November 29,1999 4.95 Broadcasting&Caflie

TOP OF THE WEEKdeals satellite companies will be able tostrike with broadcasters. Before thesatellite operators retransmit any localsignal, they must get permission fromthe owners of the signal.DirecTV President Eddy Hartensteinhas told satellite analysts that hisretransmission consent deals are all butdone in the top two dozen TV markets."We have reason to be very confidentthat we'll be able to negotiate those,"Hartenstein has said. Analysts say mostof DirecTV's deals are on a barter onlyNew York, wsBx -TV Boston, WWOR -TVNew York and xwGN -TV Denver.With or without the ability to deliverlocal signals, satellite companies havebeen signing up subscribers at a furiouspace. "They've already surpassed our hot' scenario, which is what we estimated their numbers would be if every-thing worked perfectly for DBS in1999," Schaeftler says.DBS was at 10.9 million subscribersby the end of October, with DirecTV at7.8 million subs (including its Primes-tar and USSB acquisitions) andEchoStar was at 3.1 million.DirecTV and EchoStar's stockprices were down last week, withDirecTV closing Tuesday at 80, down1, and EchoStar closing Tuesday at 727/8, down 3. That was largely reflectiveof a soft market and profit taking on thepart of investors, Carmichael says. Aslong as the fundamentals remainstrong," he says, "there is no doubt thatthis legislation will have a positiveimpact on EchoStar and DirecTV."basis, with no cash exchanged.DirecTV chose the markets it initiallyselected to enter based, somewhat, onwhat retransmission consent deals italready has in place, Marsocci says.EchoStar isn't waiting to finish up itsABC set to sweep(s)carriage agreements before startingservice, taking advantage of a six -But Millionaire' phenomenon may not lift its other showsmonth grace period built into the law.EchoStar is playing the state of itsnegotiations close to the vest.EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen'sbiggest complaint about the satellite billBy Joe Schlosserhas been that it contains no language thatwould protect his company from broadcasters playing favorites with DirecTV.Analysts agree that DirecTV has severaladvantages in negotiating those deals,including the leverage being the marketleader brings, as well as backing from aparent company (General Motors) that isalso a huge broadcast advertiser. It alsohasn't hurt that DirecTV has done manyof its deals first, which has allowed thecompany to set the pace."DirecTV really played its cardswell in the retransmission consent area,and they got a great deal," says JimmySchaeffler, subscription TV analyst forThe Carmel Group in Carmel, Calif.Some analysts and congressionalstaff have agreed with Ergen that thebill's retransmission-consent provisionsgive all the negotiating power to broadcasters. That language grants DBS a sixmonth phase-in, but levies stiff fines ifDBS continues to carry local broadcastsignals without agreements after thattime. By setting that deadline, broadcasters could feasibly sit tight for sixmonths and then force EchoStar to pay apremium to carry their signals.Unless NBC can come up with itsown version of Who Wants to bea Millionaire? and get it on theair this week, ABC will be crowned theNovember sweeps champion Dec. 1.But the victory may not prove anadvertising windfall.For ABC, which rode the strength ofMillionaire for 18 days in November,the expected victory will be its firstsweeps crown since 1994 and firstNovember book win since1992.Through the first 19 days of thesweeps, ABC has averaged a 6.1 rat ing/16 share in adults 18 -49 and 15.9million viewers, according to NielsenMedia Research. The network is up adramatic 24% in adults 18 -49 and 29%"One would hope that retransmission consent deals will be done in amatter that reflects market dynamics,"Carmichael says. "Otherwise, the billwill not achieve the full effect of a trulycompetitive alternative to cable."EchoStar also says language in the bill& CABLE / NOVEMBER"Regis Philbin and Who Wants to be aMillionaire ?' have pushed the alphabetnetwork to its first sweeps win since 1994.will force it to drop the five distant signals it carries: KTLA Los Angeles, wPix6 BROADCASTINGin total viewers over last year'sNovember sweeps average. ABC has astrong lead on second -place NBC,which has averaged a 5.4/14.2 in adults18 -49 and 13.3 million viewers."The headline of the Novembersweep is Millionaire,' and there is nodoubt about it," says NBC Researchand Media Development PresidentAlan Wurtzel. "I think what we feel isthat Millionaire' was a TV event of ageneration, and that we were prettycompetitive against it.With the sweeps victory all but intheir hands, ABC executives are leftwith two big questions: How andwhere do they bring back Millionaire?And will the sweeps victory pay offwith advertisers?The first question has yet to be29, 1999www.americanradiohistory.com

TOP OFanswered. "In the spirit of Millionaire,' our finalTIE WEEKthey expected." TN Media'sSternberg agrees. "Advertisersanswer is we are still weighunderstand that if something isADULTS 18 -49ing our options," says ABC'sgiven a boost from some speKevin Brockman. InsidersNOVEMBER '98NOVEMBER '99CHANGEcial event that it's not going tosay ABC will likely bringmaintain that. I don't knowABC4.9/136.1/16 24 %/ 20%back Millionaire as a two- orexactly what the impact willCBS4.0/10.83.8/10-5 %/ -7%three -night -a -week seriesbe, but it won't be that large."NBC6.0/165.4/14-10%/-13%starting in January and thenABC disagrees. ABCFOX5.9/165.0/13-15%/-17%up the ante for a similar conresearchers say the majority ofNote: Oct 29 -Nov. 16. 1998 vs. Nov. 4 -22, 1999secutive -night run for thethe network's shows are up.Source: National ratings from Nielsen Media Researchimportant February sweeps.Whose Line is it Anyway ?,"I guess the options thatwhich has been airing as twoABC executives are considering are dramatic increases given what they say consecutive half-hours, is up a dramaticeither putting Millionaire' on as a week- is a lack of audience flow from Mil- 64% and 68 %, respectively, over its timely series, maybe a couple of times a lionaire to other ABC shows.period average from a year ago. ABC'sweek," says TN Media's Steve Sternberg."I think it would have rubbed off if Saturday Night Movie has climbed 26%"Or [bringing] it out in syndication."the shows behind it and around it from 1998 -1999 and is helping the netIn terms of paying off millions in ad would have done better," says Tom work win Saturday nights among adultsdollars because of the sweeps win, a DeCabia, executive vice president at 18 -49. And Emmy Award- winningnumber of analysts and industry Schulman/Advanswers NY. "But since drama The Practice is up 33% from lastexperts say it's not likely to happen. those numbers aren't really going up, year. But other series are only up slightly,Advertising executives contacted say ABC cannot start pumping their prices. and some are below their 1998 -1999 timethey don't expect ABC stations will see There is no growth in those shows as period averages.ABC sweeps upRate hikes in the worksPrice increases of about 5% are part of many cable MSOs' plans for 2000By Deborah D. McAdamsAbout 10% of Cablevision's cus-tomers face the second increaseto their cable bills in as little assix months. Around 350,000 Cablevision subscribers in metropolitan NewYork and New Jersey who were hitwith a 5 % -8% rate hike in July will seean average increase of 5.4% on theirbills come January and February.The Bethpage, N.Y. -based cableoperator announced an across -theboard rate increase for its 3.45 millionsubscribers last week. Overall, rateswill rise an average of 5.3 %, or morethan twice the rate of the ConsumerPrice Index. Cablevision, like allMSOs, blames build -out and programming expenses for driving rate hikes. Aspokesman for the company says theMSO also is looking to unify rates,hence the double -whammy in the NewYork market. Those subscribers are onsystems previously acquired from theformer TCI, he says.Many MSOs report plans to raiserates in the neighborhood of 5 %. TimeWarner Cable notified its customers ofthat in their November bills, says MikeLuftman, spokesman for the company."Our plan is to hold increases to the formerly regulated rates. Time Warner'sincreases won't exceed 5 %," he says.Unlike Cablevision, Time Warner'sincreases will vary, depending on channel lineup and build-out status in a givenarea. Competition also played into therate adjustments in one Florida market.In Tampa, where Time Warner rules,rates will increase by about 5.5% in January. Across the bay in St. Petersburg,where Time Warner competes with GTEAmericast, rates will be unchanged.AT &T BIS previously announced a5% rate hike, but that could vary widely from market to market, a spokeswoman for the mega -MSO says. Pricerange, channel lineup, system capacityand competitive and regulatory factorsvary so much across AT&T's 11 mil-lionsubscriberworld,(sansMediaOne) it's impossible to institute auniform increase, she explains. About20% of AT &T's subscriber base isunregulated on the local level, wherefranchise boards can hold basic rates incheck. "Rate adjustments will be handled on a community basis in the coming months," she says. "Our first priority is notifying customers, so theyunderstand the elements going into rateadjustments."For AT &T, it comes down to payingfor a multibillion dollar upgrade thatwon't benefit customers until it's completed. People are essentially beingasked to pay for something they don'tyet have and didn't request. "It's a verycomplicated process to explain to consumers who quite frankly don't care,"she adds.Cox, with nearly5million sub-scribers, will also do a system- by -system analysis of rates, but a 5% averageincrease is expected, a spokeswomansays. With the acquisition of TCA, theMSO took control of about 80 smallsystems, some with as few as 4,000customers, while larger Cox marketshave an average of 200,000 subs.Because of the disparity, rate adjustments are "driven by local system management," she says.MediaOne, still an independent entity pending absorption by AT &T,kicked off the New Year rate hikes witha 6% increase in greater Massachusetts, where it serves about 61% of thestate's subscribers. Cablevision is theother big player in the state, servingmost of the Boston area, where rateswill rise about 6.7 %.NOVEMBER 29, 1999 / BROADCASTING & CABLEwww.americanradiohistory.com7

.1hJOprah vs. Judge Judy:W 25 -54DMA RTGNew YorkOprahWABC-TVJudge Judy WNBC-TVDallasOprahWFAA-TVJudge Judy KDFW-TVMinneapolisOprahWCCO-TVJudge Judy KSTP-TVMiamiOprahWFOR-TVJudge Judy WSVN-TVPittsburghWTAE-TVOprahJudge Judy WPXI-TV3.62.7 33%5.82.3 152%5.11.93.02.9 3%W 25 -54DMA RTGSt. LouisOprahKSDK-TVJudge Judy KTV -TVIIndianapolisOprahWRTV -TVJudge Judy WISH -TVKansas CityOprahKMBC-TVJudge Judy WDAF-TVCincinnatiOprahWCPO-TVJudge Judy W LWT-TV4.64.201999 King World. All Rights Reserved.5.73.3 73%2.92.74.32.85.12.3 122%

EAD TOer '99Hollywood Squares vs. Judge Judy:W 25 -54DMA RTGLos AngelesHollywood SquaresJudge JudyKC BS -TVKCAL -TV2.5KCNC -TVKTVD -TV4.0DenverHollywood SquaresJudge JudyInside2.22.6 54%vs. Judge Judy:W 25 -54DMA RTGChicagoInside EditionJudge JudyWLS-TVWPWR-TVBaltimoreInside EditionJudge JudyWBAL-TVWNUV-TVNew OrleansInside EditionJudge JudySource: NSI, October'99 (Sept. 30 -Oct. 27, 1999), WRAP.Nielsen Media Research confirmed data and data descriptive text.WWL-TVWVUE-TV2.41.8 33%5.45.0 8%4.73.9 21%

TOP OF THE WEEKTough timefor new talkersPetry analysis of October ratings book finds that none are doing very wellBy Steve McClellanIn October, the first rating book forthe new crop of syndicated programs, there wasn't a whole lot ofgood news for the freshman talk shows,according to analysis of their performance by Petry Television. In fact, Petryfound that among all the new shows,none came close to achieving hit status.Of the four new talk shows -Dr. JoyBrowne, Leeza, Martin Short and QueenLatifah- "only Latifah shows signs oflife," the Petry report states. And eventhat show's signs of life, the report says,appear specifically in late fringe.In daytime, where most of Dr. Joy'sOctober book clearances were located,the show averaged a 1.1 Nielsen rat ing/5 share, down from an average2.1/7 in the time period for October1998. The show averaged less than a 1rating in the key demos.Leeza's daytime average was a 1.3/5,down from an average 1.5/6 in previ-ous -year time periods. Demos forLeeza, also averaged less than a 1,Petry reported. More of the same forMartin Short -an average 1.3/6 daytime rating, versus a 2.0/9 time periodaverage in October 1998. The strongestkey demo performance in daytime: a0.5/5 among women 25 -54.Latifah was flat in daytime, with a1.3/5 and l's in the key womendemos. In late night, she averaged a2.0/6, versus a year -ago time periodaverage of 2.3/7.Among new sitcoms, the DrewCarey Show turned in the top performance in early fringe, prime time accessand late fringe. In access Carey did a3.6/7, but that was down 30% from thetime period average a year ago. It wasalso down about a half a rating pointacross the key demos, which averagedin the 3.0 range. In late fringe it averaged a 3.5/7, down about 10% in thetime period. Key demo performanceswere between a 2 and a 3.Petry characterized 3rd RockFrom the Sun's performance as"disappointing" in early fringe,with 2's in most of the adultdemos and "weak" in access with2's in the female demos and l's inthe men demos. In late night, the10BROADCASTING & CABLE / NOVEMB'QueenLatifah'is theonly first year talkshow that shows signsof life,'according toPetryTelevision.show was basically flat across the keydemos with 2's. Caroline in the Cityturned in a "weak" early fringe performance, Petry said. The show averaged a 1.2/3, down from a time periodaverage of a 2.2/5. The key demosaveraged less than a 1.Other newcomers In the House, Parenthood and Wayans Bros. are teendriven, Petty said. Wayans turned in thebest early fringe performance in thatdemo, with an average 5.5/22, down23% compared to year-ago time periods. In the House averaged a 3.3/14with teens, down 17 %, while Parenthood averaged a 2.9/13, down 33 %.As for Unhappily Ever After, Petrysaid, it "lives up to its name" in the ratings. In late night, where most of itsOctober book clearances were, the showaveraged a 1.7/6, down 15% compared toyear -ago time periods. In the key demos,the show didn't break the 1 rating barrier.'Drew Carey' was the top -performingnew sitcom in early fringe, prime timeaccess and late fringe.The new game show Family Feudhad a 1.6/7 daytime average, up from a1.3/5 time period average a year earlier.Its best demo story was a 1.0/11 amongwomen 18 -34, up just slightly from ayear earlier.In the magazine category, Petry saidthe new National Enquirer turned in a"very poor" performance in the October book. In daytime, where it wascleared the most, the show averaged a1.4/5, down from a time period averageof a 1.5/6 a year ago. The key demosaveraged about half a rating point.Neither of the two new court showsset the world on fire. Judge Greg Mathis averaged a daytime 1.6/6, flat withlast year's time periods, with no betterthan a 1 rating in the key demos. In latenight the show managed to get a 2 rating with women 18 -49 and 25 -54.Divorce Court's daytime averagewas 2.2/10, somewhat better than thoseof the time periods a year earlier, whichaveraged a 1.6/5. Its daytime demoswere in the 1 rating range, while itdelivered a 2 rating in early fringeamong women 18 -49 and 25 -54.A new judge didn't seem to do a lotfor The People's Court. In daytime, itaveraged a 2.1/8, up a tenth of a ratingpoint compared to last year, but basically flat in the demos. In early fringethe show averaged a 2.7/8, up 12% inhousehold rating. The show was downhalfa rating point among youngwomen in early fringe and was flatacross the rest of the key demos.In the game show category, the newFamily Feud wasn't much of a threat toWheel of Fortune or Jeopardy! Feuddelivered 1's in the women demos indaytime and 2's in access.Richard Simmons' Dream Makeressentially failed in October, Petrysaid. It averaged 1.1/4, down 40%compared to year-ago time periods.(It has since been canceled.) BlindDate was basically flat, butshowed some signs of life amongyounger viewers in late night,Petry said.The off -first -run Star Trek:Voyager turned in solid maledemo ratings -2's and 3's inprime time and 2's in latenight.

TOIOFTHE WEEPNAACP holds Hollywood hearings'There might not be a boycott, but the NAACP is comingto Hollywood this week to hold a "public hearing" on thelack of diversity at the Big Four broadcast networks.NAACP President Kweisi Mfume and other membersof the civil rights group are going to let the public, talentagents, producers and representatives from ABC, Fox,NBC and CBS voice their opinions on the subject ofdiversity in the television industry. The "hearing" isscheduled for this morning (Nov. 29) at the CenturyPlaza Hotel in Los Angeles. CBS Television Presidentand CEO Leslie Moonves was the only top networkexecutive definitely signed on for the panel late lastweek. ABC, NBC and Fox executives all said they probably would send a representative, but that the decisionwould be made over the Thanksgiving holiday."This hearing is designed to provide a forum to indus-try insiders, guild representatives, management and talent agencies, network presidents and other affectedparties to document their experiences and our perceptions of the industry," Mfume said in a letter serf to theBig Four networks.Representing the NAACP at the hearing will be Mfume,the association's head counsel, Dennis Hayes assistantgeneral counsel, Debbie Liu; and NAACP commun catior sdirector, John White. The hearing comes only a fe,timonths after the NAACP blasted the Big FoLr fir whatMfume called a "virtual whitewash" at the executive, talentand production levels. Last month, NAACP executivescalled off a threatened boycott of one or two of the Big Fourduring the November sweeps, but left open the opion for aboycott during a later sweeps period if the networ s failedto address the NAACP's concerns.-Joe SôhlosserNew LinePlans action hour in Austin Powers mode and new teen game show for NATPEBy Melissa GregoThere's a new international man ofmystery -and he's headed forNew Orleans.New Line Television is bringing outa syndicated action hour with the working title of Matthew Blackheart: Monster Smasher. It features a retro leadcharacter whose mission is to save theworld from evil once he is defrostedfrom a decades-long cryogenic snooze.Sound familiar? That may be becauseNew Line is also the distributor of thesmash Austin Powers theatrical.Blackheart is scheduled to be thawedout for the NATPE convention in NewOrleans in January. Action veteranRichard Donner is executive producingthe Action Adventure Network presentation of a Telescene Film Group production. It will be joined by the other colontitle, Austin Powers: The Spy WhoShagged Me, and a teen dating show. NewLine also is bringing back Arthur ConanDoyle's Lost World for a second season.Shagged and The Mask will headlinethe distributor's eighth movie package,New Line 8, which is being presented atNATPE. New Line 8 features about 15titles with a nine -month window. Itincludes The Bachelor, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Astronaut's Wife and Blastfrom the Past. It's being sold for cash.The new action hour follows theadventures of World War II hero,Blackheart battles one of Dr. Mortas' monster minions.Matthew Blackheart, who -after beingcryogenically preservedrevived inthe year 2000 to fight his nemesis, theevil Dr. Mortas and his monster minions. Twenty -two episodes are beingoffered on a barter basis.The Austin Powers franchise, distributed by New Line Cinema, likewise followed a formerly frozen herowho is revived years after his heydayto fight his nemesis, Dr. Evil. "Whenwe refer to Austin Powers, it's really atalking pointnot to say Blackheart is Powers," says David Spiegel man, New Line's executive vice presi--is-it'sdent of domestic syndication. Blackheart was frozen, Austin Powers wasfrozen and there's lots of tongue -incheek humor in both."New Line also will be offering a half-hour relationship strip, First Date,where "healthy confrontation" is thename of the game, says Spiegelman.Teenagers delve into the dating world bychoosing their first date from a pool ofthree potential sweethearts. The catch:The teens have to work with -oragainst-their parents to pick their date.New Line, which also is producing FirstDate, is offering it on a barter basis.NOVEMBER 29, 1999 / BROADCASTING & CABLEwww.americanradiohistory.comi

EntertainmentA UritofCBSEnterprises 1999 EYEMAR ENTERTAINMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.www.americanradiohistory.com

Growing Strong!Martha is the only daytime franchiseto show year-to -year ratings growth among Women7.5 -54. 15%Regis &MarthaMauryRickiJennyRosieMontelFLAT-6%-9%-11-14% -14% -23% -30%MARTHASTEWARTMore ofSource: NSI /SNAP 10/99vs.Sally Kathie Lee JerryLivingaGoodThing. Everyday.10/98www.americanradiohistory.com

FINANCIALWRAP -UPAT 2.5511.83LOSERS11/24SalemUnapixYoung Bcst.AdeiphiaCumulusRADIO (11/23/98 -11/24/99)1000% change 25.06 4.00 30.94 53.25 57.88CABLE TV ish BcstBROADCAST TV (11/23/98 -11/24/99)350300250200Week of November 22 -2411/24BROADCASTING & CABLE /BLOOMBERG STOCK INDEXESWeek ending 11/242000Week ending 11/24CloseHighLow%change 16.13.(15.90) 2.00.(15.79) 39.94.(11.37) 57.25(7.85) 321.23311.21Week ending 11/24CloseHighCloseHighLow11008.2011089.501

Nov 29, 1999 · November 29,1999 Cainers 4.95 Broadcasting&Caflie www.broadcastingcable.com Bloomberg [distribution] and Braun [production] join forces to conquer prime time Satellites dish P11.111 local television Cable rates on the rise Affils wary of Fox DTV plans 1111111111 IIII II I II UII IIIIIIIIIII