Broadcasting:Dec 19

Billion- dollar pitch...ces

CEO Laurence Tisch (I), shown with Baseball Commissioner

Peter Ueberroth (r), says network's winning $1

billion baseball package bid makes economic sense because of "values" external to telecasts. PAGE 35.

Geraldo unrepentant...ceraico Rivera

acknowledges marching to beat of different drum—one assailed by critics as "trash TV," and entertainment rather than journalism. Nonetheless,

as he says in this interview with BROADCASTING editors,

3 eT his "trump card was that people wanted to watch me" —often in droves. PAGE 43.

36/CBS PRIME 42/NEW BEATS

TIME SHUFFLE NBC News President Michael

CBS cancels two shows and Gartner reassigns some

puts three others on hiatus in executives and key reporters.

reorganization of its prime

time schedule 48/NEW IN HOLLYWOOD

37/FOX'S Veteran iV producers form

THIRD NIGHT two new Hollywood production

Fox Broadcasting Co. is entities: one that will focus

expected to target Monday night primarily on TV, and other

in early to mid-June as focusing on film and theater,

premiere date for its long- before expanding into television

expected third night of entertainment within six

programing. months.

Vol. 115 No. 25

50/NPR ROADMAP

Next month National Public Radio will invite outside help to propose strategic plan taking noncommercial radio network through 1990's.

51/SHORT SPACING SHORT-SIGHTED?

FCC votes 2-1 to give FM broadcasters greater flexibility in choosing antenna sites and plotting coverage by permitting “short spacing” of FM

stations on limited scale. NAB calls action “beginning of the end" of FM broadcasting’s ‘reputation for quality.

53/COX ON CABLE

PacTel Corp. President and CEO Lee Cox says that, at least for foreseeable future, all company wants is to acquire cable systems outside its service areas in partnership with cable operators.

56/OFFSHORE REACH

U.S. cable MSO’s and telephone Companies are expanding their reach and raising their investments in overseas cable TV systems.

59/OUTLOOKS FOR ’89

Advertisers, broadcasters and cable operators offer predictions on how media and advertising will fare next year.

62/FIBER SCREEN

FiberView Corp. is

developing prototype of low-cost flat panel video screen based on fiber optic technology, which it hopes will lead to

resurgence of American manufacturing of TV sets.

64/ATTC UPDATE

Leaders of Advanced Television Test Center say that broadcasters will have

money and time they need to test hardware for high definition TV transmission systems.

65/CAMERAS IN COURT

Televised live coverage of high-profile trial in New York City of Joel B. Steinberg places renewed emphasis on opening courtroom doors to Fifth

Estate coverage.

87/BACK IN THE GAME

Danie! Enright of Barry & Enright Productions has come long way since his days as co-producer with Jack Barry of highly rated game shows, including Twenty One, which made him one of central characters in quiz show scandals of late 1950's

DEPARTMENTS

Advertisers Index ....................86 Business, u. с pena. Cablecastings........................... 58 Changing Hands.. .63

Closed Circuit ... m Datebook ........................... s. 24 Editorials .........................————... 90 Fates & Fortunes .....................83

Fifth Estater..........

For the Record .

In Brief ..............

International ............................. Journalism ...............................65 Masthead... ..30

The Media.. ... 58 Monday Memo.. .....34

On Radio =... жа-на: 50 Open Mike ................................ 27 Programing ... | Stock Index — 67 | Technology ъ=.» 62 Where Things Stand ................ 10

Broadcasting (ISSN 0007-2028) is pub- lished 52 Mondays a year by Broadcasting Publications Inc., 1705 DeSales Street. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036. Second-class post- age paid at Washington. D.C., and additional offices. Single issue $2 except special issues $3.50 (50th Anniversary issue $10). Subscrip- lions, U.S. and possessions: one year $70, two years $135, three years $190. Canadian and other international subscribers add $20 per year. U.S. and possessions $235 yearly for special delivery, $100 for first-class. Sub- scribers occupation required. Annuaily Broadcasting O Cablecasting Yearbook $110, Across the Dial $6.95. Microfilm of Broadcasting is available from University Microfilms. 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48106 (35mm, full year $55). Postmas- ler, please send address corrections to Broadcasting. 1705 DeSales St. МУУ. Washington. D.C. 20036

NEW YORK JUSTICE.

On December 19th, WCBS-TV passed a decision and ruled that the strongest court block to use as their early fringe news lead-in was “Superior Court” and “The People’s Court’

WCBS.-TV needed a power hour that Judge” and “On Trial; and used to run could run against “Oprah” and “Donahue” “Divorce Court" in the early afternoon. and still generate a significant, demograph- Апа, with all of the first-run strips still ically suitable lead-in audience for their available in the nation’s #1 market, they early news. They selected “The Power had countless options open to them. Court Hour” Instead, they turned to “Superior Court”

This ruline i "T and "The People's Court" |

is ruling is all the more significant T

when you realize that WCBS-TV could | If: you have an important early-fringe deci- have picked from a long list of half-hour sio n to rule on in ; :

strips. They'd seen all of the con N3 kx а rs. "Superio

evidence ps E - they own O

к Ln әс уй

Js N Ч " 111 2

SUPERIOR? MI PEOPLE'S |

(COURT) COURT

“The Power Court Hour" Station Line-Up

Los Angeles ile ККТУ....... Colorado Springs Chicago i San Francisco

WSPA ........... A Greenville Santa Barbara WOTV........: Grand Rapids Columbus,GA Palm Springs San Antonio ilmi WBOY ..........1 Clarksburg ab fas sa asa South Bend Meridian

"a Johnstown

"Supenor Court’ is a Rolph Edwards/Stu Billett Production Y "The People’s Court’ is a Rolph Edwards Production In Association With Lorimar In Association with Stu Billett Productions

ClosedaCircuit

Е———====__—— NBC passes оп half hour

It's all but official. NBC will return half

hour to affiliates starting this Spring, giving them either noon or 12:30 p.m. time slot and double feeding new serial drama, Generations, for other half hour. Move, expected in April or late March, is response to laggard clearances and ratings of current game show noon offerings. As of last week Super Password was cleared

by stations covering only 7396 of television households and so far in quarter has obtained 1.3 rating among women 18-49. Scrabble, at 12:30, has 8396 coverage

and 1.6 rating in women 18-49 demographic. NBC affiliate board members have so far been told nothing, but network will probably make

announcement before board's January meeting.

Tt — —À | Behind closed doors

Officials at NBC, Tele-Communications Inc. and Cablevision were tight-lipped about meeting last week between Cablevision Chairman Charles Dolan, Rainbow Programing Enterprises President Marc Lustgarten, NBC Cable President Tom Rogers and TCI Senior Vice President Peter Barton in New York law offices of Shea & Gould, firm that has worked for TCI in past. NBC and Cablevision have talked about cable Olympics package and baseball, but NBC and TCI sources warned against reading too much into NBC-Cablevision- TCI meeting, saying such meetings were common in course of business.

EE ee SS SSS Queuing up for Telcomsubcom

Although final reorganization of House committees does not transpire until January, incumbent House Energy and Commerce members are eyeing what is considered plum subcommittee assignment on Telecommunications. Departures of Democrat Wayne Dowdy

of Mississippi (he lost Senate race) and Republican Dan Coats of Indiana (he takes Senate seat of Vice President-elect Dan Quayle) have not only created openings on parent Commerce Committee but on House Telecommunications Subcommittee, where each also served. On Democratic side, Jim Bates of California and Ron Wyden of Oregon are interested; Bates was on subcommittee before 1987. As for Republicans, Joe Barton of Texas has strong desire to join subcommittee. Dan Schaefer (R-Colo.), whose district is home to headquarters

of several cable MSO's, may get on. As for seats on parent committee, Representatives Tom McMillen (D-Md.) and

Tom Manton (D-N.Y.) are competing for Dowdy's spot. McMillen was one-time Atlanta Hawks basketball player (team

is owned by Ted Turner). Alex McMillan of North Carolina is leading contender among Republicans.

Add two to the list

Latest names to surface as among

those "mentioned" for one of two existing FCC vacancies are Bobbie Kilberg, attorney currently serving on Bush transition team's public liaison staff, and Sherrie Marshall, head of FCC's congressional liaison staff now on Bush transition team. Kilberg has been active in Republican politics, served as associate White House counsel during Ford administration and was special projects director for Bush convention team. She also ran and lost in bid for Virginia state senate seat in 1987. Kilberg is married to Washington labor lawyer William

Kilberg, who, along with FCC Commissioner Patricia Diaz Dennis, is

on short list of those being considered for Labor Secretary (see box page 40). If Dennis gets post, of course, there'd be three FCC vacancies.

Mixed blessings

There's good news and bad news for Lorimar going into INTV and NATPE. Good news is that Lorimar, producer of ABC's Perfect Strangers, will take half-hour comedy into syndication with planned

INTV launch. But company is said to be struggling to sell first-xrun game show

$rd Degree. One insider (denied by company spokesman) had it that but

three stations were cleared in five weeks of knocking on station doors; rep source | said company reported that show had low clearances but “lots of interest.”

Dear deal

Cost of securing арргоуа! for

Cablevision Industries’ purchase of 311,000-subscriber Wometco Cable properties will not come cheaply. Deal, announced in May, has been held up because holders of majority of $304.5 million of Wometco's debt refused to

give OK to conditions of Robert M. Bass Group's sale of most of Wometco's properties to Cablevision. As result of deal, Atlanta system would be spun off from

rest of property and bondholders' debt would not be secured by Wometco's remaining operating assets. Tentative deal reached with bondholders last week secures their necessary blessing in return for one-time payment of $8 million plus interest hikes on Wometco's debt, amounting, by one rough estimate, to

Broadcasting Dec 19 1988 6

$46 million in interest costs between now and 2001. Sale of property had previously been valued as $725 million deal. It was not known who, between Cablevision and Bass Group, would be assuming cost of bondholder consent. Upon closing of Wometco sale, expected next week, privately held Cablevision Industries would have subscriber total of about 930,000.

k: . Incumbency

If incoming Bush administration is pondering choice for director of Voice of America, there is available candidate with track record. He is Richard Carlson, current director. Along with other high- level people in Reagan administration, Carlson was asked by White House if he would like to remain in his post and, if not, what other job he would like. Information was to be turned over to Bush transition team. Carlson reportedly said that, if asked, he would like to stay on. Candidate who seems to be holding up as frontrunner for director of parent U.S. Information Agency is Edward N. Ney, former chairman, president and chief executive officer of Young & Rubicam Inc., who is now member of Board for International Broadcasting.

Cable bound

Linda Ellerbee's delayed offbeat news and commentary program, originally proposed as late night syndication strip for fall 1988, may go to cable. Ellerbee's Lucky Duck Productions and partner in project, King Features, have talked with three cable networks about show,

named after her best selling book, And So It Goes. CBS's success in clearing new late night talk show with Pat Sajak has all but killed chances of syndication launch for And So It Goes as strip, although weekly alternative has been discussed.

Partners have also considered testing show in late night on Hearst stations (Hearst owns King Features), as well as stations in New York and Los Angeles.

Cashing out

Two investment firms with stake in The Discovery Channel—Allen & Co. and New York Life Co.—are quietly shopping around their portions of basic cable service. Their stake, combined with present management, is roughly 30%. MSO's Tele-Communications Inc.,

United Cable, Cox Cable and Newhouse Broadcasting each own 14%, along with Group W. Present cable owners have right of first refusal to take greater stake in service.

TESTI

THE PEOPLE'S COURT

“When we were looking to increase the household rating of our news lead-in, we turned to "The People’s Court’ — and it performed. As far as we're concerned, ‘The People’s Court’ is the best news lead-in in the history of television.’

Jonathan Rodgers Vice President & General Manager WBBM-TV, Chicago

THE PEOPLE'S COURT

"Without a doubt, the ultimate test of 'People's Court's' compati- bility with news is on our station

where we run it between two

newscasts. And sweep after sweep, our two-hour information block comes out *] in each half- hour. With a performance like this,

"People's Court’ is more than a

show. It's a franchise?’

Andrew S. Fisher Vice President & General Manager WSB-TV, Atlanta

THE PEOPLE'S COURT

"At KXAS our news lead-in has t be able to face ‘Oprah’ and ‘Geraldo’ at the same time and st deliver a strong number for our early news. We picked ‘People’s Court’ to fight that battle becaus: it's been proven in the trenches ft 8 years. Proven as the strongest alternative to talk. Proven to hav the same demo appeal as news. And proven to perform, not just during sweeps, but 52 weeks a year!”

Frank O'Neil Vice President & General Manage KXAS-TV, Dallas

MONY.

—

THE PEOPLES COURT

At WTVD we strive to be a high uality news and information sta- on. So when we needed a strong news lead-in to bridge the gap between 'Oprah' and our 5:30 news, we turned to the highest uality court show in syndication, "The People's Court: With its

ntertaining format, usable infor- |

nation and proven compatibility

with news, we have the highest possible audience flow from

)prah' right into our early news.

Alan Nesbitt ice President & General Manager WTVD-TV, Raleigh-Durham

bm ен.

THE | THE PEOPLES COURT | PEOPLE'S COURT

| |

“With one of our competitors “Тһе People’s Court" has been a running 'Cosby' as their early consistent winner for WRGB since news lead-in and the other using | it debuted on our station eight ‘Donahue, we looked for the years ago. We were one of the first strongest possible genre to stations to carry it, and are counter-program talk and comedy. | proud that this informative, enter- Without a doubt, the national taining and dependable performer picture shows that the best is оп УУКСВ-ТУ” format against this tough 2 сн ши Court shows апо Vice Tm ү Manager the best court show for us is WRGB-TY, Albany

‘The People’s Court:

Reynard A. Corley Vice President & General Manager WXII-TV, Greensboro

Join the list of successful station managers who have witnessed our 8 years of achievement!

THE PEOPLES COURT

ats COMPANY

m Solid box denotes items that have changed since last issue.

Comments on FCC proposal for mandatory observance of National Radio Systems Com- mittee standards for AM radio favored adop- tion of NRSC-1 audio standard rather than commissions preferred NRSC-2 emission standard. Broadcasters asked for immediate adoption of NRSC-1 with NRSC-2 adoption to follow after further refinement.

FM broadcasters commenting on proposed increases in maximum Class A station power from 3 kw to 6 kw were split Over two pro- posed plans. Most Class A's support New Jersey Class A Broadcasters Association's plan for blanket upgrades. Most Class B and C stations support NAB plan for upgrade of about two-thirds of Class A's, excluding many in northeast U.S. Some Class A NAB mem- bers have resigned from association in pro- test.

NAB and other broadcast groups oppose FCC's proposed expansion of service to allow for local origination by translators, asking that rules establish translators as secondary ser- vices to fill in underserved areas of full-power stations and not as “low-power FM” stations.

NAB opposed proposal to authorize FM's using directional antennas and permitting al- location of stations in short-spaced positions, saying that an increase in FM directional an- tennas would lead to AM-ization of FM band. Some broadcast groups, however, favored more flexibility for FM broadcasters seeking suitable sites to locate transmission facilities.

Western Hemisphere countries on June 2 concluded second and final session of con- ference to plan use of 100 khz of spectrum added to AM band that had ended at 1605 khz. FCC is in midst of inquiry designed to help it determine how to use 10 new channels. Commission has indicated some channels will be reserved for national licensees.

Motorola's C-Quam AM stereo system has be- come virtual de facto standard, with adoption by 657 stations worldwide. Kahn system holds on to favor with fewer than 100 stations.

Issue essentially boils downs to reimposition of three-year rule, which required owners to hold broadcast properties for that long before selling. Quiescent at moment.

Cable television industry remains under fire

Where Things Stands

AM-FM Allocations

AM Stereo Antitrafficking

By the Numbers

Cable Regulation Children’s Television Comparative Renewal Compulsory License Crossownership

Direct Broadcast Satellites High-Definition Television Home Satellite indecency

International Satellite Land Mobile

Mergers

Must Carry

Network Rules

Public Broadcasting Syndex

on allegations it is “unregulated monopoly.’ Cities approved new policy week of Dec. 5 in Boston calling for overhaul of Cable Commu- nications Policy Act next year to strengthen their regulatory grip on cable and to provide entry for telephone companies to offer com- petitive services. Motion picture industry and independent broadcasters have also been pushing for stricter regulation of cable until there is more competition in delivering cable programing to homes. Top motion picture and cable executives are holding series of talks to discuss their relationship and possible regula- tory changes. House Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) has warned cable to be on best behavior or Congress may reevaluate regulatory environment. Oversight hearings have been heid by House Telecom- munications Subcommittee and Senate Anti- trust Subcommittee.

Proponents of children's television legislation suffered blow at hands of President Reagan, who issued pocket veto of bill on Nov. 5. Measure passed Senate only days before ad- journment (BROADCASTING, Oct. 24). Chief ex- ecutive's rejection of bill will make it priority in 101st Congress. Television networks and Na- tional Association of Broadcasters let White House know they backed legislation, but President found measure "counterproductive and at odds with broadcasters' First Amend- ment rights. Measure would have put com- mercial limits on children's programs of 10.5 minutes per hour on weekends and 12 min- utes on weekdays. It also required broadcast- ers to serve "special needs" of children, which FCC would have to take into account at renewal.

Department of Education has released study concluding, among other things, that “research literature provides little support for most of the common beliefs about the influ- ence of television.” Study holds that there is

Broadcasting Dec 19 1988 10

little evidence for suggestion that television

displaces other activities, including reading, radio listening or participation in sports.

National Telecommunications and Information

Administration, in NTIA Telecom 2000 report on future of broadcasting and telecommuni- cations. recommended that FCC purge 1- cense renewal procedures of "references to program content” as part of overall elimination of rules “governing content.” FCC Chairman Dennis Patrick has also called for minimizing role of programing in FCC deliberations at renewal time. But their views are not shared by broadcasting industry. In first round of comments in current FCC proceeding aimed at reforming much-maligned comparative re- newal process, broadcasters led by NAB and INTV argue that past programing perfor- mance of stations should be basis for renew- al

FCC proceeding is also aimed at discour- aging groups from using comparative renewal process and policy of allowing groups to peti- tion FCC to deny renewal and station transfers to “extort” money from broadcasters. To deter abuse, FCC has proposed limiting payments broadcasters may make to challengers in set- tlements of comparative renewal proceedings and to groups in exchange for withdrawal of petitions to deny renewals. In addition, it has proposed requiring fuller ownership and fi- nancial disclosure information from compet- ing applicants, clarifying standards broad- casters must meet to win “renewal expectancies” and reconsidering criteria used in comparative hearings, particularly di- versity of Ownership.

FCC voted in October to recommend that Congress abolish 12-year-old compulsory copyright license, at least for distant signals, saying it would benefit consumers, broadcast- ers and cable programing services (ВВОАО- CASTING, Oct. 31). Recommendation will be expanded to cover local signals if FCC Com- missioner Patricia Diaz Dennis comes through with vote which she is withholding until "edito- rial changes" are made.

What Congress will do is anybody's guess. At very least, if it decides to pass law requir- ing carriage of local signals, it will probably also preserve copyright license for those sig- nals.

During last Congress, House Telecommuni- cations Subcommittee member John Bryant (D-Tex.) offered bill (BROADCASTING, April 4) to condition compulsory license on whether ca- ble operator is carrying local broadcast sig- nals. Senate Copyright Subcommittee Chair-

FOR THE BEST IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING: .

TURN TO THE BEST TE:

M IN THE BUSINESS!

CLASTER

& SUNBOW

... MISIT US AT INTL, SUITES 656-658-660

man Dennis DeConcini similar measure in June.

(D-Ariz.) offered

Telco-cable—FCC has tentatively concluded it should recommend Congress lift crossowner- ship ban on telephone companies providing cable television service in their service areas. Commission, which made proposal at July 20 meeting, will seek comments on subject, as well as on separate considerations to loosen its own regulatory restrictions on crossowner- ship. FCC Commissioner Patricia Diaz Dennis dissented from action.

FCC move follows National Telecommuni- cations and Information Administration report on cable television regulation recommending telephone companies be allowed to serve as transporters of others’ programing, although not programers themselves, in telcos’ own service areas (BROADCASTING, June 20).

At present, not only FCC regulations and 1984 Cable Act but also modified final judg- ment issued by U.S. Judge Harold Greene in his supervision of breakup of AT&T are seen as barriers to such crossownership by seven Bell operating companies. NTIA has peti- tioned FCC to preempt Greene's regulation of BOC's, arguing that Greene is hampering

BOC entry into information services, including cable.

Resolution now pending in House calls on Congress to wrest jurisdiction from Greene and eliminate barriers. Measure has backing of House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) and, at last count, 112 co-sponsors.

Duopoly. one-to-a-market —FCC has voted to relax duopoly rules to allow closer spacing of commonly owned AM and FM stations, ar- guing that impact on diversity would be negli- gible and that it would allow some broadcast- ers to reap certain economies of scale.

Using same justification, FCC relaxed poli- Cy for waivers to one-to-a-market rules last week, saying it would look favorably on waiver requests involving top 25 markets with at least 30 broadcast "voices."

Broadcast-newspaper—Appropriations bill (H.R. 4782), which was signed into law, in- cludes provision that prevents FCC from reex- amining its broadcast-newspaper crossow- nership rules

Rupert Murdoch won victory in U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington March 29 when court ruled that statute passed by Congress in ses- sion's final hours violated First and Fifth Amendments by prohibiting FCC from extend- ing current waivers of rule banning newspa- per-television station crossownership. Court did not rule on constitutionality of substance

BY THE NUMBERS

Summary of broadcasting and cable

ВВ O ADC A 6 ТІ ON AIR

SERVICE Commercial AM

N G CP's TOTAL *

Commercial FM

Educational FM

m Total Radio

FM transtators

Commercial VHF TV

Commercial UHF TV

Educational VHF TV

Educational UHF TV m Total TV VHF LPTV

UHF LPTV в Total LPTV VHF translators

UHF translators

Total subscribers

48,637,000

Homes passed

73,900,000

Total systems

8,000

Household penetrationt

53.8%

Pay cable penetration

32%

° Includes off-air licenses. f Penetration percentages are of TV household untverse of

90.4 million. ' Construction permit.

Broadcasting Dec 19 1988 12

of provision that bars commission from re- pealing or modifying television-newspaper crossownership ban.

Number of applications to operate high-power Ku-band direct-to-home television service sat- ellites has now outstripped available orbital assignments in separate DBS orbital arc, says FCC, which could assign new round of posi- tions early next year. Comments were due Dec. 12 on FCC proposal to assign pairs of DBS siots—one east, one west—to create most efficient use of spectrum. Multiple appli- cants have requested one of four eastern slots only (from which whole nation can be served), leaving four western slots (reaching only west- ern half of nation) underused. Replies to those comments are due Dec. 30.

GE Americom-HBO goal of beginning medi- um-power direct-to-home TV service may have been derailed by Nov. 8 FCC decision to deny request to modify K-3 power from 45 to 60 watts. Power boost was considered neces- sary to reach mass-marketable three-foot re- ceiving dishes. GE-HBO venture, Crimson Satellite Associates, still hopes to bring cable programers to Ku-band delivery via already built K-3, scheduled for launch in January, 1990.

“True” high-power Ku-band DBS delivery of TV programing directly to homes will become reality in U.S. in "1992 time frame," says Hughes Communications, whose plan to launch 200-watt DBS will go to parent, Gener- al Motors, for approval by end of year. Higher power—10 times higher than current fixed satellite service birds—says Hughes, will en- able reception of video programing by afford- able one-foot downlinks, thereby expanding current consumer home satellite market well beyond current two million.

Hughes says GE service would only be "in- terim" step toward its 200 watt service. Hughes and GE agree on need to bring to- gether "business system," including program- ers and cable operators.

FCC extension granted last month gave Do- minion Video Satellite and Hubbard Broad- casting's United States Satellite Broadcast- ing—among those granted permits with six- year expirations in December 1982—four more years—until Dec. 4, 1992.

Comments received on second FCC inquiry on advanced TV transmission praised com- mission for statement that terrestrial delivery of advanced TV is in public interest and for tentative decision that proposed transmission systems must be NTSC-compatible. Opinion was split on other issues, such as use of spectrum above 1 ghz for augmentation channels and development of open architec- ture and multiport consumer receivers. Analysis subgroup of ATS committee's sys- tems subcommittee has received submis- sions for 15 proposed HDTV or EDTV trans- mission systems. Thirteen of 15 systems were studied in-depth by analysis group during meeting held Nov. 14-18 in Washington. Re- port based on finding of week-long meeting

SOME THINGS WORK BETTER IN PAIRS,

| A äl. | х қ £2.

TWO AIRINGS OF “LOVE CONNECTION” A DAY PERFORM EVEN BETTER THAN ONE.

"LOVE" LOVE CONNECTION LOVE CONNECTION TIME OCTOBER 1987 HH Share Vs. Adult 18-49 SH Vs. MARKET STATION PERIODS PROGRAM 10/87 PROGRAM 10/87 PROGRAM

LOS ANGELES KHJ' 7:00PM LOVE + 9% + 8% 11:30 PM SCTV + 125% + 167% MINNEAPOLIS KMSP 1:00 PM LOVE + 19% + 43% 10:00 PM Taxi + 233% +267% SEATTLE KCPQ 6:00PM Happy Days + 40% + 50%

11:00PM Late Show (Fox) + 60% + 150%

MIAMI WDZL 7:00PM New Dating Game + 50% + 43% 11:00PM Tales from the Darkside + 25% NIC

HARTFORD WTIC 6:30PM LOVE + 150% + 80% 11:00РМ Late Show (Fox) + INF + 50%

If you think one episode of “Love Connection"a day is the way to woo your audience, take a look at what happened in пе major markets this year. LO

When these stations doubled-up >= LK v

"Love Connection; the improvements || in both household share and key A аниа, d demos were dramatic. aestu usi гүй

Which seems to prove that one LORIMAR good showing deserves another.

TXTTIIVTYTETIYKTITTIITITKTYETITT

will be submitted to systems subcommittee in February. :

Deadline for "action memos” to Telecom- munications Subcommittee has been post- poned from Jan. 4, 1989, to Feb. 1. Subcom- mittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) has asked Electronic Industries Association, American Electronics Association and Semi- conductor Industry Association to submit re- ports recommending policies that would en- courage U.S. activity in HDTV manufacturing. FCC's HDTV advisory task force and NTIA also were asked to prepare reports on sub- тесі.

On бері. 1, FCC tentatively decided to elim- inate from standardization consideration transmission systems with continuous 9 mhz channel, incompatible with NTSC sets. Move eliminates possibility of terrestrial standard- ization of NHK's MUSE-E. Commission also decided to restrict any possible additional spectrum for advanced television broadcast- ing to currently allotted VHF and UHF televi- sion spectrum. Use of band above 1 ghz for augmentation channels was ruled out.

Giving shot in arm to struggling home satellite industry, 100th Congress passed copyright legislation authorizing transmission of broad- cast television signals via satellite to backyard dish owners. (President Reagan signed bill on Nov. 16.) Under its terms, independent televi- sion signals can be beamed to any of more than two million dish owners, but network affili- ate signals can only be delivered to those in "white areas"—those not able to receive net- work programing off air and not choosing to receive it via cable.

Other legislation designed to help home satellite industry did not fare as well. S.889 died in Senate after lawmakers voted 43 to 36 to table measure. In unexpected move, bill's chief proponent, Senator Al Gore (D-Tenn.), offered it as amendment to tax legislation on Friday evening, Oct. 7. It would have required cable programers to permit any qualified third party to distribute their services to backyard dish (TVRO) owners.

Momentum behind S.889 was believed to have weakened because of announcement that National Rural Telecommunications Co- Operative (noncable distributor serving dish owners) had closed deals with five leading cable programers, move many observers feel persuaded lawmakers that congressional in- tervention is unnecessary.

President Reagan signed into law on Oct. 1 congressional spending bill that requires FCC to enforce its indecency policy around clock (BROADCASTING, Oct. 3). FCC has until Jan. 31, 1989, to issue new set of indecency rules. NAB and other media groups plan court chal- lenge of law's constitutionality.

Many broadcasters joined FCC in its belief that new law is "constitutionally suspect" in light of recent case law. U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington had affirmed FCC's tougher indecency enforcement policy based on pre-

mise that FCC could not ban indecency, but could channel it to times of day when few children were in audience. But court remand- ed case to commission to justify midnight-to-6 a.m. "safe harbor." In light of congressional action, FCC may not go ahead with its remand rulemaking.

State Department has "agreed in principle" to pursue special trade agreement with People's Republic of China to allow export of U.S.- made commercial satellites into PRC for launch by China's Long March launch firm, saying both sides are "definitely prepared to move forward." Hughes Aircraft-built HS 601 birds for Australian Aussat B services and Hughes-built Westar VI, now in hands of Hong Kong-based PRC-UK consortium, are pro- posed exports in question.

Intelsat board cf governors approved $394.3-million Intelsat VII series contract with Ford Aerospace during Sept. 8-15 meeting in Washington. Contract calls for delivery of five satellites, first two to be launched in 1992-93. Each bird will carry C-band and Ku-band ca- pacity, cross-strapping and spot beam anten- na.

Pan American Satellite Corp. saw its first satellite, PAS 1, go into orbit June 15 aboard Arianespace rocket launched from Kourou, French Guiana. The satellite is intended to provide domestic services in South American countries as well as international services.

And in Geneva on Oct. 6, World Administra- tive Radio Conference dealing with satellites’ use of fixed satellite services completed sec- ond and concluding session. Conference, considered reasonable success, completed plan for use of expansion bands associated with 6/4 ghz and 14/11-12 ghz, which assures all countries guaranteed "equitable access" to geostationary orbit.

Jose L. Alegrett, former deputy director general of International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, last week was sen- tenced to 16 months to four years in prison for his part in kickback scheme that defrauded global organization of $4.8 million. Judge Ger- hard A. Gesell, in imposing sentence, said Alegrett would be credited with five months he served since his arrest in Aruba last summer. He also said he would recommend that Ale- grett be paroled after 11 months in view of help he has given U.S. government in its con- tinuing investigation of kickback and other schemes. Alegrett in September had pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of money ob- tained by fraud, same charge to which Rich- ard Colino, former director general of Intelsat, had pleaded guilty in connection with kick- back scheme in July 1987. He is serving six- year term in minimum security prison in Virgin- ía.

Last fall, FCC delayed decision on petition to reallocate UHF channels in eight markets to land mobile radio until completion of report on

Broadcasting Dec 19 1988 16

whether UHF channels in question will be needed for broadcasting high-definition sys- tems. But report released in June by FCC's advisory committee on advanced television service advised commission not to act be- cause it is too early to know how much spec- trum broadcasters will need. During special meeting on HDTV issues, FCC decided to follow report's advice (BROADCASTING, Sept. 5).

= Lorimar Telepictures stockholders approved company's acquisition by Warner Communi- cations Inc. at shareholder meeting Dec. 8. Under terms of tax-free stock swap, Lorimar shareholders will exchange roughly 2.7 shares for each common share of Warner. Original definitive agreement for merger had set ratio of about 2.4 Lorimar shares per Warner share, but was revised Oct. 21. New agreement also provides for "substantial" in- terim financing of Lorimars operations by Warner. Transaction remains unconsummat- ed because of Sept. 27 New York state court ruling, upheld by appeals court Dec. 8. Court ruled that Warner's acquisition of Lorimar's TV stations, along with rest of company, would violate 1984 shareholder agreement by which Chris-Craft, group owner, became Warner's largest shareholder. Warner is exploring "dif- ferent avenues" to close deal, spokesman said. Since May, Warner has taken over Lori- mar's domestic theatrical distribution opera- tions, along with distribution of Lorimar's home video library.

MSO's United Cable (UCT) and United Art- ists Communications Inc. (UACI) signed de- finitive agreement March 8 to merge into new company, United Artists Entertainment Co. (UAE). Under terms of agreement amendment announced Sept. 19, UACI stockholders would exchange each share for one share each of class A and class B common stocks— class B stock convertible into class A and carrying 10 votes per share compared to class A stock's single vote. UCT stockholders have option to receive either $35 cash or one share apiece of A and B stock in UAE, with right to put that stock to Tele-Communications Inc. TCI has expanded UCT ownership to 41% share as of July 29. TCI owns roughly two-thirds of UACI and would own a majority of newly formed UAE. Setup of class A and class B stocks is designed to preserve TCI's majority vote in UAE while permitting convert- ible-bond financing. UCT and UACI await SEC approval of new securities. Merger is also subject to shareholder approvals.

National Cable Television Association re- leased must-carry survey Sept. 13 that it said showed cable operators have been responsi- ble in their broadcast carriage decisions. NCTA survey, conducted by Price Water- house, found that 9896 of qualified stations remain on cable systems. NCTA also found that 94% of cable systems had not dropped