Broadcasting & Cable articles from February 2003

Broadcasting & Cable archives from February 2003

AOL TW: bad to worse: huge loss is only one of the media giant's mounting problems.(AOL Time Warner)
February 3, 2003... AOL Time Warner's acknowledgment of further decay of its operations was accompanied by new disclosures of unexpected problems. The company doesn't expect to generate any growth in cash flow this year, far worse than the already modest forecasts...

Pols see Clear case of control.(Clear Channel media consolidation investigation )
February 3, 2003... Anger over big radio isn't likely to derail media deregulation, judging by comments of key Senators last week, but that is cold comfort to the pioneer of the big-band theory of ownership. Reacting to growing criticism of radio giant Clear...

4Q earnings season might look bright: But that's only because it's compared with 2001--and 9/11. (Top of the Week).
February 3, 2003... Earnings season is getting into full swing, and the message for media companies will be simple: "easy comps." Except for cable operators, media companies reporting results for the fourth quarter of 2002 will have easy comparisons with the same...

Defense sets 'embedding' numbers. (Breaking).(Department of Defense sets numbers of reporters to cover possible war with Iraq)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The Defense Department's plan to take reporters along with military in the event of an attack on Iraq advanced last week, as the Pentagon began informing Washington media bureau chiefs on their embedding opportunities. Sources say ABC, CBS,...

Dolgin hits the showers. (Breaking).(Tracy Dolgin, president of Fox Sports Net)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Los ANGELES--Tracy Dolgin is exiting as president of Fox Sports Net, the national cable programmer and regional nets that are a partnership between Fox Sports and Rainbow Media. Fox Sports Networks President Bob Thompson, who oversees Fox's...

Tax-credit bill revived. (Breaking).(John McCain reintroduces capital gains legislation)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... WASHINGTON--Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) last week reintroduced legislation allowing media companies to defer capital gains when they sell stations to minorities, women and small businesses. He said his bill would...

NBA All-Stars in HD. (Breaking).(NBA and Turner Broadcasting to offer All-Star Game and All-Star Saturday Night)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... ATLANTA-Turner Broadcasting and the NBA will offer NBA All-Star Saturday Night Feb. 8 and All-Star Game Feb. 9 on TNT in high definition--Turner's first HD telecasts. The feed will be distributed to operators through InDemand at no additional...

Networks get ready for war: a six-week Gulf skirmish could cost each news operation $40 million or more. (TV News).
February 3, 2003... Network executives closely watched two televised speeches last week: one by chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix, the other by President George W. Bush. These men have their differences, to be sure, but both speak as if war is more an...

Talking Head' will beam from Iraq. (Technology).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... One technological tool that will play an important role in war coverage is the 7E Communications Talking Head videophone--coupled with an Inmarsat satellite telephone. The Talking Head system allows transmission of video at up to 64 kb/s,...

Week Of Jan. 24.30.(broadcasting and cable stock prices)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 3, 2003... WEEK OF JAN. 24-30 B&C INDICES WEEK YTD THE B&C 10 -6.7% -6.6% BROADCAST TV GROUPS -3.2% 1.2% CABLE TV MSO'S -4.6% 1.8% RADIO -7.1% 0.5% CLOSE...

Falco upped at NBC. (Fast Track).(Randy Falco named NBC Television Network's group president)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... In the wake of NBC President ANDY LACK's departure last month, network TV President RANDY FALCO has picked up some of Lack's duties, including overseeing ad and distribution sales for NBC'S cable networks. Falco's new title is group president...

Who's on first? (Fast Track).(Fox News Channel, NBC, and CNN television ratings)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... FOX NEWS CHANNEL crowed that it outdistanced CNN'S coverage of the president's State of the Union speech last week by 2.3 million viewers. Fox News registered 5.9 million viewers and a 4.6 rating, compared with 3.6 million and a 2.8 rating for...

The 55th Annual Emmy Awards will air on FOX on Sept. 21, at 8 p.m. ET. (Watch Out For).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The 55th Annual Emmy Awards will air on FOX on Sept. 21, at 8 p.m. ET. The networks negotiated a $52 million round-robin contract with ATAS, under which the Emmy show will rotate among the Big Four over the next eight years....

Magic Johnson for Who's Got Game. (Watch Out For).(Johnson's partnership with MTV Networks Inc. for 'Who's Got Game' television program)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... MTV is partnering with pro basketball great MAGIC JOHNSON for Who's Got Game, in which 12 "street" basketball players compete for $100,000 and a hometown court bearing their name....

Comedy Central is ordering a 21-week. (Watch Out For).(ordering television show series 'Tough Crowd')(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... COMEDY CENTRAL is ordering a 21-week run of late-night series Tough Crowd, with COLIN QUINN, and will show it Monday through Thursday beginning March 10 11:30 p.m. ET, following THE DAILY SHOW....

Family is adding Dance Fever to its reality lineup. (Watch Out For).(ABC Family orders 'Dance Fever' television show episode)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... ABC FAMILY is adding Dance Fever to its reality lineup. The Disney net has ordered 13 episodes of the show, inspired by MERV GRIFFIN's 1979 TV show and likely to air in June....

Topic A With Tina Brown. (Watch Out For).(to debut on CNBC)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Former Talk magazine Editor-in-Chief TINA BROWN is joining CNBC to host a series of hour quarterly specials, dubbed Topic A With Tina Brown, debuting March 20 at 9 p.m. ET....

Sony Pictures Television and Greenblatt Janollari. (Watch Out For).(sell 'Screwball Homicide' dramady to Lifetime Cable Network)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... LIFETIME has ordered pilot Screwball Homicide, an hour-long dramedy from SONY PICTURES TELEVISION and GREENBLATT JANOLLARI....

We: Women's Entertainment. (Watch Out For).(orders 'Mix it Up' television program)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... WE: WOMEN'S ENTERTAINMENT ordered 13 episodes of Mix It Up, a redecorating show whose co-executive producer is Friends star COURTNEY COX. It'll debut this summer.

ABC Entertainment. (People Meeter).(CBS Inc. names Barbara Bloom senior VP of children's and daytime programming)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... As expected, BARBARA BLOOM was named CBS's senior VP of daytime and children's programming. She will oversee daytime dramas, game show The Price Is Right and the Saturday-morning lineup, NICK ON CBS. Bloom comes to CBS from ABC ENTERTAINMENT....

National Geographic Television & Film. (People Meeter).(hires Donna Friedman Meier as president of kids production and programming)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TELEVISION & FILM tapped ex top KIDS WB! executive DONNA FRIEDMAN MEIER to help ramp up its children's-TV operations. She joins Nat Geo TV in Los Angeles in the newly created post of president of kids programming and...

Fisher sells Georgia stations. (Fast Track).(Fisher Communications is selling WFXG-TV and WXTX-TV to Southeastern Media Holdings)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... FISHER COMMUNICATIONS has reached an agreement in principle to sell WFXG-TV Augusta and WXTX-TV Columbus, both Georgia, to SOUTHEASTERN MEDIA HOLDINGS for $40 million in cash, subject to FCC approval. KALIL & CO. was the broker. Fisher, which...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
February 3, 2003... WMTW-TV Portland, Me. (1/13, p.43), is owned by WMTW Broadcast Group LLC.

Disney seeks long-term pacts with operators: Iger wants footing to expand cable networks. (Top of the Week).
February 3, 2003... Walt Disney Co. is talking to the major cable operators about long-term and wide-ranging agreements that would provide the operators with price protection for Disney program services but also give Disney the opportunity to roll out new...

Getting out the count. (Election Coverage).(the Associated Press will provide voting counts for television and cable networks)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The six former partners in Voter News Service (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN and the Associated Press) have a new game plan for counting the vote and projecting winners for the 2004 elections. Sources say an agreement is in the hands of lawyers and,...

Univision's entangling alliances. (Mergers).(Entravision's willingness to sell radio stations could help Univision's acquisition of Hispanic Broadcasting)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Entravision appears willing to sell radio stations to ease the way for government approval of Univision's $3 billion acquisition of Hispanic Broadcasting. Why would Entravision help Univision buy one of its Spanish-radio rivals? Because...

Graden's old/new strategy for VH1. (Top of the Week).(Brian Graden is working to revive VH1 by focusing more on pop culture)
February 3, 2003... Perhaps a mix of old and new--say, 1980s retrospectives bumping into 21st century hip-hop--will be the right formula to revive VH1. The Viacom-owned music channel, victim of stagnant ratings for the past two years, is striking out with a fresh...

In the loop: behind the scenes/before the fact.(a ranking of some of the lowest-rated programs on cable)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 3, 2003... BEHIND THE SCENES/BEFORE THE FACT IN THE LOOP CABLE And the Loser Is... One thought inevitably occurs while surfing through the scores of channels on cable: Who's watching all this stuff? The answer, in many cases, is...

CNN pep talker. (News).(CNN chief Jim Walton is working to improve morale among his employees)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Now that CNN's line of succession is set, new chief Jim Walton is trying o rally the troops. He is said to have convened a series of town hall meetings with staffers in Atlanta, New York and Washington, fielding questions about the future of...

NATPE 2004 anyone? (Associations).(television syndicators must plan for the NATPE 2004 convention)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... NATPE 2003 just struck its tent, but already syndicators need to start thinking about their plans for next year. By next month, they need to have made reservations at the Venetian Hotel and Sands Convention Center complex in Las Vegas. Sony...

Donaldson to MSNBC?(MSNBC is trying to lure Sam Donaldson)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... MSNBC is courting ABC News vet Sam Donaldson for an evening newscast, sources say. Though still under contract to ABC News, he has the green-light to shop himself.

KHON-TV loses lawsuit. (Station Break).(for reassigning and firing reporter Mary Zanakis following a maternity leave)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... HONOLULU-KHON-TV violated the rights of reporter Mary Zanakis when it reassigned her following a maternity leave and later fired her, a federal jury found last week. Zanakis was awarded $87,000 in actual damages under the Family and...

Apology accepted. (Station Break).(by TV reporter)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... SOUTH BEND, IND.--The TV reporter who says she was shoved by the chairman of the Notre Dame University board that owns her station decided against filing charges. Bonnie Druker had filed a police report stating that she and WSBT-TV...

Tribune says si. (Station Break).(to Spanish language translation of news )(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... NEW YORK-Tribune's WPIX-TV's WB11 News at Ten, will begin a simultaneous Spanish translation on the Second Audio Program (SAP) Feb. 3. The station says it is the first for a New York English-language news program and "is prompted by the rapid...

Storm watch. (Station Break).(blizzard of 1978 to be commemorated)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... BOSTON--WCVB-TV plans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the "Blizzard of '78" with a prime time special Friday Feb. 7, hosted by meteorologists Dick Albert and Harvey Leonard. The Blizzard of '78: Storm of a Century will include archival...

Tribune's news vp. (Station Break).(is named)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Veteran Washington journalist and Tribune's TV bureau chief there, Cissy Baker, was named vice president of Tribune's news operation last week. Baker says she'll continue to oversee the bureau as well, although she'll likely delegate some...

NAB: HD cable not so super: industries keep sniping; Powell tells 'em to grow up. (High Def).(National Associaton of Broadcasters on high definition cable TV)
February 3, 2003... For the second time this year, the National Association of Broadcasters lashed out at the cable industry for not carrying HDTV programming from local broadcasters. Cable lashed back, and the hopes for a reasoned rapprochement dimmed. Less...

Valenti, sachs top association pay scales: tax returns tell who makes what at media lobbies, trade and advocacy groups. (Exclusive Salary Survey).(Jack Valenti and Robert Sachs)
February 3, 2003... Motion Picture Association of America President Jack Valenti and National Cable & Telecommunications Association President Robert Sachs are the top breadwinners among 119 non-profit, tax-exempt media lobbies, professional societies, advocacy...

Can Friends beat a month of reality? Fox is a contender as the season heads into February sweeps. (Progamming).
February 3, 2003... What a difference reality makes. Going into February sweeps, Fox has a shot at beating NBC in adults 18-49, after finishing the November sweeps a distant fourth. Fox's Joe Millionaire and American Idol are serving up 22 and 30 shares,...

For 60 Minutes' Hewitt the clock stops in 2004. (Programming).(Don Hewitt leaves program for new role as executive producer of CBS News)
February 3, 2003... At 80, Don Hewitt says he still has all the vim and vitality he needs to run 60 Minutes on a weekly basis. But two years from now? "Who knows?" said Hewitt, who created the landmark show and has been its sole executive producer for its entire...

Ask Rita gets a jump start. (Talk Strip).(Litton Syndication launches Rita Rudner show)
February 3, 2003... At the request of the four ABC owned-and-operated stations that bought Ask Rita, Litton Syndications launched the strip last week to give them a program to eventually lead out of ABC's news late-night network talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live. ...

Ratings/Jan. 13-19. (Syndication Watch).(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 3, 2003... RATINGS/Jan. 13-19 Nielsen Media Research Top 25 Shows Households RANK/PROGRAM AA GAA 1 Wheel of Fortune 9.8 NA 2 Seinfeld 7.8 9.4 2 Friends ...

Seinfeld's staying power. (Syndie Insider).(Sony's 'Seinfeld' continues to perform well in syndication)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Sony's Seinfeld is about nothing. In syndication, though, that's something. The show may have been flat for the week ended Jan. 19, with a 7.8 national Nielsen rating, but, for the fifth time in six weeks, it was also syndication's top off-net...

Hackner to Universal development post. (Syndie Insider).(Lisa Hackner hired at Universal Domestic Television)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Lisa Hackner joined Universal Domestic Television as executive vice president of development. She was previously vice president of development at Telepictures Productions, Warner Bros.' unscripted production arm. At Telepictures, Hackner...

Signature Films adding Autograph. (Syndie Insider).(new celebrity interview program)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Signature Films is launching Autograph, a weekly half-hour show featuring in-depth interviews with celebrities, for broadcast and cable. Autograph will be distributed by Los Angeles-based o2c. The show will be hosted...

DeGeneres gets a Web site. (Syndie Insider).(Telepictures Productions launches Ellen DeGeneres Web site)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... With Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution preparing to launch Ellen DeGeneres's talk show this fall, Warner Bros.-owned production company Telepictures Productions already has launched a Web site for the comic. The site,...

Nielsen/Jan. 20-26/Ratings.(Illustration)
February 3, 2003... NIELSEN/Jan. 20-26/RATINGS abc CBS MONDAY Week 18 5.4/8 9.5/14 8:00 53. ABC Monday Night 18. King of Queens...

The Prime Time Race.(week's top television programs)(Illustration)
February 3, 2003... THE PRIME TIME RACE Top 10 Basic Cable Shows Jan. 20-26 Total Households (in millions) PROGRAM DATE NET HH 1. Trding Spaces 9 pm 1/25 TLC 3.5 2. WWE 10 pm 1/20 TNN 3.3 3. WWE...

Big tribute in tiniest DMA. (Market Focus).(broadcaster Dan Frenzel passes away)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 3, 2003... The death of the top TV executive and best-known sportscaster in the nation's smallest market was mourned last week before an overflow crowd at a local church. Since 1964, "Dapper Dan" Frenzel was a local TV and radio icon and eventually...

Small market, long reach. (Market Focus).(WALB-TV continues to thrive beyond just its own market)
February 3, 2003... WALB-TV Albany, Ga.'s popularity literally exceeds the bounds of its small DMA. It's the most-watched station in 44 of the surrounding counties, but only 17 of those counties are in the Albany DMA. More than half the overall viewing is assigned...

Game is good for ABC, advertisers: but could the super bowl have been used smarter for program promotion? (TV Buyer).(while ABC generated strong ratings for the Super Bowl, some question how it promoted its schedule)
February 3, 2003... All things considered, say media executives, both ABC and its ad clients got good results from the Super Bowl, a one-sided affair that managed to hold its audience anyway probably because the winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers were underdogs going...

Cable still going strong. (EBB & Flow).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The spot and network cable buying markets remain extremely strong heading into the second quarter. Andrew Ward, EVP/director of sales, National Cable Communications (NCC), reports January cable spot sales up 32 % over 2002. "We're very...

TNT has a hot January: scheduling stunt pushes Monte walsh to top of ratings. (Cable).
February 3, 2003... TNT found itself in an unfamiliar perch in January: atop the monthly cable Nielsen ratings, a spot that these days seems almost always to belong to Lifetime or maybe ESPN. In January, TNT registered an average 2.0 rating and 2.4 million...

Accounts. (Hot Spots).(advertising account awards)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS is consolidating its account at MCGARRY BOWEN, the New York-based agency formed last fall. McGarry Bowen, which won Verizon's corporate and image account last October, will take on product advertising as well, business...

Sponsors. (Hot Spots).(TV Land Awards will celebrate classic television)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... TV LAND has lined up at least five sponsors for its newly announced TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV. The ceremonies will be taped March 2 and will air as a two-hour special at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 9, when it'll also be...

Your Ad tax dollars at work. (Hot Spots).(the Michigan Education Association requests an advertising tax to help pay for educational programs)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The AMERICAN ADVERTISING FEDERATION is giving members a heads-up about a potential problem in the Michigan legislature. The MICHIGAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION has asked the legislature and Democratic Gov. JENNIFER GRANHOLM for an ad tax to help pay...

Campaigns. (Hot Spots).(several advertising briefs)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... AUDI OF AMERICA, a unit of VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, has just begun a cable-network and spot buy for its A4 model. The campaign, running on BRAVO, CNN, CNBC, ESPN, FOX NEWS CHANNEL and other cable nets, is by HAVAS'S MCKINNEY & SILVER, Raleigh,...

Research. (Hot Spots).(Hershey's and Snickers found to be most-liked advertising)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... In its latest top 10 of new TV commercials, for the two weeks ended Jan. 19, INTERMEDIA ADVERTISING GROUP reported that consumers found HERSHEY'S and SNICKERS the most-liked spots. Commercials for CHIPS AHOY Warm 'n Chewy cookies,...

FCC tees up digital-TV standards: seeks comment on new simulcasting requirements. (Washington).
February 3, 2003... When then-FCC Commissioner Reed Hundt agreed to relax rules requiring digital TV stations to duplicate their analog programs, his aim was to encourage multicasting and other innovative programming. Six years later, a new FCC lineup is...

Broadcasters don't want to share. (Capital Watch).(the broadcast spectrum until the digital television transition is complete)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The FCC should not allow unlicensed or other new services to use broadcast spectrum until the DTV transition is complete, NAB and MSTV say. Commenting on an FCC spectrum-policy report that raised the idea, the groups maintained that adding...

Cable-ownership review nears. (Capital Watch).(the FCC will review Mass Media Bureau recommendations concerning cable-ownership limits)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... FCC members will soon review recommendations from the Mass Media Bureau on revising cable-ownership limits, agency Chairman Michael Powell told reporters last week. Powell would not say what changes are urged, nor would he predict when the...

Bankruptcy law 1, FCC O. (Capital Watch).(the FCC cannot revoke a spectrum holders' licenses just for not paying debts to the government)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The FCC may not revoke a spectrum holders' licenses solely for failure to pay debts to the government, the Supreme Court has ruled. The decision sets the stage for resolving a seven-year dispute between the FCC and NextWave Telecom. In...

DeWine, Kohl urge dereg restraint. (Capital Watch).(Senate Antitrust Committee prefers media-ownership deregulation not taken too far)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Leaders of the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee on Tuesday, Jan. 28, urged FCC Chairman Michael Powell not to take media-ownership deregulation too far. The FCC is currently reviewing its rules. "Throughout our tenures... we have expressed...

NCTA to L.A.: lay off access rules. (Capital Watch).(the National Cable & Telecommunications Association says Los Angeles has no right to impose program-access requirements on Comcast)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Los Angeles does not have the right to impose program-access requirements on Comcast, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association told Mayor James Hahn last week. Comcast wants the city to transfer to it the cable license of AT&T...

Greener Grass Valley: Thomson cameras now carry the Grass Valley brand. (NAB Preview).(Thomson Broadcast & Media is building the Grass Valley camera line)
February 3, 2003... Three words show just how far Thomson and Grass Valley have come in their merger: Grass Valley cameras. The Grass Valley brand was introduced last September, but it's the decision to market former Thomson cameras under the Grass Valley name...

CNN heats up with Pathfire. (Technology).(CNN Newsource is testing the new Pathfire system)
February 3, 2003... CNN Newsource last week began affiliate testing of the new Pathfire system that will eventually eliminate the need for scheduled feeds, giving the news service more-timely delivery of content. The Pathfire system transmits IP-packetized...

Holloway rides out cable-industry changes: after 20 years, it's no longer a 'good-old-boy business'. (The Fifth Estater).(profile of USA Network head of distribution, Doug Holloway)(Biography)
February 3, 2003... Doug Holloway has been leading USA Network's distribution for two decades. That's unusual longevity for an executive in today's consolidated media world. In that time, USA's ownership has changed hands, and the network gained sister channels....

Broadcast TV. (Fates & Fortunes).(broadcasting industry appointment)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... RICK FELTY, director, creative services, Tribune Broadcasting, Chicago, named, VP. STAN CRUMLEY, president/GM, WSAV-TV Savannah, Ga., named VP/GM, WHNS(TV) Asheville, N.C. STEVE POITRAS, director, marketing, KTVU-TV San Francisco,...

Cable. (Fates & Fortunes).(George Rentz appointment at Time Warner Cable)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... GEORGE RENTZ, director, operations, national division, Time Warner Cable, Denver, named VP, customer care.

Programming. (Fates & Fortunes).(television personnel changes)
February 3, 2003... MILES MCNAMEE, VP, affiliate marketing, Starz Encore Group, Englewood, Colo., promoted to senior VP. DEBORAH MARCUS, executive director, broadcast publicity, CBS, New York, promoted to VP. ERIC KESSLER, executive VP, marketing, HBO,...

Radio. (Fates & Fortunes).(personnel changes)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... At Radio Disney: RUTH JOSENHANS, senior director, Burbank, Calif., promoted VP, ad sales; SARAH STONE, senior director, marketing, Burbank, Calif., promoted to VP, marketing; ROBIN JONES, senior director, operations, Dallas, promoted VP,...

Journalism. (Fates & Fortunes).(personnel changes)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... At WBAL-TV Baltimore: BEVERLY EPSTEIN, assignment manager, WTTG(TV) Washington, joins as managing editor; MICHAEL ALLEN, head, night desk, WRC-TV Washington, joins as director, news operations. At WCBS-TV New York: LISA DANIELS, anchor,...

Advertising/marketing/pr. (Fates & Fortunes).(personnel changes)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... At Arbitron, New York: CAROL HANLEY, VP, sales, advertiser and agency services, promoted to senior VP; BILL MCDONALD, director, statistical consulting, Dun and Bradstreet, Short Hills, N.J., appointed VP/chief statistical officer. NEIL...

Technology. (Fates & Fortunes).(includes; Ucentric Systems, George Hillier appointment)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... KASHIF HAQ, independent consultant, Sterling, Va., named VP, broadband data services, Advance/ Newhouse Communications, Syracuse, N.Y. GEORGE HILLIER, executive sales director, OpenTV, Naperville, Ill., named, vice president of sales,...

Internet. (Fates & Fortunes).(Jay Freshwater appointment at weather.com)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... JAY FRESHWATER, account manager, weather.com, Atlanta, promoted to sales director, direct marketing.

Associations/law firms. (Fates & Fortunes).(Andrea Mergentime apointment at Promax/BDA)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... ANDREA MERGENTIME, founder, Micha Riss Meccanica, New York, named senior VP, marketing and client relations, PROMAX/BDA, New York.

Obituaries. (Fates & Fortunes).(Al Rush, Renato Matteo Pachetti, Joyce Dortch)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 3, 2003... AL RUSH, former chairman of MCA Television Group, died of lung cancer on Jan. 14. He was 76. Rush started at MCA in 1956, serving as VP, MCA Artists Ltd. After leaving the company in 1968 to work for NBC--where he was executive VP in...

On the broad shoulders of giants. (Editorials).(farewells to Don Hewitt, Ted Turner)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
February 3, 2003... It was hard, make that impossible, not to see a changing of the guard last week in the news that Ted Turner would be exiting AOL Time Warner and Don Hewitt will be stepping down from 60 Minutes. The change is not immediate. Turner will...

Long live the Kane. (Editorials).(digital television requirements coming)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
February 3, 2003... The FCC says it is ready to define what broadcasters' public-interest requirements will be for digital television. It has always been difficult to balance the medium's regulated status and the need to keep the nation's principal news and...

You have to trust in the market. (Airtime).(a discussion of television industry consolidation)(Editorial)
February 3, 2003... I've worked both sides of the street on the consolidation issue. Those opposed to this development that has swept over our profession include liberals, the guilds representing screenwriters and actors, and consumer groups. Also, my friend Andy...

Open mike.(Letter to the Editor)
February 3, 2003... Tweaking EED Editor: I read with interest Bill McConnell's article "Broadcasters Split on EEO Rules" (1/27, p.19). As the president of Filcro Media Staffing, a broadcasting executive-search firm, I find quite a few holes in the new...

The whys of war: TV is shirking its job by not investigating the motives for attacking Iraq.(Column)
February 3, 2003... Television is mobilizing for war. Already, the Big Five TV news organizations have deployed correspondents and the heavy artillery of electronic newsgathering and distribution at the various staging areas surrounding Iraq (see Dan Trigoboff's...

Top 10 Earners.(a ranking of top entertainment industry trade group executives)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 3, 2003... Top 10 Earners Annual salaries of chief executives of TV and ratio trade groups EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATION SALARY 1 Jack Valenti MPAA $1,150,000 2 Robert Sachs NCTA $1,081,048 3 Eddie Fritts ...

Saturn's big Viacom tie-in.(General Motors division cuts cross-platform marketing deal that also includes Westwood One radio networks, Infinity radio stations)
February 10, 2003... It is going to be hard for young adults to escape Saturns new Ion compact sedan. The General Motors division has cut a multimillion-dollar cross-platform marketing deal to spread the word about the low-priced car on Viacom's broadcast and cable...