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 Mon, May 4 1992 Date: Mon, 4 May 92 05:17:38 EDT Message-ID: 05-04 0000 DECISIONLINE: Advertising USA TODAY Update May 4, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network 54 MILLION WATCH COSBY'S FINALE: Thursday's final episode of "The Cosby Show" drew an estimated 54 million viewers for NBC, registering a 28 rating:45% share of the national audience and easily beating the competition. NBC said the episode was its highest-rated series finale ever, beating the "Dean Martin Show" finale in 1974, which got a 24.7:43. SCI-FI CHANNEL SET FOR LAUNCH: After two years of delays, the Sci-Fi Channel is ready to live long and prosper this fall. Sci-Fi promises to be one of the stars of this week's National Cable Television Association Convention which begins Monday. "It is an `A' concept," says David Kenin, programming chief for the USA Network, which purchased the fledgling channel last month. (For more, see special Sci-Fi package below.) WESTHEIMER TO HOST SHOW: Dr. Ruth Westheimer will have her own show this fall, to air on cable's Nostalgia channel. "Dr. Ruth's Never Too Late" features Westheimer chatting with celebrities about issues that appeal to "active adults." Westheimer says the show will center on "those things of concern to all of us today." And "I'll talk about sex! Who wouldn't want me to talk about issues of sexuality?" SHEPHERD SEES `STORMY' FUTURE: Cybill Shepherd hopes "Stormy Weathers," to air on ABC Monday at 9 p.m. EDT:PDT, will be that start of something big. Shepherd hopes ABC will use her role as a private investigator in more movies in the future. Ratings, of course, may have some say. "You always have to see how the numbers are in TV," she says, "but we're already working on the next script." PAPERS' FUTURE TO BE DISCUSSED: The future of newspapers will be discussed at the American Newspaper Publishers Association meeting in New York Monday. The industry is making big changes to counter declining readership and competition from other news sources. Meanwhile, newspaper profits, hard-hit by the recession and a slump in advertising, are showing signs of recovery. INCOME UP FOR GREY: Grey Advertising Inc. Friday reported first quarter gross billings of $837 million compared with $826 million in 1991. Operating net income rose to $3 million, compared to $2.7 million in 1991. TABLOIDS GET DOWN AND DIRTY: The signs of May sweeps are all around the TV dial. On tabloid TV shows this week, get ready for Elvis vs. Hollywood hookers. During May sweeps, advertising rates are set based upon a show's viewership. Three shows on this week's "Hard Copy" are devoted to re-creating Elvis Presley's life. "A Current Affair" counters with a two-part series on Hollywood prostitutes. TIME TO TRY TO BOOST IMAGE: Time will spend up to $10 million on a consumer TV and print campaign designed to boasts the newsmagazine's image, ADWEEK reports. Fallon McElligott of Minneapolis, which was named Time's ad agency of record last year, is working on the campaign. AMERICAN EXPRESS BEGINS PUSH: American Express has broken a cable TV campaign for its new "For Two" travelers cheques, which allow traveling companions to sign for the same set of travelers cheques. Ogilvy & Mather of New York created the spots for the campaign, which runs through November. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON SCI-FI: FEES TO BE NEGOTIATED THIS WEEK: USA Network has high expectations for its new Sci-Fi channel. Cable system operators, who will negotiate fees with USA at the National Cable Television Association Convention this week, will also come with expectations for quality programming. To satisfy those constituents, USA's programming team has been combing the vaults of Hollywood for sci-fi series and movies. `AMAZING STORIES' AMONG SERIES: The Sci-Fi Channel has acquired rights to Rod Serling's "Night Gallery," Steven Spielberg's "Amazing Stories," "The Incredible Hulk" and "Battlestar Galactica." USA Programming Chief David Kenin promises an original series offering science fiction news, new series and made-for-TV movies. Some movies may be revivals of series. "We have an interest in that," says Kenin. SCI-FI MAY HAVE COMPETITION: Mitchell Rubenstein was the original founder of Sci-Fi, but encountered financial roadblocks in launching the channel. But already Sci-Fi may be facing competition from another entrepreneur. Michael Kelley is prepping the Space, Fantasy & Adventure Network. "We've located a facility and now we are going out to get the money," says Kelley. OTHER NETWORKS LOOKING FOR ROOM: Even with the potential for competition, Sci-Fi will air come fall. Ted Turner's Cartoon Network is also set for a fall launch. Other new entries looking for channel space include The Crime Channel, ZTV Music Network and FYI: The Consumer Channel. (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