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As the only lucky network that didn't show a movie on Sunday night, Fox did the best in adults 18-49 and third-best in households. NBC, on the other hand, which devoted three hours to the movie "Godzilla," did the worst overall for the evening, coming in fourth in households and third in adults 18-49. Both CBS and ABC, which each showed a two-hour movie, had significantly higher ratings whenever a movie wasn't on. CBS won households for the night, edging out ABC by one share point. The preliminary Nielsen household rating and share and adult 18-49 rating for Sunday night were: CBS 8.9/15 and 2.9, ABC 8.4/14 and 3.7, Fox 6.1/10 and 5.7, and NBC 5.2/9 and 3.3. On Friday, NBC eked out a win in both households and adults 18-49, as all four networks suffered from particularly low ratings for the evening. NBC won with new episodes of "Providence" and "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," although ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and "Barbara Walters Special" won in households from 9 to 11 p.m. Fox trailed in fourth place in households with a repeat episode of "Dark Angel" at 8 p.m. and a new episode of "The Lone Gunmen" at 9 p.m., while CBS finished last among adults 18-49 with its "Diagnosis Murder," "The Fugitive," and "Nash Bridges" lineup. The preliminary Nielsen household rating and share and adult 18-49 rating for Friday night were: NBC 8.2/15 and 3.6, ABC 8.1/15 and 3.0, CBS 5.7/10 and 2.1, and Fox 3.6/7 and 2.7.
Hot gossip: 'Millionaire' vs. 'Weakest Link'?
In what promises to be the biggest primetime face-off since "Survivor" took on "Friends," NBC is reportedly considering matching up "Weakest Link," its new elimination-style quiz show, against ABC’s "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." "Link," hosted by black-robed she-demon Anne Robinson, pulled big Nielsens on three consecutive nights last week after debuting Monday. "Millionaire," meanwhile, is not the unstoppable 800-lb. gorilla it once was, but it continues to be a formidable ratings winner. Both shows are knockoffs of British programs and have gone head-to-head on British television, with "Link" coming out ahead.
'Buffy' packs her bags for move to UPN
After months of bitter haggling and numerous hostile exchanges, UPN has finally won out in the contest for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," the highly-rated teen action-drama starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. The Viacom-owned network announced Friday that it has signed a two-year, 44-episode deal with "Buffy" producer 20th Century Fox Television, ending the show’s five-year run on the WB. The main sticking point in the negotiations was money; the WB refused to pay more than $1.8 million per episode, insisting that it would be losing money on the show if it went any higher. UPN will reportedly be paying 20th Century Fox $2.3 million per episode. A terse statement issued by the WB after the move was announced read in part, "20th Television has made an inauspicious decision for the television industry by taking one of their own programs off of a non-affiliated network and placing it on a network in which they have a large vested interest."
Former Times Mirror head departs Time Inc.
Six months after his company was swallowed by the world’s largest media conglomerate, Jason Klein has resigned as president and CEO of Time4Media. Previously known as Times Mirror Magazines, the unit, which publishes titles including Golf and Field & Stream, passed from the Chandler family to the Tribune Co. early last year before being acquired by AOL Time Warner subsidiary Time Inc. in October. Klein kept his job as president and CEO, but reportedly chafed at what he considered a loss in status as he found himself reporting not to Time Inc. CEO Don Logan but to Michael Klingensmith, head of the Sports Illustrated Group. He’s now thought to be among parties interested in purchasing Emap USA. Replacing Klein as president of Time4Media will be Mark Ford, former president of Media Networks Inc.
Danish network tries to stifle 'Big Bro' contestants
Three former contestants on the Danish version of the reality TV show "Big Brother" will put the power of the gag order to the test when they face off against broadcaster TvDanmark in court today. The network is asking the court to silence the participants, who all signed a contract that listed a $12,000 fine for speaking about the show's contents but who now say they're itching to reveal the show's secrets. Some legal experts have cast doubt on the confidentiality clause, saying it might abridge constitutionally-protected freedom of expression. The players' reasons for wanting to blow the whistle are less than heart-warming; local press has them quoted as saying that "they wanted to destroy the concept." The network is also mulling a lawsuit against a tabloid that reportedly paid $250,000 for exclusive rights to their story. The magazine claims it even wiretapped phone conversations between network executives and the rogue contestants. The outcome of the court case will be watched closely by producers of the American version of "Big Brother," which will return this summer, as well as by the makers of other reality shows.
Republicans push for laxer media ownership laws
Just as the walls prohibiting dual network ownership came down last week, more limits on media consolidation may be on the way out, if certain increasingly vocal elements of Congress get their way. Republicans on the House Commerce Committee have reportedly urged FCC head Michael Powell to review other broadcast ownership limits. Last week Viacom was allowed to keep the UPN network along with existing property CBS. Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-La.) and Subcommittee chief Fred Upton (R-Mich.) sent letters to Powell specifically criticizing the 35 percent cap on one company's TV household reach and the laws barring cable systems and newspapers from snapping up broadcast stations in local markets. They argue that the world for which the laws were written 50 years ago is long gone and today's options, including the multitudes of cable channels and billions of web sites, make those restrictions obsolete. Powell has promised to look over the newspaper cross-ownership rule later this spring, but has expressed a desire to wait until the outcome of pending court challenges over the broadcast reach limit and newspaper cross-ownership is determined.
Vegas bookies pick Colby to win 'Survivor'
With only a week and a half before the climactic season finale, Las Vegas oddsmakers have been busy revising their predictions for the outcome of CBS’s hit reality series "Survivor: The Australian Outback." Texas cowboy Colby Donaldson appears to be the clear favorite to win the $1 million grand prize. Donaldson is the 3 to 2 favorite at the Stardust hotel-casino and the 2 to 1 favorite at the Bally's and Paris hotel-casinos. Paris Hotel Casino likes footwear designer Elisabeth Filarski as its second favorite at 5 to 2 odds. Contestant Keith Famie is next at 7 to 2, followed by Tina Wesson at 4 to 1. Of course the odds are only hypothetical since state law prohibits betting on events in which the outcome already is known.
April 23, 2001 © 2001 Media Life
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