Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.ads,americast.usa-today.ads From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: ads Thu, Sep 10 1992 Date: Thu, 10 Sep 92 05:44:18 EDT Message-ID: 09-10 0000 DECISIONLINE: Advertising USA TODAY Update Sept. 10, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network `MURPHY BROWN' WINS WEEK: The week after it clinched an Emmy for best comedy series, "Murphy Brown" took the No. 1 spot in the ratings, helping CBS win the week. Four of the top five shows were CBS', including "48 Hours," "Northern Exposure," and "Designing Women." Thursday's debut of "Middle Ages" tied with Fox's "Melrose Place" at No. 39. NBC COMES IN SECOND: NBC, second in the ratings overall for the week, won Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights. "Unsolved Mysteries" placed No. 6, its best performance since May 8. ABC finished third but placed four shows in the top 10: "Roseanne," tied for No. 2; "Coach," tied for No. 7; and "Step by Step," No. 9. The premiere of the fall series "Going to Extremes" tied at No. 7. QUAYLE KNOCKS `BROWN': After interviewing on Los Angeles' KTLA-TV Tuesday, Vice President Dan Quayle took time out to make some station plugs, in which he slammed "Murphy Brown." An anchor asks Quayle: "So What's your favorite TV program?" Quayle says: " `Murphy Brown' - NOT!" KTLA says it's prepared to air an ad from Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton to meet equal-time regulations. JACKSON TO SING AT SUPER BOWL: Though he plays for Pepsi off the field, Michael Jackson's halftime appearance at the Super Bowl in January won't affect Coke or Pepsi ad plans, the companies say. Both soft drink makers have been past Super Bowl sponsors. Pepsi is sponsoring Jackson's tour and a Pepsi ad starring the singer is running overseas. The singer hasn't been in a U.S. soft drink ad since 1988. FOX, CABLE VIE FOR KIDS' MARKET: NBC has quit the children's TV business, but the cartoon void will be filled this fall on Fox and cable. On Fox, "Batman: The Animated Series" looks to be one of the hotest new kids' shows. Airing weekdays at 4:30 p.m. ET:PT, Fox is hoping to lure young adults as well as children. Ted Turner's Cartoon Network begins Oct. 1. Advertisers spend $300 million on kids' shows each year. CHICAGO TRIBUNE RAISES PRICES: The Chicago Tribune will raise newsstand and home-delivery prices Sept. 28. The newsstand price will jump from 35 cents to 50 cents. Five- or six-day home delivery goes from 35 cents to 40 cents a copy, and seven-day subscriptions from $3.50 a week to $3.80 a week. The newsstand price for the Sunday Tribune will stay at $1.50. Industrywide, 15% of newspapers charge 50 cents. GM TO HEAVILY PROMOTE CARD: General Motors plans a $70 million ad blitz for its new credit card. "You won't be able to turn around" without seeing an ad for the GM Card, says Phil Guarascio, general manager of marketing and advertising for GM's North American operations. "There isn't going to be anybody who doesn't know about it." The TV ads were created by McCann-Erickson. NBC BANKING ON NOTRE DAME: NBC enters its second season of Notre Dame football hoping for better results. A favorable factor: An improved schedule featuring Saturday's 1:30 p.m. ET blockbuster opener against No. 6 Michigan. Among other opponents: Stanford, BYU and Penn State. A high rating for the Michigan game would help erase the stigma of last year's disappointing 4.8 rating, 40% below ABC's college games. RESTRAINING ORDER IS DROPPED: A judge's decision Wednesday to drop Sportchannel America's temporary restraining order brings the NHL's deal with ESPN closer to fruition. ESPN has agreed to pay the NHL $18.1 million in 1992-93 for 25 regular-season telecasts and up to 37 playoff games. ESPN has an option for four more years at about $15 million a year. CHANNEL ONE WINS RULING: A California judge Wednesday refused to block a contract between San Diego's Overfelt High School and the controversial news show Channel One. But he ordered school officials to set up "quiet zones" for students who don't want to watch. The suit claimed the Channel One 12-minute program's two minutes of commercials violate students' right to a free education. MORE LEGAL PROBLEMS MAY FOLLOW: Channel One says a ruling Wednesday by California Judge Jeremy Fogel means the program is "up and running in California," but state school superintendent Bill Honig cautions "this is not an outright win." The judge refused to block a contract between Channel One and one high school, but did not totally dismiss the case, leaving the door open to consider other issues in the suit. PC WORLD, LOTUS MAGAZINE MERGE: International Data Group Wednesday said it will merge PC World with Lotus Magazine starting in December to form the second-largest personal computer monthly. The enlarged PC World will guarantee advertisers a circulation base of 901,000. International Data Group bought Lotus Magazine from Lotus Development Corp. last year for an undisclosed amount. 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