Broadcasting & Cable articles from August 2004

Broadcasting & Cable archives from August 2004

Stop them: before they shop again.(Top of the Week)
August 2, 2004... A major Viacom shareholder recently sent Sumner Redstone a letter essentially imploring him not to make any big acquisitions. While applauding "the size and diversity" of Viacom's operations, the investor didn't want Redstone to expand them as...

Stronger insight.(Breaking ...)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Recovering from a tough 2003, Insight Communications posted strong revenue and profit growth for the second quarter. The New York-based cable operator says revenues for the three months ended June increased 12% to $244 million and operating...

MTVN winners and losers.(Breaking ...)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... In a continuing management shuffle, Viacom Co-President Tom Freston promoted one of his key lieutenants at MTV Networks (MTVN) and handed out consolation prizes to two of the losers in the contest to fill Freston's old job as MTVN chairman. ...

Covering the convention: Bill McConnell reports from the Democrats' get-together in Boston.(Top of the Week)
August 2, 2004... Has Nightline anchor Ted Koppel changed his mind about the news value of political conventions? This year, Koppel is devoting a full production team to covering the political conventions. Viewers may recall that this is the same newsman who...

B&C indices.(Week Of July 23-29)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
August 2, 2004... B&C INDICES WEEK YTD THE B&C 10 -2.1% -14.0% BROADCAST TV GROUPS -0.7% -15.3% CABLE TV MSO'S -1.5% -17.1% RADIO -0.4% -24.8% ...

How to fix the conventions.(Top of the Week)
August 2, 2004... Tom Brokaw, NBC Nightly News anchor since 1984, plans to leave his chair after this year's elections. Last week's convention in Boston was the last Democratic presidential coronation he'll oversee for the network. After covering the Republican...

Ad spending on the rise: Veronis sees TV business growing 7% a year as the economy mends.(Top of the Week)
August 2, 2004... After years of getting slammed by the economy, the TV business is expected to enjoy several years of strong growth. That's the prediction of the annual Communications Industry Forecast from investment-banking firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson....

Liberty's done deal.(Fast Track)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... The FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION signed off on LIBERTY MEDIA's planned buyback of 120.3 million shares from COMCAST CORP. Liberty won early termination of an antitrust review of the deal, which is the final stage of the company's buyout of...

Lit Fuse: get out and vote.(Fast Track)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... FUSE kicked off its "Electile Dysfunction 2004" campaign to conquer voter apathy and give young voters a forum to voice their issues for the 2004 election. From the Democratic National Convention (DNC) through Election Day, Fuse is airing PSAs...

Amish scores big for UPN.(Fast Track)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Proving the axiom that no publicity is bad publicity, the premiere of UPN's Amish in the City was huge for the smallest of the six broadcast networks. The two-episode premiere at 8-10 p.m. on July 28 gave UPN second place behind only FOX in...

A la carte on FCC menu.(Fast Track)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... The FCC has given consumer groups--and the public--till Aug. 13 to file comments regarding a la carte cable service. Led by SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-Ariz.), Congress has been pressuring the FCC to require cable to offer unbundled services. McCain...

Family makeover on Fox.(Fast Track)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Makeovers gone crazy is the theme of a new reality show coming to FOX. Family Time (working title) plans remakes of families' looks, bodies, homes, cars and even pets. The show is form ROCKET SCIENCE PRODUCTIONS, which also brought Fox reality...

TNT: drama queen.(Fast Track)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... TNT is ordering pilots for a legal drama and a crime drama as it hunts for a recurring series to put on next year. The Closer is a cop drama about a female deputy chief who heads the LAPD's high-profile murder-investigation unit. The second...

Turning point.(In The Loop)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Ted Turner is on a whirlwind tour. He has kept a relatively low profile since being eased out of Time Warner. No more. The CNN founder's byline appears on an excellent piece in Washington Monthly, and Media Man, a breezy new biography by New...

Mia or Kia?(Trio pop, culture, tv.)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... When your parent network doesn't include you in head count, it's time to worry. So fans of cult cable network Trio will shudder at NBC Universal's new sweeping carriage deal with DirecTV. NBC proudly added newly acquired USA Network and Sci Fi...

R.I.P.(In The Loop)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... The latest Hollywood show to bite the dust: On Air With Ryan Seacrest. While Twentieth Television is making it available until Sept. 17, some stations aren't waiting for funeral rites. Last week, the Sinclair Broadcast Group pulled Seacrest...

Triple threat: Bravo, USA, Sci Fi to air on HD channel.(Programming: network / cable / syndication / local)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... NOW that USA Network and Sci Fi Channel are in the family, NBC Universal is busy overhauling its Bravo HD+ service. The result will be a pan-NBC Universal Cable HD channel. "We have a much broader array of cable brands and a stronger...

Changing identity: A&E viewers prefer reality shows.(Programming: network / cable / syndication / local)
August 2, 2004... A&E is programming less "arts and entertainment" and more reality and pop culture. After years of watching ratings erode as a top-10 cable network, A&E is putting a new plan in place. Critics may accuse the channel of abandoning its highbrow...

Ratings: July 12-18.(Syndication Watch)(Illustration)
August 2, 2004... RATINGS | July 12-18 Nielsen Media Research Top 25 Shows Households RANK PROGRAM AA GAA 1 Jeopardy! 10.2 NA 2 Wheel of Fortune 8.6...

Cheating hearts.(Syndication Watch)
August 2, 2004... To get Cheaters, his syndicated weekly hour show, on the air, executive producer Bobby Goldstein dismantled his law practice, sold his home and threw himself into show business. He conceived the idea in what he calls a "eureka moment": He...

Jeopardy! Scores.(Syndie Insider)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Ratings for King World's Jeopardy! went through the roof the week ended July 18, as contestant Ken Jennings passed the $1 million mark in total winnings. By Friday July 16, Jennings had won his 33rd consecutive game. For the week, Jeopardy! was...

In the zone.(Syndie Insider)(The Twilight Zone)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... New Line Television has cleared The Twilight Zone in more than 96% of the country, including all the top 50 markets. In several markets--WMOR Tampa, Fla.; KMAX Sacramento, Calif.; WFTV/WRDQ Orlando, Fla.; and WRBU St. Louis--the show will air...

Ryn Seacrest nixed.(Syndie Insider)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Twentieth Television has canceled its day-and-date strip On Air With Ryan Seacrest, after only nine months. The show goes out of production but will air till Friday Sept. 17 with a mix of pre-taped shows and repeats. Seacrest will continue to...

The prime time race.(Programming)(Illustration)
August 2, 2004... THE PRIME TIME RACE Top 10 Basic Cable Shows July 19-25 Total Households (in millions) PROGRAM DATE NET HHS 1. Nextel Cup Racing 7/25 TNT 4.7 2. The 4400 ...

Nielsen ratings: July 19-25.(Programming)(Illustration)
August 2, 2004... MONDAY abc Week 44 3.9/7@ 8:00 55. My Wife & Kids 3.5/6 8:30 59. George Lopez 3.3/6 9:00 52. According to Jim 3.6/6 9:30 36. Funniest Families TV 4.4/7...

Midwest miracle.(Market Focus: Cleveland)
August 2, 2004... Cleveland was a poster child for PR disasters. Bordering Lake Erie, which has its own image problem, the city was derided as the "Mistake on the Lake." It went bankrupt in the late 1970s. Since then, the city has worked to revamp its image....

At a glance.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
August 2, 2004... AT A GLANCE The Market DMA rank 16 Population 3,924,000 TV homes 1,543,000 Income per capita $18,631 TV revenue rank ...

The demos.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
August 2, 2004... THE DEMOS Cleveland is one of the nation's most ethnically diverse markets, albeit with relatively tiny Hispanic and Asian communities. Residents here prefer golf to tennis, cheer for the Indians baseball team and tend to lease...

Age appropriate: the WB skews young. CBS attracts older crowd.(Advertising)
August 2, 2004... TV networks obsess over younger viewers. They trumpet delivery to adults 18-34 and 18-49. Reaching them is another matter. Just how old is CBS's audience? Which network sitcom really pulls in younger demos? Magna Global's annual median-age...

Olympics, politics boost radio.(EBB & Flow)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... September looms as the defining month for radio buyers--promising third-quarter increases of 5%-6% if it's strong, 3%-4% if it isn't. Political spending could push the needle forward or back. Interep VP, marketing, Michele Skettino notes a...

Barton to broadcasters: speed up the switch: congressman urges use of converter to hurry digital conversion.(Washington)
August 2, 2004... If Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) has his way, broadcasters will have to turn in their old analog channels by the end of 2006--at least three years earlier than planned. Switching off analog channels so early could leave most of the 12 million...

FCC opens inquiry into TV violence.(Washington)
August 2, 2004... Responding to calls from Congress, the FCC has opened a comprehensive inquiry into violence that will cover everything from V-chips to how violent content is regulated. The inquiry, which was officially opened on July 28, was spurred in...

Race to the finish: NBC puts final touches on its Olympics facility.(Road to Athens)
August 2, 2004... When it comes to Olympic miracles, most involve athletic achievement. But the miracle of this month's games from Athens is more basic: It looks like the city will be ready. And that's good news for Dave Mazza, who heads technical operations for...

CNN's ringside seat.(Cutting Edge)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... CNN gave up the rafter-level anchor booth at last week's Democratic Convention in favor of a 15- x 15-foot platform on the actual convention floor. "There's no reason to isolate ourselves from the electricity, noise, energy and people," says...

Super camera.(Cutting Edge)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Anything is better if it comes on a stick. At least that's what Polecam thinks. Polecam's product is a camera on a pole, and it will be used to cover the 2004 Olympics. Six Polecam units will be on hand to capture swimming, diving and water...

WFLA taps AP.(Cutting Edge)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Media General will use AP's ENPS news-production system at WFLA Tampa Bay, Fla., when the station moves to a convergent newsroom that also shares information with print and Web reporters. The newsroom will have new functionality, such as...

USDTV finds believers: subscriber satisfaction, improved tech touted to broadcasters.
August 2, 2004... A new service that distributes cable channels over the air claims its subscribers are more satisfied than cable and DBS customers. USDTV says its first customer-satisfaction survey will help expand its service, which uses broadcasters'...

Designs for users: schematic builds interfaces for a variety of platforms.(Tech Q&A)(Interview)
August 2, 2004... From interactive TV to sending content to cellphones, it's enough to give even the biggest companies a headache. So Microsoft, Nielsen, Turner, Fox Cable Networks and Comcast turned to Schematic, a Los Angeles-based company that builds user...

Changing hands.(Business)
August 2, 2004... TVs WLZE(LP) and WDPX(LP) Fort Myers and WTIG(LP) Naples, Fla. PRICE: $900,000 BUYER: Equity Broadcasting Corp. (Greg W. Fess, executive VP) SELLER: Tiger Eye Broadcasting Corp. (John N. Kyle II, president/CEO) ...

Sales machine: Koondel's forte is staying ahead of the competition.(Scott Koondel)(Biography)
August 2, 2004... Scott Koondel started his own TV-production business in college. Call it foreshadowing. The executive, who now heads all cable sales for Paramount Domestic Television, kicked off his TV career as a student at Syracuse University. He had asked a...

KRON.(Chronicle Broadcasting Co. appointed Mark Antontis)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... MARK ANTONTIS, president/general manager, KELO-TV Sioux Falls, S.D., named president/general manager, KRON San Francisco.

WRGB.(Sarah Claydon, Jessica Kemper are appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... At WRGB Niskayuna, N.Y.: SARAH CLAYDON and JESSICA KEMPER, each account executive, Transwestern Publishing, Albany, N.Y, named account exec.

Hustler TV.(Programming)(Camila Ipinza appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... CAMILA IPINZA, senior account manager, DBS/national accounts, Playboy Entertainment Group Inc., Los Angeles, named VP, sales and affiliate marketing, Hustler TV, Los Angeles.

GSN.(Programming)(Lou Fazio is appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... LOU FAZIO, executive director, programming and acquisitions, Toon Disney/ABC Kids, Burbank, Calif., named VP, scheduling and acquisitions, GSN, Santa Monica, Calif.

Twentieth Television.(Programming)(Elycia Rubin is appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... ELYCIA RUBIN, director, lifestyle programming, The Style Network, Los Angeles, named executive director, Twentieth Television, Los Angeles.

Collegiate Images.(Programming)(Richard Routman appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... RICHARD ROUTMAN, paralegal, league counsel department, NFL, New York, joins Collegiate Images, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as business affairs/account manager.

KPIX.(Journalism)(Craig Franklin appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... CRAIG FRANKLIN, senior producer, special projects unit, KRON San Francisco, joins KPIX San Francisco as special projects producer.

KRIV/KTXH.(Journalism)(Michael Baugh is appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... MICHAEL BAUGH, executive producer, WKYC Cleveland, named executive producer, KRIV/KTXH Houston.

CBS News.(Journalism)(Sharyn Alfonsi is appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... SHARYN ALFONSI, freelance correspondent, CBS Evening News, weekend edition, Up to the Minute and CBS Newspath, named correspondent, CBS News, New York.

KEYT.(Kate Wentzel is apppointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... KATE WENTZEL, meteorologist, WSVN Miami, joins KEYT Santa Barbara, Calif., as chief meteorologist.

American Urban Radio Networks (AURN).(Radio)(Ron Atkins is appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... RON ATKINS, acting head/senior director/director, entertainment programming, American Urban Radio Networks (AURN), New York, named VP, entertainment programming.

KSRQ.(Travis Ryder appointed )(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... TRAVIS RYDER, station manager, KUMM Morris, Minn., joins KSRQ Thief River Falls, Minn., in the same capacity.

Sigma Electronics.(Technology)(Bill Swilley appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... BILL SWILLEY, independent consultant, Ravix Group Inc., Mountain View, Calif., named president/chief executive officer, Sigma Electronics, East Petersburg, Pa.

Ascent Media Systems and Technology Services.(Bob Lawson appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... BOB LAWSON, VP, engineering and operations, Verestar, Fairfax, Va., named VP/general manager, Ascent Media Systems and Technology Services, Palm Bay, Fla.

Pace Micro Technology.(Bruce Gureck, Tim O'Loughlin appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... At Pace Micro Technology, Boca Raton, Fla.: BRUCE GURECK, VP, technology and operations, Digital Latin America, Chorale Springs, Fla., appointed VP, marketing and product management; TIM O'LOUGHLIN, account manager, promoted to VP, business...

WYD MediaManagement LLC.(Ron Hartenbaum is appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... RON HARTENBAUM, president/chief executive officer, Jones MediaAmerica/Jones Radio Networks, New York, launched WYD MediaManagement LLC, Westport, Conn., as principal.

Atlas Media.(Alison Murphy, Kim Pierce are appointed)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... At Atlas Media, New York: ALISON MURPHY, director, broadcast operations, Oxygen Media, New York, named senior director, operations; KIM PIERCE, director, operations, Image Editorial, New York, named post-production supervisor.

Faith & Values Media.(Howard Burkat appointed as marketing director)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOWARD BURKAT, senior VP, marketing, American Catholic/Cablevision, New York, joins Faith & Values Media, New York, as marketing director.

BMI.(Broadcast Music Inc. appointed Juan Madrid)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... JUAN MADRID, creative coordinator, urban A&R, BMG Music Publishing, Beverly Hills, Calif., named associate director, writer-publisher relations, BMI, Los Angeles.

Welcome back, Turner.(Ted Turner views)(Editorial)
August 2, 2004... After a period of staying quiet, the Mouth of the South is talking again, and we couldn't be more pleased to hear from him. Yes, we're referring to Ted Turner, who, lately, has had plenty of important things to say about the media- and...

Is there news at a convention?(Airtime: guest commentary)(Magid)
August 2, 2004... We've just gotten over the Democratic convention. It may not have been as predictable as advertised, but the question is still raging in local newsrooms: Should we keep going to conventions or just skip 'em? One side declares we owe...

Fit to be tied: the new trend in reality TV buying is defensive development: hoard it before the competition does.(Top of the Week)
August 9, 2004... Making a reality TV hit just isn't what it used to be. Refined network executives are accusing each other of outright piracy. Outraged producers are filing suits over pilfered ideas, and shows are now being developed under fictitious names....

Parson: "crazy people" at Fox News.(Breaking ...)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Time Warner Chairman Dick Parsons Friday described Fox News Channel as "crazy people" exchanging views to a group of minority journalists at the Unity conference. He said he feels that the channel and his own CNN are two different...

New Year's auction?(Breaking ...)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... DENVER -- Adelphia Communications will decide by year-end whether to sell its assets or try to reemerge from bankruptcy. The country's fifth-largest cable company said Friday it will initiate talks with potential buyers after Labor Day and...

Thomas to Buena Vista.(Breaking ...)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... BURBANK, CALIF. -- Gwynne Thomas has been named executive VP of programming for Buena Vista Productions, overseeing development, current programming and production. Previously, she was senior vice president and chief creative officer for online...

Oprah is on a roll: daytime queen reups through 2011.(Top of the Week)
August 9, 2004... Not to worry, daytime-TV fans. There won't be a world without Oprah for at least seven more years: The talk-show queen will stick around through 2011. That's great news for the ABC-owned and other stations that flow The Oprah Winfrey...

The name of the games is promotion: NBC sets up gold-medal Olympics ad campaign to hype new season.(Top of the Week)
August 9, 2004... In their purest form, the Olympics are a spectacle of human drama, set against the backdrop of sport. The world's best-trained and most competitive athletes take each other on in battles that occur only once every four years. The stakes are...

The amazin' vanishin' mets.(Fats Track)
August 9, 2004... New York Mets fans were still striking out at press time, as TIME WARNEB CABLE sparred with CABLEVISION over the cost of carriage for regional sports networks FOX SPORTS NEW YORK and MADISON SQUARE GARDEN NETWORK. Time Warner pulled the...

Chernin for Kerry.(Fast Track)(Peter Chernin has endorsed Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... News Corp. President and COO Peter Chernin has endorsed Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, even though News Corp.'s Fox News Channel and Chernin's boss Rupert Murdoch are seen by liberals as world-class liberal-bashers. Appearing on...

Fully programmable.(television programs briefs)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
August 9, 2004... NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH launched its local people meters as planned last Thursday in Chicago, the nation's No. 3 TV market, without the uproar caused earlier in New York and Los Angeles by groups and some media companies that think the LPM...

Correction.(Fats Track)(Correction Notice)
August 9, 2004... Dennis FitzSimons, now Tribune Co. chairman and CEO, brought in Scott Koondel as national sales director of Tribune's WPIX, New York. A profile of Paramount's Koondel (Fifth Estater, 8/2, page 18) credited Viacom executive Dennis Swanson.

Movie madness: cable turns to TV films to boost ratings and revenue.(Top of the Week)
August 9, 2004... Cable is in the movie business like never before. While broadcasters focus on splashy reality fare and dramas, cable polishes the gem they once mined: the original TV movie. Next month, ESPN will trace Pete Rose's fall from baseball with...

Light my fire.(In The Loop)
August 9, 2004... New York firefighters didn't appreciate the "amateur" slam hurled at them by a cop on police reality show NYPD 24/7. But they do like FX's firefighter comedic drama Rescue Me, even though it deals with alcoholism and homophobia. In fact,...

Spawn of Oprah.(In The Loop)(Paige Davis, Nate Berkus, Oprah Winfrey contract)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... It has been rumored for months that Oprah Winfrey's Harpo production company was developing a show with designer Nate Berkus. Now that The Oprah Winfrey Show has been renewed through 2011, insiders say, the rumor is getting some traction. If...

Cross purposes.(In The Loop)(Arrested Development star David Cross)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... Audience members who went to see comedian and Arrested Development star David Cross at New York's Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre last week didn't leave empty-handed. Many went home with Cross' personal property, including his size- 10 1/2...

Top 10 news.(Station Break)(appointments, promotions and dismissals)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- In recent weeks, at least four stations in top-10 markets have made significant news-management changes. Gannett flagship WUSA Washington last week bounced News Director Dave Roberts, whose tenure was marked by an ignominious...

Greece is the word in Terre Haute.(Station Break)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... DALLAS -- Several stations owned by Nexstar Broadcast Group are offering viewers a pre-Olympics inside look at the life and culture of Greece. Marianthi Bumbaris, a Greek-speaking reporter at WTWO Terre Haute, Ind., brought the idea to her...

DuBois switches seats.(Station Break)(Maurice DuBois joined at WCBS New York)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... The talent makeover at WCBS New York continues with the arrival of Maurice DuBois on Sept. 8. DuBois will co-anchor at noon with Cindy Hsu and at 6 p.m. with Dana Tyler. He spent the past seven years as anchor of WNBC's Today in New York. ...

Memphis loves UPN.(Station Break)(United Paramount Network, ratings)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... MEMPHIS, TENN. -- UPN shows do better in Elvis' hometown than just about anywhere else in the country. WLMT, owned by Clear Channel, averaged a 6 household rating in May. By contrast, Nielsen Media Research says, 75 of the 120 UPN affiliates...

They come ...(Station Break)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... MACON, GA. -- NBC affiliate WMGT gets back into the news business on Labor Day. The Morris Newspaper Corp.-owned station plans to launch half-hour local-news shows at 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 and 11 p.m. General Manager George Jobin says market No....

... And they go.(Station Break)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- Barely two weeks after telling staff members that WWTI's nightly newscasts would continue, General Manager David Males pulled the plug. Citing "economic considerations," the station eliminated its 6 and 11 p.m. broadcasts and...

Take that, Wall Street: seeking freedom from investor whims, undervalued cable company Cox moves to go private.(Top of the Week)
August 9, 2004... Fed up with Wall Street valuations, Cox Enterprises plans to take the No. 4 cable operator private in a $8 billion deal that the family-run company hopes will allow more freedom to grow the business. Cox Enterprises already controls 62% of...

Power couple: the Tannenbaums, Two Men and a talent for producing comedy hits.(Programming: network / cable / syndication / local)
August 9, 2004... It's said in Hollywood that getting a hit TV show on air is like trying to get struck by lightning. Kim and Eric Tannenbaum have been struck so often they shouldn't be standing. Renowned for their business acumen, the couple is the driving...

Ratings: July 19-25.(Syndication Watch)(Illustration)
August 9, 2004... RATINGS | July 19-25 Top 25 Shows Adults 18-49 RANK PROGRAM AA GAA 1 Seinfeld 3.8 4.6 2 Everybody Loves Raymond 3.3 4.0 2 Friends ...