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 Thu, Mar 12 1992 Date: Thu, 12 Mar 92 05:46:03 EST Message-ID: 03-12 0000 DECISIONLINE: Advertising USA TODAY Update March 12, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network ECONOMY HELPS NETWORK: The economic downturn may be good news for networks. Last month, for the first time in 15 years, network TV's share of viewers rose, from 62% in February 1991 to 63%, while cable's fell from 19% to 16%. Networks like to think this is because of quality programming. But CBS ratings chief David Poltrack admits, "The recession keeps people indoors and that could be a factor." CABLE MAY SEE DECLINE: Free network TV will probably continue to see an increase in viewership during the recession. But cable, already a target of complaints over costs, may be hurt, says Gerald Celente of the Socio-Economic Research Institute in Rhinebeck, N.Y. If the recession continues, "People will not be able to afford it." `DESIGNING WOMEN' TO BE ALTERED: Although "Roseanne," "Cheers and "Designing Women" - among TV's most popular programs - are likely to be renewed next season, the shows have yet to sign contracts. The networks have until mid-May to set fall lineups. Indication is that some of the shows could see changes. The biggest change may be with "Designing Women." Julia Duffy may not return next season. (For more, see special Renewal package below.) FOX TO MAKE WEDNESDAY PUSH: Fox wants to to use "Beverly Hills, 90210" spinoff "Melrose Place" as a vehicle to expand to Wednesday nights by summer. The new show begins production in April, starring Grant Show of "Ryan's Hope" as a young construction worker. He'll be introduced on the last two episodes of "90210." The network hopes to go to seven nights of programming by year's end. CULKIN CHANGES BRANDS: Macaulay Culkin has changed brands. In the hit movie "Home Alone" he drank Pepsi-Cola. For the sequel, however, he'll be drinking - and pitching - rival Coca-Cola's Sprite. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Culkin, 11, is close to signing a deal with Coke worth as much as $2 million to make two ads for Sprite that would also pitch "Home Alone 2." SHERATON LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN: ITT Sheraton is unleashing a $15 million ad campaign to promote is hotels to travelers. "We have one message: A unified standard of service to live up to our international customers' standards," says ITT Sheraton Chairman John Kapioltas. CLANCY, PAGE TO HEAD `TODAY': Mike Clancy and David Page have been put in charged of "Saturday Today" and "Sunday Today." NBC's "Sunday Today" is already on the air. "Saturday" will follow in the summer. NBC promises the weekend "Today's" will be in keeping with the weekday version's tradition. LAWYER AD RULES TO BE ENFORCED: Tougher enforcement of rules governing advertising by lawyers has been ordered by the Indiana Supreme Court. The order stems from complaints about ads soliciting business from the relatives of those killed in the Feb. 6 crash of a state Air National Guard C-130 transport. MAG AD REVENUE DOWN SLIGHTLY: Magazine advertising revenue for January 1992 was $367.9 million. That is a decrease of 2.6% compared with January 1991, MEDIAWEEK reports. Advertising pages for January 1992 were 9,425.5, a decrease of 3.6% from January of 1991. PENNSYLVANIA TAX CHALLENGED: Pennsylvania's 6% tax on magazine subscriptions and newstand sales is being challenged, Advertising Age reports. A suit has been filed in Commonwealth Court by the Magazine Publishers of America and 13 magazine publishers. It says the sales tax is unconstitutional and discriminatory because newspapers are exempt. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON RENEWAL: `CHEERS,' `ROSEANNE' NOT SIGNED: "Cheers" and "Roseanne" have yet to sign contracts for the Fall season because of disputes over how much the networks will pay for the shows. Over the past several years, producers for "Cheers," "The Cosby Show" and "The Golden Girls" talked about not returning to their networks if they didn't get hefty fee hikes. All ended up returning. `GOLDEN GIRLS' ON WAY OUT: Producers Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas are trying to sell NBC on a new version of "The Golden Girls," called "Golden Palace," since Beatrice Arthur is leaving. "The new format involves young people purposely to lower our demographics," Thomas says. But, he says, "If they are prepared to let it go, I'm prepared to take it elsewhere." FOX RENEWS SIX SHOWS: Fox has renewed the most series for fall. They include "The Simpsons," "Herman's Head," "In Living Color," "Married ... With Children," "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Parker Lewis Can't Lose." NBC has canceled "Night Court." The network has renewed "Law & Order," "Seinfeld," "Wings" and "Blossom." ABC RENEWS `FULL HOUSE': CBS has renewed "Northern Exposure" for two years and picked up "In the Heat of the Night" from NBC. ABC, which is losing "Growing Pains" and probably "Who's the Boss?" at season's end, has renewed "Perfect Strangers," "Full House" and "Family Matters." (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