QCah11e1s THE NEWSIWEEKLY OF TV, RADIO & INTERACTIVE MEDIA Sä.95 R AD CA LE OCTOBER 16, 2000 www.broadcastingca: coni GOODBYE, ue RIGHT-OF- REPLY Court kills controversial rules, but they could be resurrected later. PAGE 6 TILL o HOLLYWOOD With time 'CAVED IN, running out, SAYS VINCE FCC's Kennard MCMAHON tries to salvage ,,F chairman slams public -interest show biz execs for bowing to Washington pressure. agenda » PAGE 22 » PAGE 10 DOUBTING DOTCOMS For ex- broadcasters at Internet startups, it has been a tough year. » PAGE 38 O AUTOMATED WORKPLACE Special tech report on how digital is changing the way television stations operate. » PAGE 48 iF 41 iF * t/- It Y - III III!Illl:lill:1!11.: i:!11I 1!! IlltilÌlll ;4 CI 0 1 F2Ei L-' C Jl7FiNSON 4 1 ., _ T- 2r.,* t! aYF.RON NAY L C !v:', i"tT n9102-77 vt s r1 1 N'" WR E~43:.L1,r` IV G-- FE D E R A T O W Q R LD D E R ASO I..91A1?_.f)SIT/f7Y `' ' BROADCASTINgABLE {www.broadcastingcable.com} Volume 130 Number 43 Top of the Week October 16, 2000 COVER STORY TAKING ON BROADCASTING Reviving an agenda FCC chief Bill Kennard (center at left) returns to old theme. » 10 Q &A with B &C Kennard vents his frustration. » 13 We beg to differ Broadcasters and set makers say must - carry is ignored issue. » 14 SCRAPPED Court throws out right -of-reply rules, but FCC could still justify and resurrect them. » 6 SPECIAL REPORT ALIVE AND KICKING Station automation Broadcasters Reports of networks' demise is premature, as seek cost -effective, reliable systems for numbers stay strong in week two. » 16 multichannel operations. » 48 DOWNSIZED Tailor -made System automates two Texas In drive for financing, Zatso Internet news- PBS stations on a tight budget. » 56 cast service cuts staff. » 17 Suppliers Some of the technology leaders in automation and media management. » 58 Programming Advertising Eye opening CBS starts new season with Windfall TV stations win, with political ratings up, median age down. » 20 spending on track to beat forecasts. » 36 B &C Eye 4 Hubbard's proposed movie Trailer talk -barker Bednarski's Column 18 channel draws skepticism. » 21 Interactive Media Broadcast Ratings 31 Ex- Slamming Hollywood WWFs Vince McMahon Slowing migration broadcasters advise Cable Ratings 30 'took before you leap' to dotcoms. » 38 blasts response to pressure on violence. » 22 Changing Hands 34 Classifieds 70 Air standards WRAL -IV sets rules for Global broadband Industry forum readies Common Ground 44 candidates using free airtime. » 24 recommendations for content delivery. » 42 Editorials 82 Ratings magic Sabrina is the winner among Facetime 64 the 11 freshmen off -net series. » 26 Technology Fates & Fortunes 66 HDNG That's high- definition news Fifth Estater 68 gathering at wRAL -rv. » 46 Business Financial Wrap -Up 17 Sprucing up Hughes Electronics, DirecTV Station Break 28 At mall Grass Valley hi -def servers are courted by media suitors. » 34 the will be used to peddle high -end consumer Syndication Ratings 29 goods and services. » 47 Two Cents 80 Broadcasting & Cable /10 -16 -00 3 (YE SYNDICATION Hassel -off SPORTS TV Don't look for David Hasselhoff to be showing up on the beach of Does heartland Baywatch Hawaii anytime soon. The former star of the Pearson REGULATIC',1 want NY Series? Television syndicated action series still carries an executive producer tide, but his acting days on the show appear over, sources say. He's no chicken The notion of a Mets -Yankees Hasselhoffs character was expected to return for up to eight episodes Green Party candidate and ever- subway series intoxicates Big during this it's 11th season in syndication, but he's a no show. green consumer advocate Ralph Apple baseball fans. But will it Baywatch has gone in a new direction this season. The show has a new Nader compares Al Gore ant play with fans in Peoria and cast, a new location and younger-skewing storylines. Pearson execs George Dubya to chickens, but elsewhere? Results of an informal say Hasselhoff still has the option to make guest appearances. even though Gore defends restor- poll of ad agency executives and ing the Fairness Doctrine, Nader TV sports consultants suggest it is the fighting rooster on that won't. "The match -up would not issue. Way back in 1987 whey be particularly attractive to the the FCC dumped the rule, Nader national TV audience," says was arguably the doctrine's host independent TV sports consultant high -profile defender. He lei a Neal Pilson. The consensus is a protest in the FCC meeting oom World Series pitting the Yankees complete with sign- waving sup- against St. Louis Cardinals would porters and an impromptu p-ess be the ideal ratings catcher, conference on the "ultimate combining the No. 1 market with transfer of monopoly power.' the Cardinals' Midwest fan base. GADZOOKS! ITS ZOBMONDO says. "But when you look at radio valuations that have dropped Like With four syndicated strips in development, Stone Stanley is bank- a lead balloon you've got to re- evaluate." The company is still ing that something's gotta stick. The front -runner for NATPE looks mulling whether the TV or radio assets would be spun off. "Right like game /talk hybrid Zobmondo! (Stone Stanley is producing, now investors don't seem to want either one so it makes it a little Studios USA is distributing), based on the board game of the same tougher," he notes. The reaction from Wall Street was that the com- name. The completed pilot, hosted by comic J.D. Roberto has pan- pany made the right move in delaying any decision. "The market is elists asking questions starting with the phrase 'Would you rather...; just too volatile right now," says one company follower. "looks really strong," says one source close to the project. JUST CALL US UPN BACKTRACKING STOCK UPN will likely remain UPN come Jan. 1. Sources say :he Viacom - Emmis Communications had planned owned network, which announced earlier this year that it would to announce the creation of a tracking change its name to the Paramount Network on New Year's Day, stock last week to separate its TV and won't make the change until summer. Executives at the embat- radio holdings. But given recent market tled network are apparently waiting until after key affiliation conditions, the plan has been delayed, deals with its Chris- Craft/United TV stations are done. News Emmis Chairman Jeff Smulyan acknowl- Corp.'s pending acquisition of those stations has delayed edges. "We're still studying it," Smulyan those deals, sources say. i 4 Broadcasting & Cable /10 -16 -00 MORE USERS. MORE DOLLARS. MORE CUSTOMERS. Set the pace by adopting a ren- otely- hosted approach to your company's eProcurement and eMarketplace requirements. elcom enables enterprises of all sizes to get up and running faster and less expensively than any eProcurement provider without sacrificing features and functionality. THE NEXT STANDARD OF VALUE IN 828 eCOMMERCE 1 - 8 0 0 - 4 4 6 - 9 9 0 4 w w w. e( c o m. c o m S E I B O T O N N W Y O R K C H I C A G O S A N D E G O LONDON/ J O H A N A E S B E R C D E L H I S A O P A O L O TOP OF THE WEEK Court scraps reply rules Fairness Doctrine vestiges thrown out, with caveat that they could be revived on merits cast content. The Commission still has not provided adequate justification for the Frank Lloyd, a Washington communica- rules, and... provides no assurance that it Will do so. The suspension of tions attorney, was disappointed to see the right -of-reply rules fall. `But the door is the rules for 60 days simply has the effect of further postponing a final definitely open for the FCC to adopt some- decision by the Commission....It is folly to suppose that the [FCC's] 60- thing similar." day suspension and call to update the record cures anything. FCC Chairman William Kennard made that dear last week. "We intend to move -Judge Judith Rogers for the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington forward promptly to study the public- inter- est obligations of broadcasters in the digital By Paige Albiniak But the panel did not nail the coffin shut. age, including whether these rules should he U.S. Court of Appeals in Because the court did not rule on their be reinstated." Washington last week threw out the legal merits, the rules may still be revived Kennard had recused himself from this T FCC's right -of -reply rules, which by the FCC if it chooses to justify them. By issue because he had argued for scrapping required TV and radio stations to provide the same logic, the FCC also could reinstate the rules and the Fairness Doctrine when airtime for respondents to political editori- the Fairness Doctrine (as the Democratic he worked for the National Association of als or personal attacks. But like a horror- party has pledged to do), which required Broadcasters. But last month, after the movie killer, they still could rise again. TV and radio stations that air controversial court set a deadline for justifying the rules, The court chastised the FCC for its end- issues to provide airtime for opposing view- he unrecused himself to break a 2 -2 tie less delays and inability or unwillingness to points. The FCC scrapped the doctrine in along party lines.