CahnerS THE NEWSEIFLY OF TV, RAD'C & INTERACTIVE MEDIA $4.95 r 1 i i JUNE 11, 2001 THE SURGE OF SET -TOPS All of a suddei, several competitors a-e heating up cable's set -top market by add-ng more f?atures » PAGE 64 i ROOT, ROOT ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM Cable's regional sports networks thrie, especially if your local team isn't a bunch of lose » P/GF 28 JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME NAB wants FC to give sma [-market stations more timE for comp_eting their DTV buildout » P/GE 6 FOLD -OUT CHEAT SHEET B &C s special .vall chart of media's interactive players is knowledge -at -a- glance » INSERTINSID_ !WIWInrnÌiusuiiiuin3-DIGIT 591 BCO7`5184 AUOOa R? '.?27 JOHN C: JCHNSON KTVC]--TV a66 LJATEî.TbN WAY BILLINOS. MT 39102-7755 Lifetime Real Women... Anew 24-hourteIevsion network from the brand that knows women best. Lifetime Real Women is reality based programming told from a woman's perspective. -Real Experiences. -Real Lives. -Real Women. Launching Summer 2001 Lifetime Real Women Now, introducing Real Experiences. Real Lives. Real Women. www.lifetimetv.com 02001 11IIIIYI IMIIOIUIWIMI SIOYiCl5 The #1 Brand for Women Announces the Next Powerful Extension... L/tZnw MOVIE NETWORK BROADCASTING CABLE {www.broadcastingcable.com} Volume 131 Number 25 Top of the Week June 11, 2001 DIGITAL DEADLINE NAB is seeking extension for rollout in small markets. » 6 POLE CAP Cable industry fights to retain limits on attachment fees. » 7 SYNDIE SLUMP Sweeps ratings were down for Seinfeld, whole court genre. » 10 SYNDIE SHOCKER Media buyers are reportedly set to slash their advertising budgets. » 11 SAG President William Daniels expects to avoid an actors strike. NO SURE THING It may be premature to discount the possibility of a strike by the Screen Actors Guild. » 12 THEREBY HANGS A TAILWIND CNN settles with Jack Smith, co- producer COVER STORY of retracted "Valley of Death" story. » 16 4 HOLD THE BELLS AND WHISTLES BIG CABLE NETS AT &T rethinks its set -top strategy. » 18 The five general -entertainment networks are stumbling down the same path the Big Three Winner in attachment -fee battle could have broadcast networks took in the 1980s. » 20 the upper hand in the broadband market. Programming Washington Airtime 80 Local team National sports ratings may be Indecent air FCC fine for Eminem lyrics Bednarski's Column 19 down, but regional networks are hot. » 28 could chill the climate for content. » 54 B &C Eye 4 Time to fill Syndicators rush to occupy Hang up Bill to deregulate long- distance Broadcast Ratings 38 slots left by departing series. » 34 data service seems unlikely to pass. » 58 Cable Ratings 36 Branding VH1 retools prime time lineup Court TV Prospects brighten for bill to Changing Hands 45 with music -related theme nights. » 36 allow cameras in federal courtrooms. » 58 Classifieds 75 Datebook 59 Business Interactive Media Editorials 82 Facetime 70 Pep talk UPN execl.tives urge affiliates to Blanket license Court is asked to rule on Fates & Fortunes 72 promote the network more. » 44 Webcasters' copyright responsibility. » 60 Fifth Estater 74B Advertising In recess Trial on Gemstars lawsuit against Financial Wrap -Up 16 its IPG competitors is delayed. » 62 Focus 41 Cable view Five top ad -sales execs offer Open Mike 81 their take or the upfront market. » 46 Technology Station Break 40 Extreme winter To boost Olympics ratings, Set -top wars New manufacturers take on Syndication Ratings 39 NBC hypes nontraditional sports. » 52 Motorola and Scientific- Atlanta. » 64 Web Watch 61 Panorama NBC offers 360-degree images for play analysis in NBA Finals. » 68 Broadcasting & Cable /6 -11 -01 3 CABLE PROGRAMMING TNN is Oblivious How can TNN, which already boasts the WWF franchise, contin- ue to pump up its remade profile? Pick up an all- the -rage reality REGULATION project, for one. TNN has grabbed the pilot for Oblivious from Stone Stanley Entertainment, creator of ABC's The Mole and The SYNDICATION WB's Popstars. In development at Stone Stanley since August of last Do tell year (B &C, Aug. 28), Oblivious is a Candid Camera -like game show Local TV stations must tell satel- NBC to where people are unknowingly taped in a variety of potentially lite TV companies by July 1 get Access humorous situations. Unwitting contestants will be asked trivia whether they want to negotiate questions, not realizing that it is a contest or that the right answers payment for carriage or assert NBC Enterprises appears close to will earn them prizes. One possible scenario: Someone posing as a their must -carry rights. If they snagging the distribution rights to waiter quizzes diners on food facts. miss the deadline, TV stations Access Hollywood. Sources say the may forfeit their right to be car- strip, produced by NBC Studios but ried in markets where satellite distributed by Warner Bros., should companies are offering local ser- be under the wing of NBC's fledg- vice. According to FCC rules, all ling distribution division by the stations need to declare, even if end month. One clue of this that they already have signed retrans- it's a done deal wheels almost -the mission consent deals with satel- have been in motion April since -is lite companies. The Satellite the NBC O &Os have that just Home Viewer Improvement Act, renewed Warner Bros: Extra through passed by Congress in November May 2005. That was apparently the 1999, allows satellite TV compa- of good move Warner sort -faith nies to offer customers only the Bros. was looking to receive once it major local TV signals per market agreed to release Access Hollywood until the end of this year. But by to NBC. Sources also say the NBC Jan. 1, 2002, they must carry O &Os have renewed Access every TV station in every market Hollywood May At through 2005. they are serving, but only if sta- neither nor press time, Warner Bros. tions actively assert that right. NBC Enterprises was commenting. ON BOARD AT NAB LIN Television Vice President Paul TRUTH IN ADVERTISING Here's the anticipated new lineup when the Karpowicz will move up to chair the We always like the hint of inspiration in NAB board changes at this week's annual television board. convention literature, so we loved this summer meeting in Washington: Dispatch Broadcast Group President headline for a panel plucked from the NCTA David Kennedy, president and COO of Michael Fiorile is expected to become TV preliminary convention agenda this week: Susquehanna Radio Corp., is expected to board vice chairman. "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? Field service take over from Benedek Broadcasting Federated President John Dille will chair management today." Applause! (And when President Jim Yager as joint -board the radio board, while Hubbard President cable customer service is as good as that chairman. Ginny Morris will likely become vice chair. headline, they won't need the panel.) 4 Broadcasting & Cable /6 -11 -01 ,SPEEDVISION, /MilMillr THINK FAST VItes OPt: Speedvision attracts guys like Mike Luftman...who -are well educatéd, technically say , ; and just a little car crazy.,4 ii illiSt<rnear Racer her Cable Whether its on the fast track or the race track Nike Luftman -Wows how to stay ahead cf the competition. So does Speedvision. Were the ,.twork that's 100% devotec to the faster things in life, from Not Rods & Harleys tottie most prestigious compettions in motorsport. That's why we've got the greatest concentration of men 25-54 in prime time and the most lucrative and techric lly savvy group of viewers in America. Get on the fast track; add Speedvis on to your lineup today. Now in aver 40,000,000 households nationwide. Call Speedvision Today East (203) 406 -2500, Central (312) 832 -0808 and West (310) 4'-4 -8700 or for more info log on to sv-oln- afiliates.corr. TOP OF THE WEEK Running out of time NAB plans to petition FCC ble for all stations to be for more time to complete NAB Joint Board Chairman Jim Yager airing digitally by 2002. digital signal roll -out says that, without a Washington won't be deadline extension, broadcasters will surprised by NAB's By Paige Albiniak require congressional request. FCC Chairman support to complete The NAB board next week is expect- digital build -out. Michael Powell acknowl- ed officially to ask the FCC to extend edged at April's NAB con- the May 2002 build -out deadline for vention that delays are to TV stations in small markets, sources say. be expected but hasn't "I would not be surprised if the board been willing to say he'll took some action regarding the 2002 dead- waive the deadline. House line," says NAB Joint Board Chairman Jim Energy and Commerce Yager. The NAB holds its annual summer Committee Chairman Billy board meeting in Washington next week. Tauzin (R -La.) said months As of May 15, 2001, 195 TV stations are ago that it's a "damn cer- broadcasting in digital in 65 markets, includ- tainty" broadcasters will ing stations in markets as small as Salisbury, miss the deadline. Md., market 162 out of 211. But the FCC the deadline for one year for stations in Digital television issues will probably take counts a total of 1,288 commercial TV sta- markets 75 through 99, two years for sta- up the bulk of broadcasters' time in tions, and the deadline dictates they all must tions in markets 100 and up. Washington next week, including digital be broadcasting digitally by May 2002. The conversion to digital is much more must-cant', cable compatibility and consumer "We're going to do it; we just need a lit- expensive for stations in small markets acceptance of digital television, Yager says.