(c)1995 Future US-Next TV

This is a copy of the Broadcasting & Cable magazine for December 18, 1995.

Link to Broadcasting Magazine archives from 1931-2002 here: https://worldradiohistory.com/Broadcasting-Magazine.htm

CONTENTS
1. Announcement of the launch of MSNBC as a partnership between Microsoft (already owning half of NBC's America's Talking cable network) and NBC in battle with ABC for access for proposed cable news channels
2. Some cable operators fear that the conversion of America's Talking to MSNBC would risk carriage-capacity restraints
3. Cable industry seeks to appeal 3-judge panel vote upholding must-carry law to Supreme Court
6. WGN-AM host Bob Collins at the top of the heap in a Chicago market that may be the most competitive morning radio market in the nation
7. Evergreen Media waiting telecom bill passage to finalize their ownership of 5 FM stations in the Windy City
8. A profile of Westinghouse's Michael Jordan (obviously not to be confused with His Airness) and CBS' Peter Lund as the newly-merged group announces their plans for CBS
9. EchoStar tries launching a DBS satellite with cheaper (but unproven) satellite from China
10. Discovery Communications announces original programming for Discovery and The Learning Channel to keep the networks from cannibalizing their lineups
11. CNNfn (CNN's financial network) announces plans to incorporate technology from Intel and MFS Datanet for real-time link to financial experts
12. Bell Atlantic's Stargazer video-on-demand trial delivers three times the buy rate of conventional pay-per-view

Other stories of note include: Home wiring rules revisited by the FCC; Nickelodeon president Geraldine Laybourne set to jump ship to Disney/ABC cable firm pending the completion of the Disney-Capital Cities/ABC merger; King World nearing deal with Sony that would result in launch of "Planet Hollywood Squares" as a proposed "Hollywood Squares" revival (there would be no revival of that series until 1998; by which time the Planet Hollywood aspect was dropped) and King World taking a 20%-30% stake in Sony-owned Game Show Network; Saban Entertainment announces new shows for 1996-97 such as "Samurai Pizza Cats" and "The WhyWhy Family"; the announcement from House Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Jack Fields (R-TX) that Fields - who turned 44 on February 8 - would retire from his seat representing Texas' 8th Congressional District to go into business (Kevin Brady would keep the seat for the Republicans in 1996 and remained in Congress until his retirement effective in 2023, where he will be succeeded by Morgan Luttrell {Brady would have been redistricted to the 2nd district}); speculation on who would replace Fields as Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman (the Republicans retaining control of Congress in 1996 resulted in Louisiana Congressman Billy Tauzin - who had switched parties from the Democrats only a few months before this issue was published - taking the top job in the Telecommunications Subcommittee while retaining his role as House Deputy Majority Whip); Buena Vista Television pulling the plug on "The Stephanie Miller Show"; Claster Television announcing animated series in works based on recent movies "All Dogs Go to Heaven" (which would get a direct-to-video sequel the following year) and "Richie Rich"; clearances sealed for NBC's "Mad About You" a year ahead of its entry into syndication; Qwest Broadcasting acquisition of WB affiliates WATL-TV 36 in Atlanta and WNOL-TV 38 in New Orleans approved by the FCC; TCI-owned Liberty Sports sells several assets, including its AmericaOne low-power TV network; an interview with FCC international bureau chief Scott Blake Harris; former Baby Bell Ameritech picks up an 8th cable franchise serving Southgate, MI and NBC infotainment series "Real Life" (produced by then-new NBC affiliate WHDH in Boston) brings in on-air team including former WNBC reporter Ken Taylor and Lu Hanessian as co-hosts with correspondents including WPLG entertainment reporter Lisa Petrillo (who stayed in Miami) and KXAS morning anchor Kim Adams (transferring to Chicago).

Other sections include: Changing Hands; Classifieds; Closed Circuit; Datebook; Editorials; Fates & Fortunes; Fifth Estater; For the Record and In Brief

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