Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.ads From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: ads Tue, Feb 25 1992 Date: Tue, 25 Feb 92 06:35:01 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: Advertising USA TODAY Update Feb. 25, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network `FISH POLICE' DEBUTS FRIDAY: Hanna-Barbera's "Fish Police" makes its debut on CBS Friday night. The show will be the company's first prime-time animated series since 1972's "Wait 'Til Your Father Gets Home." "Fish" is the brainchild of Hanna-Barbera president David Kirshner, 36, who's responsible for bringing the company into the '90s. One of his first efforts was last year's "The Dreamer of Oz" TV movie. (For more, see special Fish package below.) ABC PROMOTES NEWSMAGAZINES: ABC's ad sales department has mailed a glossy brochure with a cover that reads: "120 Minutes are more efficient than `60 Minutes.' " Inside are photos of Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters of "20:20" and Sam Donaldson and Diane Sawyer of "PrimeTime Live." The brochure features demographic information and argues that ABC's two shows offer a better ad buy than "60 Minutes." BROCHURE APPEALS TO ADVERTISERS: Although ABC's ad brochure calls "60 Minutes" "highly respected," it tells perspective advertisers that the combination of "20:20" and "PrimeTime Live" provides advertisers with the most efficient way to reach their audiences. It also points out the price difference. An ad package on ABC's two series costs only $2,400 more than a package on CBS' one. WARNER SIGNS DEAL WITH NBC: NBC may be losing "The Cosby Show" next season, but it will still have Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who has played Bill Cosby's TV son Theo Huxtable for the past eight seasons. Warner has signed on for 13 episodes of a fall series in which he plays a graduate student who works at a community center. Bill Cosby will be the show's executive producer, but will serve only as an adviser. LIZ BOOSTS RATINGS: Liz Taylor's guest spot on the "Tonight Show" Friday pulled in big numbers for the NBC late-night talk show. Overnights for NBC showed an 8.3 rating for Friday night's show. That's 41% higher than the "Tonight Show" average of a 5.2 rating (a rating point equals 921,000 TV households). It was the first time Taylor had ever appeared on Johnny Carson's show. Carson retires in May. TIME COVERS ITSELF: TIME's March 2 issue devotes three pages to the overthrow of Nicholas J. Nicholas Jr., co-chief executive of Time Warner and the man who was to become sole CEO in two years. Nicholas lost a battle with co-CEO and Chairman Steven J. Ross, who convinced Time Warner's board to push Nicholas out in favor of chief operating officer Gerald M. Levin, who will likely be sole CEO in 1994. TIE-INS TRANSLATE INTO FREE ADS: Coast Federal Bank has an agreement with Northwest Airlines to reward new account holders with discount tickets for trips before May 22. In exchange for the inexpensive tickets, the airline gets free local advertising. This is particularly attractive in markets new to the airline, where building name recognition is important. The airline has set up similar arrangements with other banks. WOMEN'S COVERAGE EDGES UP: According to Women in Communications, women, which make up 52% of the population, get relatively little coverage in news magazines, but more than before. A study of August issues found that Newsweek's coverage dropped from 17% in 1989 to 13% in 1990 before increasing slightly to 18% last year. For U.S. News & World Report, coverage increased from 7% in 1989 to 10% last year. CABLE TV HITS REVENUE RECORD: Paul Kagan Associates reports that Cable TV companies' revenues are increasing as more and more viewers tune in. The cable industry pulled in an estimated $20 billion last year, which was an industry record. The total monthly revenue per subscriber jumped from $14.17 in 1981 to $31.67 last year. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON FISH: NEW SERIES FEATURES JOHN RITTER: Hanna-Barbera's new animated prime-time series, "Fish Police," features John Ritter as the voice of an underwater cop in a parody of 1940s detective movies. The series is based on a British comic book. In addition to Ritter, the series offers an impressive collection of celebrity voices, including Jonathan Winters, JoBeth Williams and Edward Asner. CREATOR HAS HISTORY OF SUCCESS: Hanna-Barbera president David Kirshner, who dreamed up "Fish Police," rose to fame as the creator of Fievel, the mouse from "An American Tail," and Chucky, the mean doll who comes to life in "Child's Play." He says"The idea of police underwater was just so absurd. If you think about it for two minutes, you can think of so many funny things for police to do underwater." `FISH' IS SECOND ANIMATED SERIES: "Fish" will be the second animated prime-time series to air this season: ABC's "Capitol Critters" premiered in January to poor reviews and ratings. Hanna-Barbera animates that series, but creative direction comes from Steven Bochco Productions. Kirshner thinks the audiences would be larger for "Critters" if the show weren't so focused on politics. OTHER SHOWS ARE ON TAP: In addition to "Fish Police" this season on CBS, Hanna-Barbera will produce an animated version of "The Addams Family" for ABC; two animated "Flintstones" TV movies for ABC next season; and a live-action version of "Jonny Quest" for the USA Network. The company is also working on a live-action "Flintstones" theatrical film. (End of package.) Advertising Editor: Mickey McLean. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. 08:0002250000D0225 BANK- R L GM-announces-loss,-closings........... A D0225 This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM