Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.ads From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: ads Thu, May 28 1992 Date: Thu, 28 May 92 05:21:26 EDT Message-ID: 05-28 0000 DECISIONLINE: Advertising USA TODAY Update May 28, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network NBC WINS WEEKLY RATINGS: "Murphy Brown" delivered CBS a ratings win last Monday, but NBC won the weekly race. Thirty-four million viewers tuned in to see Murphy Jr. born - baby boy Brown hasn't been named yet - making it the top-rated show of the week. But NBC snapped up its eighth straight May sweeps win with the help of "L.A. Law's" season ender Thursday, ranking No. 5. (For more, see special Ratings package below.) `LAW' LOOKING FOR PRODUCER: Twentieth Television, which produces NBC's "L.A. Law," is looking for a second executive producer to join Rick Kelley at the reins next season. Creator Steven Bochco, who rejoined the show midseason this year when "Law" started slipping, is leaving again to spend time working on "Civil Wars." Kelley has said the "Law" cast will be cut, but no word yet on who'll get the ax. AGENCY WANTS PEACEFUL AIRWAVES: Canada's Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission Wednesday issued a report that suggests a link between TV violence and violence in society. It urged broadcasters to avoid violent programs - many of which come from the USA. Said commission chairman Keith Spicer: "We have no wish to become censors. What we're hoping for is a long-term peaceful backlash." NORTHWEST LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN: Northwest Airlines has poured a lot of effort into its "Grown-ups Fly Free" campaign, which promotes family flying. Northwest's marketing chief, Christopher Clouser, worked through the Memorial Day weekend with J. Walter Thompson ad-agency staffers in New York. Together, they produced about 30 TV and radio spots and newspaper ads. The first ads for the program ran Tuesday. AIRLINE AD SPENDING SOARS: Airlines spent $8.7 million on magazine advertising last month - up from $7.3 million in March and $5.9 million in April 1991, says Leading National Advertisers. When American Airlines announced its new fares last month, it hyped them with a $20 million, 10-day blitz - its biggest ever. NORTH HILLS PAPER NAMES EXECS.: Gannett Co. has announced executive appointments for the North Hills (Pa.) News Record, a suburban Pittsburgh newspaper that has been converted from a twice weekly to a daily publication. Kathy M. Kozdemba has been named the CEO. Scott M. Brown is the publisher. Fred J. Parry is the advertising director. The News Record publishes Monday through Saturday. NBA RATINGS ARE DOWN: Tuesday's Portland-Utah game on NBC drew an 8.5 national rating based on overnight ratings, down from 10.1 for a Portland-Los Angeles Lakers game last year. Compared to last year, the numbers were also down in overnight ratings for all three of last week's NBA games on NBC. `DENNIS MILLER' IS RENEWED: Tribune Entertainment Co. has given "The Dennis Miller Show" a 21-week renewal. The show, however, appears to be secure for even longer than that. Broadcasting magazine reports that syndication contracts have given the hour late-night talk show security well into next season. FAMILY CHANNEL PLANS NEW SERIES: The Family Channel has unveiled three new half-hour series for 1993. "The Man From Snowy River" is an action-adventure series. "221B Baker Steet" is a mystery series. "M'Lord" stars Tim Reid in a sitcom. Also in the works are four made-for-television movies. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON RATINGS: MOVIE TIES WITH `60 MINUTES': NBC won the ratings race this week. Monday's airing of the feature movie "Bird on a Wire," starring Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn, tied for No. 7 with CBS' "60 Minutes." Even a ratings disaster like Sunday's special "Disaster Files: Earth, Wind, Fire," which came in at No. 82 out of 83 shows, couldn't prevent NBC's win. CBS FINISHES IN SECOND: CBS was in second place, putting four shows in the top 10. A special post-"Murphy Brown" airing of "Evening Shade" gave the series its highest rating ever, at No. 2 for the week. "Northern Exposure's" season ender ranked No. 3. CBS' musical special "Country Music Hall of Fame," with Clint Black and a solo Wynonna Judd tied with ABC's "Step By Step" at No. 39. `OPRAH' COMES IN AT NO. 14: ABC's two specials, "Oprah: Behind the Scenes" at No. 14 and "American Comedy Awards" at No. 23 failed to raise ABC's ratings. But "Roseanne" remained in the top 5 at No. 4. In the evening news race, it was ABC, then CBS and NBC. FOX'S `PAYBACK' IS 75TH: Fox's encore presentation of "Payback," a gotcha for practical jokers, came in at No. 75. "Married ... With Children" was No. 51 and Fox's Monday Night at the Movies presentation of "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" tied with ABC's "Young Riders" at No. 65. (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