BIGGEST STATION GROUPS SAY ONLY CBS STILL CARES ABOUT AFFILIATES
LAS VEGAS -- CBS TV affiliates meeting here under aegis of network weren’t exactly all smiles Thurs. morning, but executives of major station groups also affiliated with other networks we talked with agreed CBS was only network that still cared about its station partners. “You only have to look at the fact that this is the only gathering of affiliates still in existence,” broadcaster told us. Affiliates Chmn. Ray Deaver of Gray Communications said “these meetings are really important,” criticizing ABC, NBC and Fox for not holding affiliate conferences for 2nd year.
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CBS Pres. Leslie Moonves said “we are firmly committed to the value and future of free over-the-air television. This is a statement of [Viacom-CBS] corporate policy… This isn’t just talk… We're certainly not going to do anything to undermine the success of our [owned] stations and yours.” CBS faces “the same pressures in the marketplace” as its affiliates, he said. Moonves said, for example, CBS’s upcoming fall schedule was designed to give strong lead-in to local stations’ late news.
Viacom Pres. Mel Karmazin was scheduled to speak to affiliates following closed session of stations without network executives. Affiliates are balking at expectation CBS will ask them to help pay for rights in new 13-year network contract for NCAA basketball championships. Request hasn’t been formally presented to affiliates, CBS Affiliate Relations Pres. Peter Schruth told us, nor has it been decided how much affiliates will be asked to pay.
Another possibly divisive issue is desire of some affiliates that CBS give 7-9 a.m. time period back to stations and cancel its morning news -- which has been unsuccessful in numerous makeovers in attempt to compete with NBC’s Today and ABC’s Good Morning America. “CBS morning has been a failure for 40 years,” head of large station group told us. “Giving the 2 hours to affiliates for local programming is the right thing to do.” Moonves responded with simple “no” when we asked if that was likely to happen.
Carol Melton, Viacom Washington senior vp, used specially prepared videotapes by FCC Chmn. Powell and House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) in presenting update on transition to DTV. “Things are heating up, but there’s a long way to go,” Powell said. Tauzin called transition to digital “the amazing race… we expect to complete on time.” In sessions open to reporters, Melton was only CBS executive to bring up 14-month-old petition at FCC by Network Alliance of Affiliated Stations (NASA) asking Commission (which is split 2-2 on issue) to investigate network practices, some of which NASA charges are illegal. Issue caused 3 networks to withdraw from NAB, leaving only ABC as member. She said such attacks by “fellow broadcasters” helped competitors. “It will be in all our interests to turn down the volume,” she said.