CBS HOPING OTHER NETWORKS WILL HELP PRIME HDTV PUMP

“We decided we wanted to get a lot of HDTV on the air,” Zegel said. With exception of aging Walker Texas Ranger program, all dramas and comedies on CBS prime-time schedule are made and transmitted to stations in HDTV. “We hope the other networks will follow suit,” he said, adding that there were “some rumblings” that other networks would expand HDTV programming. DTV transition “is going to happen, but it’s certainly slower than we all hoped.”

Program producers on NATPE panel were divided on economics of HDTV production. Debbie Elbin, exec. producer of 100 Central St., said she chose HDTV production because it allowed her to cut per- episode cost to $1.1 million from $1.8-$2.2 million. Show is shot with 3 cameras and switched live, significantly cutting number of production hours per episode, Elbin said, and video quality is “absolutely superb.”

But economics of HDTV production “just don’t work yet” for syndicated TV shows,” said George NeJame, vp-production and operations for Tribune Entertainment. Primarily because of initial cost of HDTV production equipment, he said HDTV still was too expensive, but “once the production costs come down, we will start seeing” HDTV productions.

Objective tests indicate that HDTV video quality is at least as good as 35 mm. film, panelists said, but those more familiar with film still often prefer it. Crews, particularly, still prefer film, they said, in part because they're more comfortable lighting and doing makeup for film rather than unforgiving HDTV. “There is a progression of understanding the abilities of HDTV,” Elbin said.

NeJame said “film will be here forever” for at least some uses, but in time HDTV will save so much that it will take over in most cases. Panelists also said HDTV had advantage for international distribution since it can be converted easily into any international broadcast format. They said HDTV, and at least 16:9 aspect ratio, also would retain program value longer, as early color productions are more valuable now than contemporary black and white. -- Michael Feazel

NAB Notebook…

BBC will use IBM technology to operate its network of local digital radio stations, companies said. IBM technology includes servers and station automation, some developed in partnership with Finnish firm Jutel. In bid to widen its role in broadcast market, IBM also unveiled suite of standards-based media production products. Technology is designed to facilitate production and repurposing of content for various media, officials said.

----

Associated Press TV said it would cooperate with WorldNow to help broadcasters set up their own Web sites. Agreement allows WorldNow to incorporate AP’s Web-ready multimedia news services into station Web sites as well as its Electronic News Production System software to manage content.

----

Attendance at this year’s NAB convention was down from year ago -- first drop in more than 15 years. At close of business Mon., 112,776 had registered (29,632 from outside U.S.), down about 2,500 from same day in 2000. Attributing drop to economy, NAB said final figures wouldn’t be available for several days. While CBS has withdrawn from NAB, action came too late to delete network references from convention program -- which still had picture of Viacom-CBS Washington Vp Carol Melton as member of NAB TV board and CBS as hosting hospitality suite in Hilton Hotel.

----

Las Vegas Convention Center is adding 918,00 sq. ft. to its existing 1.04 million sq. ft. of exhibit space, which will be ready by NAB 2002 (April 6-11) convention. Several major exhibitors -- including largest, Sony, with 30,000 net sq. ft., Toshiba, Thomson -- will move into new space next year. NAB said it also would continue to use Sands Convention Center where satellite, Internet/Streaming and TV/film/video companies will exhibit, anchored by Discreet Video.

----

FCC Mass Media Bureau Chief Roy Stewart gave bullish report on low-power TV (LPTV) at meeting of Community Bcstrs. Assn. (CBA). Declaring himself “a long-time supporter of your efforts,” he said “I have watched your industry meet challenge after challenge to get where you are today [with] significant interference protection” and Class A status provided by FCC. “Your stations are a valuable asset to your community,” Stewart said. Asst. Chief for Engineering Keith Larsen told LPTV operators that when DTV becomes reality, as long as low-power stations provide one free channel, “you're going to be able to do a lot of things” with excess spectrum. Among LPTV regulatory goals in 2001, said attorney Peter Tannenwald, is reduction in regulatory fees Class A stations now must pay (same as full-power station) and more flexibility in making minor changes, such as studio moves.

----

At panel on regulation Tues. at NAB convention, Acting FCC Gen. Counsel Jane Mago said there seemed to be “a circled-wagon mentality” on content issues, seeing need for “open dialog” among proponents. Mark Lloyd of People for Better TV said there was “growing concern” about TV content, and govt. “is still trying to figure out what to do about it.” But, he said, Congress should stay out of dispute, and if NAB didn’t adopt new code, then individual broadcasters should do it on their own. Washington attorney Donald Verrilli said content requirements in campaign finance reform bill passed by Senate “set off an alarm bell” on First Amendment issues that will be subject to First Amendment review by courts if they become law. In following panel on ownership issues, FCC Mass Media Bureau Chief Roy Stewart said one of “hardest areas” for agency was restrictions placed on ownership in smaller markets -- as well as deciding what constitutes such a market. He said Commission’s order permitting dual TV-station ownership was “a pretty aggressive decision.” ALTV’s David Donovan said it was “incumbent” on FCC to outline diversity priorities in small-market TV station ownership. “The land rush that people expected did not occur” when FCC relaxed dual-station ownership rule, he said. NAB once again had session on children’s TV regulation -- with hardly a TV station executive and very few others in attendance as panelists went over FCC rules. It probably has outlived it’s usefulness and likely will be the last one, NAB official said.

----

TV keynoter Rob Glaser, CEO of Real-Networks, in making pitch for joint ventures with broadcasters, said response to failures of Internet companies was overstated: “I'm tired of talking about the economics of the Internet. In spite of the hype and the bubble, they are real and profound.” Combining broadcasting’s strengths with options of Internet provides “a great opportunity… for traditional broadcasters to connect even more deeply with consumers,” he said, with Internet offering same economics as broadcasting and important role for both free and pay offerings.