NOTEBOOK

"Braun plan," put forth last spring by then NBC TV Network Pres. Neil Braun, is officially dead, new Pres. Randy Falco told affiliates at meeting in New Orleans last week. Plan called for compensation reductions and formation of profit-making venture with stations that could have involved ventures outside industry.

In its place, Falco said, network will explore with affiliates ways to expand their "shelf space" of programs as proliferation of cable and satellite channels continues to chip away at over-air audiences. That shelf space could involve formation of 2nd network, he said. Plan is expected to be fleshed out at May affiliates' convention in N.Y. ------ NCTA named former Elizabeth Dole aide Josephine Martin as vp- public affairs. Spot was filled by Republican despite speculation that prominent Democrat Barry Toiv, White House deputy press secy., was leading candidate. Martin will remain as American Red Cross vp-communications until Feb. 15. Earlier, she was press secy. for Rep. Schneider (R-R.I.), Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Chafee (R-R.I.). She also was member of N.H. state legislature. ------ Yahoo and News Corp. announced marketing relationship spanning Internet and News Corp.'s broadcast and cable properties that was to begin during Super Bowl Jan. 31. Yahoo also will sponsor new sitcom Family Guy and later will host live online chat with its creator. ------ Comcast again beat DBS operator in program access case at FCC. Cable Bureau said Comcast SportsNet didn't evade rules by distributing Philadelphia sports programming terrestrially rather than by satellite. EchoStar had sought access to programming, charging distribution was attempt to evade program access rules, which are restricted to satellite-delivered programming. Bureau said complaint "presents essentially the same facts and legal issues" as DirecTV case last fall, and decision relied "substantially" on that analysis. Bureau said Comcast SportsNet was new service with original programming, different from previous satellite-delivered Comcast offerings, and terrestrial distribution was "dramatically less expensive [for Comcast] than satellite distribution." Comcast wasn't practicing unfair withholding of programming, Bureau said, because it distributed programming to other Philadelphia-area video providers such as MMDS, SMATV and potential OVS operators. ------ "Very serious discussions" are under way between ABC and its TV affiliates on "grand plan" to position themselves for challenges of growing proliferation of competition. That's what came out of network-affiliate meeting last week in New Orleans, sources said. Network didn't present any proposals on contentious issues of past such as program repurposing on cable and competition, sources said. In her first appearance before affiliates, Network Pres. Pat Fili-Krushel was in very conciliatory mood, affiliates said, in contrast to her predecessor Preston Padden. ABC News Pres. David Westin confirmed that network will cancel Sun. edition of Good Morning America effective Feb. 28, move greeted with approval by affiliates, we're told. ------ With FCC Comr. Ness's term due to expire in June, there's word that at least one White House staffer is making inquiries about job. Sources said Vanessa Weaver, asst. dir., presidential personnel, contacted several former associates of Vice President Gore and Hill staff on possibility of becoming commissioner. Weaver, whose father Vernon is U.S. ambassador to European Union, declined comment. White House officials said they haven't thought yet about FCC opening. Other sources said it's likely that Administration will renominate Ness for another term if she wants one, and that she has strong Hill support. Ness hasn't made her plans known formally, but staffer said "she very much enjoys her work." ------ Senate Antitrust Subcommittee Chmn. DeWine (R-O.) said Jan. 27 he had been assured by SBC Chmn. Edward Whitacre that SBC will continue Ameritech's cable TV operations if companies' merger is approved. DeWine and other midwesterners on subcommittee, including senior Democrat Kohl (Wis.), had been concerned at possibility SBC would leave business. They back Ameritech as competitor to cable. Talk that SBC would shut down Ameritech New Media (ANM) has been fueled by SBC's history of doing so with Pacific Bell's video venture and Whitacre's refusal to promise that ANM would continue. But SBC spokesman said "it appears that Ameritech's cable TV business is a financial and operational success," which is "different from other cable ventures we've been involved in." He said "our intent is to continue operating the TV business as long as it continues to be successful." ------ PBS presentations at critics tour in Pasadena far out-glitzed those of 6 commercial networks. Except for ABC (which used 2 days), networks cut back to one day and honored critics' request for no gifts and no-frills sessions. Meals presented by commercial networks all were buffet type and companies provided no entertainment. By contrast, PBS offered 5 sit-down meals and 2 nights of big-name live entertainment and gave critics expensive- looking carry-on bag. PBS Pres. Ervin Duggan said extra activities were paid for by sponsoring stations, which in turn used funding from corporate sponsors. ------ NABET-CWA agreed on tentative 3-year contract with NBC, union said. Network and union failed to agree during limited-issue talks in Oct., but NABET said bargaining resumed last week. Contract calls for 3% wage increase each year, as well as new Martin Luther King holiday and other changes. Network would receive more flexibility in using daily hires as well as for meal periods, traffic operations, other issues. Negotiating committee will recommend unanimous approval by members, Network Coordinator John Krieger said. ------ New-technology highlights of NAB convention April 17-22 in Las Vegas will include: (1) John Gage, chief researcher for Sun Microsystems, speaking at NAB Technology Lunch April 21. (2) One of 5 planned "Super Sessions," this one April 20, dealing with e- commerce. Speakers will include Steve Perlman, WebTV pres.; Michael Kertzman, CEO, Network Computer; Julius Adams, IBM consultant, others -- www.nab.org/conventions. ------ FCC named consultant Kathleen Wallman to chair new Public Safety National Coordination Committee (PSNCC), which will advise agency on use of 700 MHz spectrum reallocated to public safety as part of DTV transition. Wallman is ex-Common Carrier Bureau chief and White House attorney. ------ Cable networks "will not go off the air silently" if govt. mandates DTV must-carry, A&E CEO Nicholas Davatzes told Washington Cable Club Jan. 27: "We will go out with our swords out and our shields up." Davatzes said carriage issues are "critical" to cable networks this year, and DTV must-carry is "most daunting challenge we face." Impact would be greater than for analog must- carry, he said, since vast majority of broadcast stations already were carried before analog must-carry, while DTV must-carry would mean 100% increase in stations using cable channels. Despite cable system upgrade plans, Davatzes said, "we cannot find enough room for 100% of broadcast signals. Something will have to go." Result, he said, would be "redundant broadcast channels replacing original cable programming" and "foreclosing opportunities for new cable networks." ------ United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) reached agreement with Microsoft on joint projects to deliver Internet, Internet Protocol telephony and interactive services such as digital video to broadband customers in Europe. Letter of intent designates Microsoft as preferred provider to broadband Internet/data company owned by UPC. Microsoft also will buy $300 million in shares of United Pan-Europe Communications N.V., latter said. Investment is latest by Microsoft in European cable operations (CD Jan 26 p11). ------ In approving AT&T-TCI franchise transfer Jan. 26, L.A. City Council showed strong support for cable open access policy, voting 10-0 in favor of developing open access plan that would apply to all of city's cable operators. In L.A., measures need 11 votes to pass on first hearing, but ordinance is expected to win easily Feb. 2. Meanwhile, committee of Denver City Council approved AT&T-TCI transfer ordinance Jan. 27 that didn't include Internet service provider (ISP) open access provision. Bill will go to full Council for possible vote today (Feb. 1). However, Council also is likely to receive alternative bill, introduced by Councilwoman Deborah Ortega, that will include open access. ------ America's Voice has carriage in nation's capital, with TCI's District Cablevision placing it on Ch. 23, part of basic tier, it said. Network features call-in shows focusing on politics and public policy, with studios on Capitol Hill. ------ Field testing alone isn't sufficient for new in-band-on- channel (IBOC) digital audio radio service (DARS) proposed by USA Digital Radio, CEMA said in FCC filing. Lucent had proposed that company-conducted field tests be used to determine feasibility, quality and interference characteristics of competing DARS systems, but CEMA said "use of field testing alone, without the benefit of laboratory tests, might serve to obfuscate the results." Benefits of lab tests, CEMA said, include that they: (1)Remove variables, providing more definitive, repeatable and useful comparison of competing systems. (2) Can do better job of determining co-channel, adjacent channel and analog-digital interference. (3) Are better for determining DARS coverage areas and performance under impaired conditions. CEMA said field tests can be useful for corroborating lab tests and discovering RF conditions not encountered in lab, but "they are inadequate for fully evaluating an IBOC DARS system's baseline performance." CEMA supported proposals that FCC should set DARS standard, and said "ideally" system should provide "better than CD quality" performance and "high ancillary data capacity." NAB agreed that FCC should adopt single standard for AM and FM IBOC systems, in part because of potential interference if different technical systems operate simultaneously. "The time for introducing IBOC is drawing very near," NAB said, because 2 satellite DARS operators plan to begin service in 2000. ------ Microsoft said it will invest $500 million in U.K. TV company NTL and plans 2-for-1 stock split in March. NTL, which provides DTV transmission service in U.K., is 3rd largest operator there, is rolling out digital cable service this year and has plans for high-speed Internet service using 3Com modems. Microsoft invested $1 billion in Comcast in June 1997. ------ Jupiter Communications is sponsoring N.Y.C. conference March 1-3 outlining Internet strategies for mainstream media companies. Speakers include USA Networks Chmn. Barry Diller, AtHome Chmn. Tom Jermoluk, USA Bcstg. Pres. Steve Heyer -- 1-800-611-0390. ------ Paxson will launch 24-hour shopping channel, as well as additional entertainment channels, as part of its DTV multiplex, Chmn. Lowell (Bud) Paxson said. Pax Net recently hired Gregory Lerman, former exec. vp-gen. mgr. of Valuevision, to head its new electronic commerce division. Paxson said its Pax TV network "will always be our primary network," but DTV will allow launch of additional channels on its 90 TV stations. Paxson CEO Jeff Sagansky said e-commerce initiative "won't supplant existing efforts of the company's proprietary television network," which also could become involved in infomercial or other direct response TV. Multiplex services are likely to launch in late 1999 or 2000, Paxson said, with Lerman focusing on having infrastructure to support direct response TV in place in time for debut. ------ Turner Bcstg. chose General Instrument (GI) DigiCipher II to convert Turner Classic Movies (TCM) library to digital from analog, GI said. Hardware will be delivered at month's end, GI said. TCM said it's converting library for more efficient satellite transmission. ------ Federal jury awarded Hartford TV anchor Janet Peckinpaugh $8.3 million, saying she was victim of sex bias when she was demoted from top anchor job at WFSB (Ch. 3, CBS). She later became early morning anchor at competing station. Hartford jury rejected Peckinpaugh's claim of age discrimination, but supported charges of sex discrimination, breach of contract, false statements. In addition to claiming she had been demoted because she had reached her 40s, Peckinpaugh said she had been sexually harassed by male co-anchor. Award includes $4.3 million lost earnings and $4 million punitive damages. ------ Minn. Gov. Jesse Ventura (Reform) proposed eliminating state funding for public broadcasting in his first budget, AP reported. Ventura's plan would end funding for public radio in 3 years, for public TV in 4. Ventura told AP that public radio has "state-of- the-art equipment," while commercial stations' equipment sometimes is held together with tape. ------ Revived Odyssey Channel plans to "redefine what family television stands for," said new CEO Margaret Loesch, ex-Fox and ABC. Answering questions of TV critics in Pasadena, she said Odyssey will be nothing like Fox Family Channel: "There is a consistent message we're hearing back, and that is that the public is looking for quality and compelling family entertainment." About 30 hours per week of new Odyssey programming will be "faith- specific," Loesch said, reflecting partial ownership by National Interfaith Cable Coalition, with Liberty Media also partner. She conceded that loss of carriage by Time Warner systems was problem: "We are endeavoring every day... to try to get them to reconsider." Also, she said, negotiations with DirecTV to add Odyssey are "just beginning and we're very excited about the opportunities." ------ Time Warner Vice Chmn. Ted Turner will keynote Cable Ad Bureau (CAB) conference March 4 at N.Y. Marriott Marquis. Others include George Bodenheimer of ESPN, Johnathan Rodgers of Discovery Networks and Robert Johnson of Black Entertainment TV -- 212-508- 1214.