONIC MEDIA September 25, 1989 NEWS SUMMARY A controversial new cable "station" launched on schedule Sept. 21 in Rochester, N.Y., while INTV and NAB were vi- Britain's TVSmoves gorously attacking the idea on Capitol Hill, warning that broadcast stations would suffer through channel placement. (Page 1) The fall season started strong for ABC, CBS and NBC last week, despite tough new competition on Monday night from the Fox Broadcasting Co. lineup. New series debuts saw strong sampling, to stop MTM losses particularly on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. (Page 1) By SEAN KELLY sure how much the turndown is. We've taken steps to Dick Wiley, a former Federal Communications Commission Contributing editor make sure deficits don't get out of hand." chairman and a key player in Washington's communications arena, is Mr. Gatward also confirmed that there would be lay- expanding his influence. (Page 1) LONDON-TVS Entertainment has admitted its MTM offs, but he declined to give numbers. Entertainment has suffered losses in the area of $45 mil- "I'm afraid it does (mean layoffs)," he said. "That is Fox Television Stations has agreed to sell its owned -and - lion and that belt -tightening must follow. being dealt with at the operated WFXT-TV in Boston to the Boston Celtics, a move that solved However, TVS, one of Britain's largest independent moment, but I'm not going a cross -ownership conflict for Fox and triggered personnel changes in broadcast companies, insists there will be no "for sale" to say anything more. As the Boston market. (Page 3) sign on the American programing subsidiary. you are aware, a lot of TVS purchased MTM for $320 million last year in sensitivities are involved." Paramount Domestic Television and MCA TV last what was the largest U.S. TV acquisition ever made by a Sources indicated that a week came together to form a new barter alliance, Premier Ad- British TV company. full decision will be made vertiser Sales, which sources say will be the fifth -largest national TV After last week's word of the losses, which were on the matter within the advertising source in the nation. (Page 3) blamed on poor TV show sales, TVS shares fell 26 per- next 10 days. cent on the London stock market. Mr. Gatward said he Syndicators are boosting their efforts to help local British analysts believe the news could cause company was confident about the broadcasters promote off -network comedies in order to increase na- profits to drop from $41 million to an estimated $17.2 future of MTM and in tional ratings and encourage stations to do business with them. (Page million. MTM shows such as "FM" 3) "The position at MTM is serious but not terminal by and "Capital News," both any means," James Gatward, founder and chief execu- of which are likely to air The National Cable Television Association has tive officer of TVS Entertainment, told ELECTRONIC as mid -season replace- produced a TV spot that cable operators can use to explain syndicated MEDIA. JAMES GATWARD ments on the major U.S. exclusivity to viewers in an effort to dampen any consumer backlash "We have suffered there along with all other com- TVS chief predicts layoffs networks. from program blackouts. (Page 3) panies prominent in the secondary syndication mar- MTM, named after co- ket. However, the assets will remain intact-there is no founder Mary Tyler CBS confirmed last week that it is breaking away from the for -sale sign up around MTM," he said. Moore, also distributes such shows as "The Mary Tyler traditional network program development schedule of December But Mr. Gatward confirmed that cutbacks will be Moore Show," "Hill Street Blues" and "St. Elsewhere." through March and designing a year-round system to create new made. "It's a helluva turndown-I won't hide that for a mo- shows. (Page 4) "As far as MTM is concerned, we're taking some econ- ment," he said of the losses. "But I am convinced the omy measures," he said. "We're reducing our commit- strategy is as right today as it was a year ago." WKCH-TV, a Knoxville, Tenn., Media Central station involved ments to development for the coming year until we mea- (Continued on Page 39) in bankruptcy proceedings, was left with its fate up in the air when its would-be owner was arrested last week on charges of laundering money gained from illegal activities. (Page 4) Donald Wear, who has headed CBS Broadcast International `Hard Copy' leadsnewfare here for the past three years, is leaving the network at the end of the year to join the Washington communications law firm of Wiley, Rein & By GARY ALAN ROSEN ident and director of programing Television, said "Hard Copy" got off Fielding.