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 Wed, Mar 25 1992 Date: Wed, 25 Mar 92 05:43:34 EST Message-ID: 03-25 0000 DECISIONLINE: Advertising USA TODAY Update March 25, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network CBS SIGNS `GOLDEN PALACE': CBS has picked up "Golden Palace," a new version of "The Golden Girls," but without Bea Arthur. NBC had rejected the show. To nab "Golden Palace," CBS gave a sweet deal to producers Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas. The network agreed not to air the show on Saturday, so as not to damage Witt-Thomas' remaining two NBC Saturday series, "Empty Nest" and "Nurses." `60 MINUTES' WINS IN RATINGS: Although ABC's "Roseanne" actually attracted more viewers, CBS' "60 Minutes" is the top program for the 16th time out of 27 weeks this season in the Nielson ratings. "60 Minutes" attracted more households, which is what the ratings are based on. In actual viewers, however, "Roseanne" outdistanced "60 Minutes" by some 700,000 viewers, 33.8 million vs. 33.1 million. (For more, see special Ratings package below.) NEW JERSEY LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN: New Jersey is trying to boost tourism with a new campaign with the theme "New Jersey, You Should See Us Now." Officials say tourism in the state has been declining since 1988. The ad campaign is designed to reverse the perception that New Jersey is polluted and overcrowded. SYNDICATED SHOWS IN DISPUTE: "American Gladiaters " and "Knights and Warriors" may duke it out in court. Samuel Goldwyn Co. - distributor of "Gladiators" - is suing Welk Entertainment, which produces "Knights." Goldwyn accuses Welk of stealing the "Gladiators" concept. Both shows pit cast members against average guys in athletic events. "Knights," will have a more medieval flavor. It is due out in the fall. FAWCETT TO STAR IN TV MOVIE: Farrah Fawcett will star in the ABC TV movie "Criminal Behavior." It is scheduled to air May 10. The film is an adaptation of a Ross MacDonald novel, "The Ferguson Affair," about a lawyer (Fawcett) on a case who falls in love with a detective (A Martinez). "It's a very romantic piece," says executive producer Preston Fisher. HOME TEST ADS DRAW FIRE: Health officials are objecting to new advertisements for an at-home HIV test kit. Health Test's original offer - allowing people to take their own finger-prick blood samples and mail them in - is "a clear violation of state law," says California Department of Health Services' Scott Lewis. Health Test says it will revise its plans. It will send employees to homes to get the samples. VEGAS WORLD ADS BEING PROBED: Bob Stupak, owner of Vegas World, has agreed to talk to Missouri officials about "free vacation" advertisements luring visitors to his hotel-casino in Las Vegas. Stupak was fined $125,000 in 1991 for the same issue. The hearing is Thursday in Kansas City. ADS TO INCLUDE FLOPPY DISK: Pella windows and doors' advertisements in the April issue of Progressive Architecture will come with floppy disks. Although floppy disks have been used in computer industry marketing, this marks the first time that a disk has been used to advertise products in a construction industry magazine, Pellas says. GRAFX Group, an interactive marketing company helped develop the Pella. MISSOURI GROUP LOSES CASE: Signs can be erected along roads to advise motorists where to find food, fuel and lodging, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. The Missouri Outdoor Advertising Association had argued that the signs violated the state's authority to use fuel tax money to build roads. Court said signs are legal part of state's business in building and maintaining highway system. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON RATINGS: CBS WINS WEEK: Despite a strong showing by "Roseanne" and the rest of ABC's Tuesday lineup, the network failed to gain its second straight victory of the season. The honor went to CBS, which beat out ABC by .1 of a ratings point. CBS had the highest-rated movie of the week, in Sunday's "Double Edge," starring soap queen Susan Lucci. It ranked No. 11. `EXPOSURE,' `SEINFELD' DO WELL: CBS' "Northern Exposure" finished at No. 7, pulling its highest rating of the season with a 18.0, 1.6 higher than last week. NBC continued to get good numbers from Wednesday comedy "Seinfeld." A repeat episode finished No. 21 - the comedy's best ranking ever. FOX MOVIE FINISHES 61ST: Fox was pumped up by "Married ... With Children" at No. 20. "Doing Time on Maple Drive," while only No. 61, was Fox's highest-rated movie ever. But this week, NBC's "Cosby Show" beat "The Simpsons." ABC won the news race for the 63rd week. NBC edged CBS for second, partly because of CBS pre-emptions for NCAA basketball coverage. (End of package) Advertising Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. 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