Vivendi Universal and EM.TV for dummies

[Stargate2077]

I have been gathering articles and research on the two companies that had control of Farscape future when it was cancelled. I have complied all the information I have gathered into two topics in the New to the Campaign forum.

Vivendi Universal (owner of the Sci-Fi Channel): http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8857

Information about EM.TV, who recently sold The Jim Henson Company, Inc.: http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10808

If I am missing any information from the each topic, please feel free to post in this topic here or pm me.

[Mike@Pilots Chamber]

So it seems that Jean-René Fourtou is really the guy we should be looking at for Farscape's cancellation - or at least that's what I understood of it, for wanting to sell off Vivendi assets, including Skiffy shows (I assume) and Farscape.

[Stargate2077]

Note: Do not take this as what exactly happened before Farscape's premature cancellation, but this is what most likely happened based on information provided in many articles over the past few years.

Well...it is not entirely right. The former CEO, Jean-Marie Messier, caused the major debt problems, which Jean-René Fourtou has to solve very quickly. He is only doing his job to get the company out of debt. It is the former CEOs of both Vivendi Universal and EM.TV, which both bought out many companies and ran up a substanial debt for each company that were the problems.

Additionally, We have to put Michael Jackson (not the singer) into the equation. In July of 2001, Barry Diller hires Michael Jackson to help him run USA Networks. Michael Jackson has no love for Space shows, so the new shows coming down Sci-Fi Channel's tube were not Sci-Fi or were Earth-based Sci-Fi (i.e. Stargate SG-1). When Jean-René Fourtou had to tighten down all of Vivendi Universal before selling assets off, Farscape was one of the things lost.

[Darth Buddha]

Read all the threads you listed, and a good many of the links referenced from there as well.:aok:

Thanks for adding some clarity to the whole Scifi/USA/Universal/Vivendi morass. I couldn't make head or tails beforehand. :confused:

As a cynic looking for a reason to hope (how's THAT for cognitive dissonance!:eek: ) I'm starting to think the best we can hope for is a rapid, and separate, sale of Scifi.

Not sure what to think about the Henson sales possibilities. Walt Disney could bankroll Season 5 out of chump change, but I don't see them bonding the the Farscape content or fanbase. Moreover, I also have to look at what has happened to the ABC lineup and ABC news under their ownership, and it aint pretty.:grr:

[Stargate2077]

Disney does not want Henson creature shop (they want the video library and the puppets), so they won't be helping Farscape anytime soon.

[Darth Buddha]

So does that mean they'd not BUY that, or that they'd BUY and SELL, or BUY and EMBALM.

Makes sense that they'd not help Farscape though, their ratings indicate they can't find their ass with both hands.:ewink:

[Stargate2077]

um...that is not entirely clear. If Disney is able to buy the video library and the characters, would that include the puppets on Farscape? I don't know.

[blue]

There are many other threads discussing this from various angles. In a very recent thread, the magazine article that revealed the fighting between DK and Michael Jackson over promotion and MJ's meddling with the content of Season 4 is relevant. It looks like Michael Jackson and possibly Barry Diller were quite instrumental in trying to kill the show if it couldn't be changed into something unrecognizable ("make it more like Stargate" "make it more like South Park").

Also Cosmic Theorist made a timeline similar to yours Stargare2077, that's around here somewhere: since I don't have the thread bookmarked, here it is again:


CosmicTheorist said:


Now this is where I may be naive.

I firmly believe that Skiffy entered into the 2 year renewal deal with the intention of keeping Farscape on the air through a 5th season; in other words, I think they negotiated that deal in good faith. Unfortunately, it was also under a management team that was quickly changed around and the new management team was very quickly overtaken by events that were out of their control. In the case of Farscape's mysterious cancelation timing is everything.

Let me give you my timeline for events.

July 2001 - It is announced that Michael Jackson, who runs a British television operation Channel 4, has been hired by Barry Diller to be the president and CEO of USA Entertainment Group.

October 1, 2001 - Bonnie Hammer announces the 2 year renewal agreement for Farscape.

November 5, 2001 - Stephen Chao resigns as president of USA Cable (Chao was reported to be a very strong supporter of Farscape along with Bonnie Hammer); Michael Jackson takes over as president and CEO of USA Entertainment. Chao's old position is not filled. Jackson reports directly to Barry Diller, chairman and CEO of USA.

December 17, 2001 - Vivendi Universal (VU) acquires the entertainment assets of USA Networks and creates Vivendi Universal Entertainment (VUE) which combines Universal Studios with these newly acquired assets. Messier is CEO of Vivendi Universal; Barry Diller is to be CEO VUE.

January 2002 - Contracts for the 2 year renewal of Farscape are signed.

May 7, 2002 - VU closes acquisition of USA Networks; VUE gets $1.6 billion dollar loan to close this deal. The loan is due in November 2002.

May 30, 2002 - VU issues press release about its cash position and its deteriorating credit rating.

July 3, 2002 - Messier resigns as CEO of VU following a board meeting in Paris.

July 8, 2002 - VU press release mentions Vivendi's short term liquidity concerns that were disclosed at the board meeting.

July 10, 2002 - New VU CEO Fourtou announces a billion Euro dollar unsecured loan facility to address Vivendi's liquidity concerns and that VU is working with its bank lenders to put in place refinancing requirements.

November 27, 2002 - Vivendi announces that it has gotten an extension on the $1.6 billion loan for acquiring USA Networks.

I got all the Vivendi material from their own press archives at the following:

http://www.vivendiuniversal.com/vu2/en/_home/home.cfm

My interpretation of this timeline is that a short term cash flow crisis in the parent company Vivendi Universal forced cost cutting measures on newly created entity VUE. I don't know who ordered it, but Farscape WAS one of the COSTS that was cut. And ever since Skiffy has had to tow the company line and try not to embarass its new masters. I think this explains the otherwise inexplicable behavior of Skiffy and its published contradictory statements.

Even though I believe Skiffy was FORCED to cancel Farscape, I don't believe that relieves them of any responsibility about their deceptive advertising of the 2 year renewal of Farscape. Just because they were acquired by a debt ridden larger company, this does not release them from any of their business obligations. And just because VU acquired Skiffy AFTER the 2 year renewal was announced, this does not relieve Vivendi of its responsibility for keeping the agreements contracted by its new acquisition.

Vivendi and Skiffy gambled that they could get away with reneging on their promise to Farscape's viewers for that 5th season. Our job is to convince them that this gamble was WRONG. And since I believe this whole situation was brought about by Vivendi's "short term liquidity crisis", I am hopeful (if the crisis has passed) that Skiffy can change its decision and renew Farscape's 5th season, as promised. This is where I could be REALLY naive. But I do believe it.

[Darth Buddha]

O.K., maybe the trick isn't to pry Farscape from Sci-fi's dead fingers, but to pry Sci-fi from Vivendi's dead fingers.

But I think to believe that we're gonna see Farscape return w/o some corporate carnage is naive.

[Stargate2077]

Darth Buddha: This is what I have been saying for a while. The key is for the Sci-Fi Channel to be sold to another company (I think Viacom is our best hope).

blue: I think the new CEO Jean-René Fourtou ordered cost cutting measures for the entire company. However, I think it was a joint Barry Diller/Michael Jackson decision to ax Farscape since they did not like the show anyway. I was well known that they don't like space shows. However, thanks for CosmicTheorist's timeline. I'll add the parts I am missing to my own timeline. Keep those additions coming. I am by no means done with my research on these two companies.

By the way, what is Michael Jackson's current position (CEO of USA Networks?)? I am having trouble finding it. Also, when did Barry Diller hire Michael Jackson?

[CosmicTheorist]

Michael Jackson's first day on the job at USA Entertainment was November 5, 2001. Jackson's current title is "Chairman, Universal Television Group." I got his title from here:

http://www.universalstudios.com/homepage/html/about_us/

Look under the menu item Executive Bios.

You might try reading Bonnie's bio too. It is very enlightening. She just might be as pissed at Diller and Jackson as we are.

;)

[Stargate2077]

Thanks for your timeline. For some reason our two timelines flew past each other. We both caught things that the other did not get. The timeline in New to the Campaign has been updated with your information.

CosmicTheorist: I have been trying to say to people for a while that she is stuck between a rock and a hard place and the timeline gives circumstantial evidence to prove that theory.

[Darth Buddha]

Unified information... Stargate2077, you are the best.

I just wish there was something more substantial that we could do to bring about the Viacom deal.

[Stargate2077]

Buy them Ice Cream...no wait...we did that already.

We can support them by sending gifts every so often.

[shaith]

this is starting to feel like a Stark special...

"Your fault"
"Their fault"

:D

[Stargate2077]

Does anyone have more information about EM.TV. The info on EM.TV's website was vague since they haven't updated their website for quite some time. If anyone knows any articles I can add for EM.TV, I would be very grateful.

[CosmicTheorist]

Maybe, if we think more Rygelian, we could get Michael Jackson bounced to a position where he can't do any more damage to Skiffy. Then put Bonnie in his old job. Then we put her to the test: Are you or are you not a fan of Farscape? Because we all know that true fans would not cancel Farscape. If she renews Farscape then she told the truth; she is a fan. If not. . . We'd be in no worse condition then we are in now. And we'd know who needs replacing in Skiffy's management team once Viacom takes over.

;)

[grapeshot]

Maybe, if we think more Rygelian, we could get Michael Jackson bounced to a position where he can't do any more damage to Skiffy.

This is a most excellent suggestion! No, seriously. What do we know about this Michael Jackson? What's his background? After all, the man that brought him into his position, his "mentor" if you will, Mr. Barry Diller, is no longer around to shelter him.

Didn't someone say he came from the BBC? Or am I getting mixed up?

[CosmicTheorist]

Before he was in charge of Channel 4 he worked in programming at the BBC. He admitted that he had the chance long ago to add the X-Files to whatever station's programming he worked for at the time, and that he passed on it. He didn't "get it." Some one on this board also gave him credit for axing "Doctor Who" when he was at the BBC.

Clearly this man does not belong anywhere near science fiction programming.

;)

[farscape1211]

Oh yum, (I smell mischeif in the air) Anyone know of any skeletons in Mr Jackson's closet? (she says with sly grin)

Somebody out there has to know an old flame, house keeper, next door neighbor or disgrunteled ex-employee we could question.

[Stargate2077]

Hey! If you guys are willing to research into Barry Diller and Michael Jackson's past. I am willing to keep track of the information. Hey...maybe we'll need it one day. But let's hope it doesn't come to that. Personaly for Michael Jackson, I think that from his past dislike of Sci-Fi shows, he had motive to ax Farscape, when Vivendi Universal ordered a tightening of the belt on all of its assets. I think that's why the newest shows on Sci-Fi are so bad. Even worse than previous Sci-Fi original series.

[Darth Buddha]

Stargate2077 -- I like the fact that you are couching these "Rygel worthy" moves appropriately... get it ready and hope we don't need it.

There may come a point where there's little else to do (or if Sci-fi is aquired by Viacom that we need to put out word on these guys), but it is a scorched earth move. Make a move like that out of anger, and it's probably the wrong move. But that doesn't make the move illegitimate or wrong in and of itself if made wisely.

[Darkness Ascending]

viacom were looking into buying henson and sci-fi?

[Stargate2077]

Thanks for your comment. If you are able to find some more information about Vivendi Universal and EM.TV that I don't currently have, just let me know.

[Stargate2077]

Darkness Ascending: You are correct about that. Though their interest for the Sci-Fi Channel has been more public. Their interest in The Jim Henson Company I found in only one article. It is harder to get up-to-date information regarding EM.TV and The Jim Henson Company.

[mgraylorn]

Probably a dumb question, as I'm sure you already have, but did you try Google.com or any of the other search engines for information on these companies?

[Darth Buddha]

Not a dumb question... but do you realize that a search for just "Henson" & "Viacom" produces over 1,000 hits!

Unfortunately, stuff that I've browsed so far while running SAS code isn't very informative -- just states the interest by Viacom.

However, connecting the dots, were Viacom to aquire both Sci-fi & Henson, they might be more inclined than most to give the fan base what it wants ... after all, Star Trek has been good to their UPN division. "Enterprise" seems a little tired, so a replacement brand might be just what they are looking for.

[Squeege]

Bump . . .

Great work Stargate. Great organization of the facts. Let's hope that someone buys up USA/Sci Fi soon!

[Stargate2077]

mgraylorn: actually, I haven't done a goggle search just yet, but that might help me more in updating the EM.TV thread. My information on EM.TV isn't as specific as Vivendi Universal.

[PrairieScaper]

Okay SG2077, since you have obviously spent a great deal of time analyzing the corporate shenanigans of Vivendi, let me ask you about a couple of things that are tickling my brain.

Diller is out but Jackson is still in place at USA, is that correct? I take it that Jackson is a black hat as far as most FS fans are concerned, and that he is unfriendly to the SF genre in particular. You referred to his "past dislike of Sci-Fi shows." I'm wondering, though, whether he just dislikes anything that does not appear to reap riches in the short term? It just seems to me that some folks are taking the soulless and thoughtless corporate philosophy of 'money first, last, and always' quite personally. Have you seen any basis for the notion that Jackson (or for that matter, Diller) really doesn't like SF?

I'm just pondering motivations here. If you've already covered this somewhere and I've overlooked it, apologies.

You know, I actually had a second question, but in the time it took me to type the above paragraph, I've lost it. :goof: I shudder to think what I'll be like when I get ancient!

[Stargate2077]

PrairieScaper: The idea that Michael Jackson doesn't like Sci-Fi has come from comments he has made over the years. If you can find articles that have these comments, such as "I don't like Space Shows" I would be greatly appreciative. So to answer your question, I can't prove that Michael Jackson does not like Sci-Fi, yet. I am searching, but, as of right now, I only have rumors for that portion, which is why I left it out in the official information threads.

About Diller: He still in part of USA but his role is alot different since he gave up his position as CEO of VIvendi Universal Entertainment. His position is now CEO of USA Interactive (all USA Network's assets except for USA and Sci-Fi Channel).

The Channels USA and Sci-Fi are considered right now to be part of Vivendi Universal Entertainment. So when Diller was the CEO of VUE from December 17, 2001 to March 19, 2003, he had much power over decisions on the two channels.

[PrairieScaper]

So I take it that Diller and Jackson were considered 'hands-on' management types? Sounds that way.

If I ever find anything that supports the theory that D and/or J have a personal dislike for SFC or sci fi in general, I will definitely post it. I was just wondering since such comments keep popping up.

Considering a recent article in Fortune that states that Viacom's Redstone and Karmizan are hands-off managers who hire the right people and trust them to make their own decisions, I am now firmly in the "GO VIACOM!" cheering section.

[blue]

Here is one source that gives the impression that Barry Diller is not a fan of science fiction. This is from the Claire Sainsbury article, "Who Killed Farscape" that can be found at http://www.strangehorizons.com/2002/20021014/farscape.shtml

"Apparently many of SCI FI's established executives, such as Thomas Vitale and Executive Vice President Bonnie Hammer, were strong supporters of the show and fought against the decision to cancel it, but the decision was imposed at a higher level. As one fan summed up the rumors, referring to Vivendi's controversial CEO, "Barry Diller doesn't like space shows." "

[waltersgirl]

Barry Diller wasn't responsible for the cancellation of Farscape. and Michael Jackson, while still in the UK, was also responsible for the cancellation of Dr Who. poetic, yes?

[LadyCrais]

Originally posted by waltersgirl
Barry Diller wasn't responsible for the cancellation of Farscape. and Michael Jackson, while still in the UK, was also responsible for the cancellation of Dr Who. poetic, yes?

Well that was weird. I quoted one message and got another one, presumably while you were editing.

Ahem... my response to the far more terse "Barry Diller wasn't responsible for the cancellation of Farscape." was/is....

okay, I'll bite. Do you have a mole that has provided specific information to you? You've gotten into a habit of unequivocally stating, beyond an absolute shadow of a doubt, pure unadulterated scientific fact, who is NOT responsible for cancelling Farscape. I was under the impression that nobody in audienceland knew for sure. And I was also curious as to whether this mole that was giving you the inside scoop on the truth had told you likewise, unequivocally whose decision it was. All of which assumes that it was an individual as opposed to the ubiquitous "committee".

Or am I failing to assume the IMHO to each of your posts?

[blue]

Also curious WG--Are you suggesting that you know that the cancellation was due to Michael Jackson alone?

[CosmicTheorist]

LadyCrais, here is some more info about Barry Diller and his ownership of USA Network and Skiffy:

http://www.videoageinternational.com/apr98.diller.html

Barry acquired both cable channels in February 1998 from Universal Studios Inc. For almost the entire life of Farscape, Barry has allowed Bonnie Hammer (who has been in charge of Skiffy's programming since 1998) to run Skiffy her way. Until November 2001 when he put Michael Jackson in charge of USA Network and Skiffy and the former Universal televsion production studios. Then Barry sold his stuff to Vivendi to become co-CEO of Vivendi Universal Entertainment. And the rest is history.

It's hard to accuse Barry of hating Farscape since he owned Skiffy when Farscape was first put on the air.

Circumstantial evidence points to Jackson as the perp in Farscape's murder.

;)

[Stargate2077]

What that information also says is that he was very influencial in the merging of Vivendi and Universal's assets. This merger was a rotten one, since Vivendi was raking up a huge debt to expand quickly. When the economy slowed down dramatically after 9/11, Vivendi Universal was in trouble for having a $26 Billion debt.

[PrairieScaper]

The Strange Horizons article uses the word "rumors," and info on Vivendi's smothering debtload still leads me to believe that it's all about the Benjamins.

[Stargate2077]

The Strange Horizons article uses the word "rumors," and info on Vivendi's smothering debtload still leads me to believe that it's all about the Benjamins.


all about the Benjamins? I don't follow what you are trying to say. Maybe it is an expression I do not know.

[PrairieScaper]

SG2077, that just means it's all about the mighty dollar. (Or euro, as the case may be.) Money, money, money. I'm just saying that these corp heads would run a porn show starring their own grandmothers if it meant big money for them.
:ewink: I honestly think that they couldn't care less about the content of their programming; all personal likes or dislikes aside, the profit is the issue.

[Stargate2077]

PrairieScaper: I think money problems was a big thing that caused the cancellation of Farscape. However, I also believe that there was an internal dispute on the direction of the Sci-Fi Channel and Farscape was lost because of it.

[grinner]

IF Mr. Jackson is the reason that we do not have Doctor Who anymore... and if he is the reason that FarScape is no more... well then, he is the devil. The longest running science fiction show, and the show that experimented more than any modern show... and he caused the cancellation of both... How is he in charge of a channel that purports to be about Science Fiction? I truly hope more and more everyday that Viacom buys Skiffy... then maybe Skiffy will be worth watching again.

[grinner]

bttt:P :P :P beat ya to it SG2077

[Stargate2077]

I think this thread topic still has relevance. So if anyone want to help me update my information about Vivendi Universal or you have any questions about Farscape's cancellation, post away.

[DorothyGail]

I have no doubt that the finger pointing in this thread is probably correct.

However...

I have a question. If Bonnie Hammer was such a fan of Farscape, why has she been so busy taking personal potshots at Farscape fans in widely publicized places like TV Guide and Time Magazine?
......

Paraphrasing the most heinous ones IMO:

Calling us liars..."If all those wonderful people...had actually watched the show...",

Calling us Loser Geek Fanboys... something about 30 yr old gamers who live at home with their mothers and never leave the house, that I read in my DISH TV guide; don't know where else that one was printed but TV Guide.

And generally stating that either we don't exist or that our opinions don't count, and that SciFi can definitely do without us ...

Honestly, I don't get her publicly quoted behavior, either as a "lover of Farscape", as Pres. of a science fiction genre network, or as an executive of a corporate entity. It just doesn't make even good business sense to go out there and insult people...consistently! Even if you don't want them anymore, why bother?
:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[Darth Buddha]

Bonnie "Yammer" Hammer is a corporate mouthpeice, and a rude one at that.

I find her supposed support of Farscape and her current opinions of scapers all to be suspect... they are useful positions, not a matter of any personally held belief.

The only thing that matters to me regarding her is this... she's staked out an anti-Farscape, anti-scaper, anti-campaign position for WHATEVER reason. Therefore she is an obstacle... as such, independent of ALL OTHER EVENTS, Bonnie receiving a pink slip is good for Farscape.

[DorothyGail]

Sorry to say it, but I agree. There's somebody out there who really deserves her job more than she does...

[Darkness Ascending]

Michael Jackson info-

http://www.companyguide.co.uk/gm300701.htm

Makes me want to be sick too. :lol:


Two quotes-

"His stint at Channel 4 has led to criticisms of dumbing down, but with programmes like Big Brother and Ali G, he can credibly claim to have held to the channel's Uranian brief of 'innovation, diversity and creativity'."

"With the US wars over, we can expect Mr Jackson back here in 2005, seemingly in pole position for the top job at the BBC. His timing may not be quite right, but sometime, somehow, he ought to get there. The interesting challenge, and the game to play for, is that by the time he returns, the culture at the Beep will have significantly changed, and Michael Jackson himself will also have moved on. From being an innovative young gun, he will be part of TV's senior generation. "

[Darkness Ascending]

I think it was him and his need for dren reality shows (which aparently made channel 4 a sucess). C4 has stargate sg1 doesn't it? Maybe that's why he cancelled 'scape in place of that.

[BritAngie]

OMG do not let Michael Jackson anywhere near the BBC again!! If he gets a foot back in the door then we can say hello to reality snooker (it has to happen.. :rollin: )and bye bye to any Farscape ever...

[Darkness Ascending]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1453232.stm

In case anyone wishes to give him a kick if they see him on the street :P

[AnnieBW]

Or maybe we can focus our efforts towards having GE/NBC re-hire Stephen Chao to run USA Networks and Sci-Fi again? I mean, wasn't "Monk" developed on his watch? That's the biggest thing that USA has. The guy was frelling brilliant.

- Annie

[Darkness Ascending]

I don't think they'd care about our suggestions... We can't just say, "hi, we are some fans of a show this CEO cancelled, can you cancel him and re-hire the old CEO... It's for the greater good!"

They'd think we're after revenge... they also don't want us "small people" suggesting things to them, the "big players" in the world...

[DentArthurDent]

reality snooker? ROTFLMAO [choke] <gasp> {wheeze}

will be on eventually, without a doubt...

AFD

[vhsiv]

In a recent interview (09/08/03) GE/NBC executive Robert Wright made a specific comment about SciFi "not showing Tennis" on the network any time in the near future. Sort of makes you wonder if he - or one of his assistants - reads the boards here...

[stlscape]

Originally posted by Darkness Ascending
I don't think they'd care about our suggestions... We can't just say, "hi, we are some fans of a show this CEO cancelled, can you cancel him and re-hire the old CEO... It's for the greater good!"


:rollin: :rollin: :rollin:

Yeah, but it *is* tempting. :ewink:

[Riot Chik]

Darth Buddha, DorothyGail: About BH, I'm with you on that one. Ms. Hammer seems to have forgotten the concept of manners. Didn't she ever take a class in college in public relations? For a supporter of Farscape, she has a bass ackwards way of expressing it.

About Robert Wright and his comments about Sci-Fi: I certainly hope he means what he says. BTW, I'm going to send off a letter to Mr. Wright reiterating what in my humble opinion is good sci-fi (Farscape) versus what is shlock (Tremors, Scare Tactics). I'm also going to mention a number of critics' comments in the body of the letter (wow, this letter may be 15 pages long!). I hope others will follow with letters of their own.

[DorothyGail]

Robert Wright?

:eek3: I hadn't seen this. He's the only one I have yet to write to who was on the Anniversary To To List.

That's a great head's up!

vhsiv, where was this article? in print? it'd be lovely to quote it...

[Digger]

I know this may not sit well with some on this board. I have also too often been appalled at some of the comments made by Bonnie Hammer (to the point where I started calling her Bonnie Dearest). But, at this point it appears that her job as SciFi is safe. What we MUST do, regardless of our persponal feelings, is to schmooze her. Remind her that David Kemper stood up for her and said that she championed the show. Remind her that the fanbase just keeps growing and growing. Remind her that it would be a great move to bring back Farscape because it would garner huge publicity (free publicity at that - we would I imagine take out another full page add welcoming the show back wouldn't we?). It would also garner huge critical acclaim for her poersonally (very good for office politics and her public image). It would also garner very good ratings. It would be a no-lose situation for her I would think. So when you write your letters be nice to Bonnie, be polite, be complimentary even. To quote Michael Corlione (the Godfather) "It's not personal. It's strictly business." And right now our business is getting Farscape back into production and back on the air. Using whatever means necessary.

[vhsiv]

Originally posted by DorothyGail
Robert Wright?

vhsiv, where was this article? in print? it'd be lovely to quote it... DorothyGail - it's in a different thread - give me a minute and I'll post it right here - it was published in the online version of one of these industry mags... Hold on...

[vhsiv]

Two things here - it seems as though NBC chair Robert Wright intends on keeping Skiffy, despite our speculation that they might ditch it to cover some of the VUE purchase price. As in the other article, further up the page, he says "some changes are going to be made" though he says he's not going to interrupt program development at USA Networks, he also says something about "not showing tennis" on SciFi, and playing to Skiffy's constituent audience or whatever's left of it...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-
What's In Store for NBC?
http://www.tvweek.com/topstorys/090803wright.html

For NBC Chairman and CEO Robert Wright, who also is vice chairman of GE, the agreement announced last week with Vivendi Universal to create a $42 billion media giant is a career-capping deal that ensures the continuation of NBC's hefty contributions to GE's bottom line and is the biggest transaction yet under new GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt.

After meeting with Universal Studios and Vivendi Universal employees on the West Coast last week Mr. Wright discussed the deal's promise and challenges with Contributing Editor Diane Mermigas. An edited transcript follows:

TelevisionWeek: After meeting with Universal's West Coast employees, what do you think needs to be done to put people at ease and to prevent this pending deal from interfering with the creative process?

Robert Wright: I think we just need to be ourselves. They know us. We have to figure out smart things to do to get some synergies out of this transaction. We have tremendous facilities all over the world. We just have to go about our business. The biggest risk we run is people slowing down on their projects. They get concerned about whether their projects are going to be approved. We don't want people thinking this is a period of uncertainty. That is a big issue. But the only way that can be resolved is with very good communications. Both Ron Meyer [the Universal studio chief] and I each gave that speech to combined groups of people.

TVWeek: What is the payback you expect on the on-demand services you plan to launch once you own the Universal Studios library and cable networks such as USA?

Mr. Wright: We do not have a secret plan to do something dramatically different. We intend to use the product that we have available to help popularize on-demand. But we have to work with cable companies and satellite companies. We have to pay attention to our network affiliates. This is not something we can run out and do unilaterally. Many of the programs have commitments against them and are licensed to other people.

We aren't going to be able to do anything dramatic on day one. But over a period of time, I think there is great opportunity out there for people getting more programs on-demand. This is what you see with TiVo today.

TVWeek: How much more control will you have over 'Law & Order,' which you pay dearly for now, to use in some limited way in an on-demand offering?

Mr. Wright: I did talk to Dick Wolf ('Law & Order' producer), and he is very positive about the merger. Dick Wolf's position is that this is great because he can join the back-end and the front-end of the process together. This presents great opportunities because we're aligned. But whatever we do will be subject to existing limitations. There is a long-term syndication deal on 'Law & Order.' I don't know what the conditions of that are. In Europe, Universal just launched a French 'Law & Order' channel.

TVWeek: Could you do that here?

Mr. Wright: I don't know if we could do that here. We could certainly launch a crime channel, which is what Dick would like to do. I have no idea if we could do that.

TVWeek: How much is this merger a hedge against an in_evitable decline in NBC's ratings, revenues and profits after 2004, when some of its hit series retire? How much of that decline can be offset by merger cost cuts and new revenues?

Mr. Wright: This deal is driven entirely by the fact that this company is available, and that was dictated by Vivendi. Will [VUE] be useful and valuable to us in the next few years? I hope so. But you are making the assumption that all of a sudden, we're going to forget how to make hits. I never think that way.

TVWeek: What are your plans to revamp or rebrand Vivendi's USA or Sci Fi cable network?

Mr. Wright: It's too early to know. Sci Fi is a clear example of a niche channel. It has to stay pure to its audience. We can support that. We can help promote it. I'm sure we can make it better in a number of ways. But we're not going to be putting tennis on Sci Fi. We're going to use our creative energies and get cost-efficient and reasonable programming, and we're going to pay attention to what that audience wants.

In the case of USA, it is a broad-based network, and a lot of people are afraid of that. But combined with NBC, it's fine. They have to have programs distinctive enough to attract attention to the network, and because they are broader-based, they are more in line with what we do at NBC. So I am sure in the ordinary course of business, we will see programs at NBC that, for whatever reason, might not be a perfect fit for the network but might be a great fit for USA.

TVWeek: So none of your pilot development will go to waste?

Mr. Wright: I think we'll have more leverage there. With MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo, Trio, Sci Fi, USA and NBC, I think that just about anything we would ever produce we could find a home for, whether it's news-related, fiction or nonfiction or even sports, since USA does some sports.

TVWeek: Does that mean you are going to get back into the live sports business?

Mr. Wright: No.

TVWeek: And how much better will you be able to amortize spiraling program costs and sell advertising?

Mr. Wright: Just look at what has happened with Bravo. Its prime-time ratings this summer were up 123 percent over last year because of 'Queer Eye,' 'Boy Meets Boy' and other changes at the network. We sold 10 percent more upfront cable advertising with Bravo in the mix.

TVWeek: What about the $500 million you are looking to save over five years?

Mr. Wright: The number I am looking for is $400 million over four years. Of that, about one-third to one-half will be increased revenues. More than half of the $200 million or more that is cost savings will come from facilities; things we buy and lease. The remainder, which represents only 1 percent of the company's total cost base, is from personnel.

TVWeek: You're only paying $5.4 billion up front for this company: $1.6 billion in assumed debt and $3.8 billion in a combination of cash and General Electric stock. If you cut costs and generate new revenues totaling about $400 million, that amount will help to offset whatever it costs GE and NBC to buyout Vivendi's 20 percent beginning in 2006. Does that mean that at the end of the day you could walk away with these assets for not much more than about $6 billion?

Mr. Wright: We still have to buy out Vivendi's 20 percent, which is a big ownership position.

TVWeek: Have you given Vivendi any guarantees about what it will get for that?

Mr. Wright: No. They will get it and sell it at market, and they will come out rich people. They have a limitation as to how much they can sell every year. But they could be out by 2009, if they wanted to sell everything they had.

TVWeek: And you would buy Vivendi's stake because you would not want to take the company public?

Mr. Wright: That option remains very viable. There have been no decisions made on whether to do that. GE has three options. We have an option to do an [initial public offering]. And we have the option to pay cash or to pay stock for their stock.

TVWeek: Is it a fait accompli that Vivendi is buying out the 7 percent stake in VUE held by Barry Diller and his InterActive Corp.?

Mr. Wright: Vivendi cannot buy him out unless he wants to be bought out. But Vivendi is obligated to deal with any buyout of Barry. It's their responsibility, not ours. Nothing may happen on this until we sign a final agreement, which could be in three weeks. He's really just trying to get the money that is owed to him from the original transaction [Mr. Diller's sale of USA Networks to Vivendi Universal last year.]

TVWeek: Would you like for Mr. Diller to remain a minority shareholder in the new company? After all, you almost had a deal with him several years ago to merge NBC with his then-USA Networks Inc. (now InterActive Corp.)?

Mr. Wright: We are neutral on that.

[DorothyGail]

Digger, that's a nice sentiment, and I agree with you about being polite to Bonnie, or anybody else for that matter!

However, I think that any kind of communication with SciFi at this point is just an annoyance to them, with no hope for our campaign for Farscape. They've already plotted a course away from science fiction programming, and no amount of letter writing will change that. Only major changes at the management level (way over Bonnie's head, I suspect), will affect any change there.

Gadflies on a dead horse come to mind. What exists there is in name only now.

[Digger]

However, I think that any kind of communication with SciFi at this point is just an annoyance to them, with no hope for our campaign for Farscape.
Can you be sure? Is it worth the risk? We have no idea what NBC may do.

[DorothyGail]

Originally posted by vhsiv
TVWeek: What are your plans to revamp or rebrand Vivendi's USA or Sci Fi cable network?

Mr. Wright: It's too early to know. Sci Fi is a clear example of a niche channel. It has to stay pure to its audience. We can support that. We can help promote it. I'm sure we can make it better in a number of ways. But we're not going to be putting tennis on Sci Fi. We're going to use our creative energies and get cost-efficient and reasonable programming, and we're going to pay attention to what that audience wants.

[/B]

I especially like this part. That whole article gives me some hope, and some things to write to him about.

Thanks!

[vhsiv]

Originally posted by Digger
I know this may not sit well with some on this board. I have also too often been appalled at some of the comments made by Bonnie Hammer (to the point where I started calling her Bonnie Dearest). Digger - I take it that you were following Buddha's comments about her being abusive towards the fans, and my plaintive retort that she not resort to the wire coat-hangers anymore...?

That aside, I agree with you, unfortunately, but you know, we might want to wait a week or two, just to see how this whole GE/NBC thing shakes out. It would be a waste of a perfectly good stamp if NBC decides to shake out more than the USA leadership.

Instead, wait for the NBC acquistion papers to be inked, and THEN figure out who at NBC is managing the reorganization, and write to THAT person. The letters do no good if they join the rest of Bonnie's detritus as she prepares to abandon her offices...

[Digger]

This one is from Cable World, a trade magazine: (mentions of the SciFi Channel in crimson)

AN NBC FILM FESTIVAL?
BY MAVIS SCANLON

Cable World, Sep 8, 2003

Bob Wright, chairman and CEO of NBC and vice chairman of NBC parent GE, couldn't have picked a better time to forge a deal with Vivendi Universal. Not only will NBC gain some of cable's best-performing networks, it also gains plum content assets in the form of the Universal Pictures film library and the production company that produces the venerable Law & Order franchise; as TV viewing habits migrate to an on-demand model these could benefit NBC for years to come.

GE and Vivendi announced Sept. 2 they would negotiate exclusively to merge NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment in an equity deal valued at about $14 billion. The deal would create the sixth-largest media company, with revenues of $13 billion, 80% owned by GE and 20% by Vivendi. The combined company would include the Universal Pictures Group movie studio, TV production studio Universal Television, seven cable networks, NBC and the Universal theme parks. The companies expect to seal an agreement within the next month.

NBC has long been interested in cable. Earlier this year it bought Bravo, and two years ago it snapped up Telemundo. Now, with NBC's powerful grip on Thursday nights weakening as Friends ends its long run, and broadcast networks losing share to cable, Vivendi's cable networks become more valuable. USA Network is in nearly 90 million homes and was No. 1 in the coveted 18-to-49 demo in the 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. time period last year, according to Nielsen Media Research. The 11-year-old Sci Fi Channel, with Bonnie Hammer at the helm, has grown to 80 million homes and was the sixth-highest rated basic cable network among adults 25-to-54 last year. Niche networks Trio and Newsworld International are in almost 20 million and 14 million homes, respectively.

"Overall the two companies together present all kinds of opportunities working together," NBC Cable Networks president David Zaslav told Cable World last week. "There is a wealth of talent and experience to enhance all of our cable channels and using the No. 1 network in America [NBC] both to drive promotions and sales of all those services."

But the gold in the whole package may just be the 5,000-plus-film Universal Pictures library. In addition to this summer's releases 2 Fast 2 Furious and Seabiscuit, Universal has a gold mine of titles, from staples such as Jaws and The Mummy to more recent releases such as Erin Brockovich and Gladiator.

"While Universal's television business may have been pivotal in driving the GE transaction, it would be mistaken to underestimate the perennial value of Universal's film library," said Robert Leighton, president of Starz Encore Entertainment, in an e-mail.

Clearly, Universal has seen the value in the on-demand model. "Universal has done an outstanding job in making available some of their best titles for VOD," said Richard Wellerstein, VP theatrical programming and acquisition at In Demand.

Zaslav is keenly aware of the importance of the Universal library. "When you're a content company you always have to be focused on the new technology," he says. "One thing that's constantly in motion is the way people watch TV, and the way they consume content is ever changing."

He noted that one reason NBC is participating in Comcast's large on-demand deployment in Philadelphia is to learn as much as possible about how consumers react to on-demand programming. "We are focused on this — and the potentially big impact it has."

The revenue model at Universal Pictures, at least, has changed, with the advent of the DVD and on-demand viewing models. The movie studio's revenue from theatrical releases declined 18% in 2002, to $814 million, while revenue from home video jumped about 11%, to $2.4 billion, and television revenue increased 8%, to $1 billion.

Universal insiders say it's too early to speculate on staff changes, but with $100 million targeted in savings, executives are sure to be looking for redundancies.

NBC Entertainment president Jeff Zucker is expected to relocate to New York to work more closely with Wright, according to one Universal insider. Inside money is on USA Network president Doug Herzog, credited with turning around USA, to replace Zucker. That begs the question: Who will run USA?

Likely not cable whiz kid Kevin Reilly, who last week came on board at NBC from FX, and who Zucker wants to prime NBC's prime time for life after Friends.

Herzog and fellow Universal Television network executives Hammer and Lauren Zalaznick, the president of Trio, are seen as being secure in their jobs: Hammer has turned around Sci Fi and attracted the likes of Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese for original productions and Zalaznick has a small but much buzzed-about network.

Jeff Lucas, USA's ad sales president and an NBC veteran, is a likely contender to run ad sales for the cable nets.
With Shirley Brady.

[Stargate2077]

:bump:

I thought that this thread could still be useful, especially to people new to the campaign. If you have any questions reply in this thread.

[MediaSavant]

Originally posted by Stargate2077
Additionally, We have to put Barry Diller and Michael Jackson (not the singer) into the equation. Barry Diller at USA Networks came on board after the disputed merger in the middle of 2001 (Stockholders of USA Networks tried unsuccessfully to block the merger in December 2001). Not long after, Barry Diller hires Michael Jackson to help him run USA Networks. Both of these people have no love for Space shows, so the new shows coming down Sci-Fi Channel's tube were not Sci-Fi or were Earth-based Sci-Fi (i.e. Stargate SG-1).

This description doesn't necessarily match Diller's background.

Diller was involved with the SciFi Channel long before 2001. 2001 is when Vivendi took over. But, Diller was there as head of USA Networks several years prior. He was the head of USA Networks when they started Farscape in the first place.

He was also the head of Paramount when Star Trek became hot. That doesn't sound like an "anti-space show guy" to me.

[Stargate2077]

Information from that post has now been corrected. Thank you MS for pointing that error out. I don't know why I thought Diller became head of the Sci-Fi Channel during the merger. I don't believe any of my other posts give this erroneous information.

[vhsiv]

from http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue74/cool.html

In the 1988 film Alien Nation, 250,000 aliens, genetically engineered for slave labor, were marooned in Los Angeles. The city quickly integrated them (dubbing them "Newcomers"), and they became L.A.'s newest minority. This essential concept didn't end with the film; it launched a television series, television movies, novels and comic books.

Alien Nation: The Unofficial Companion is an unassuming assembly of Alien Nation information, from films and films-never-made to a glossary and a listing of Web sites. This guide also serves up pages on the genesis of the Newcomer concept, how creator Rockne S. O'Bannon liked its treatment in the film versus the television series, how Barry Diller at Fox "didn't get it," and how this short-lived series had a phoenix-like afterlife in made-for-television films. The episode-by-episode entries for the television series and TV movies are further broken down into plot synopsis, commentary, author's rating, and behind-the-scenes flashes. This last is a hodgepodge of insights from the cast, producers and writers, notable for its forthright voices, positive and negative. Mr. Diller has also been publicly savaged by John Carpenter and Kurt Russell in the DVD audio commentary for "Big Trouble in Little China" (Fox, 1986), because he apparently didn't 'understand' that either, and helped rewrite the opening scene to make it more 'accessible'.

But Diller may be credited with bringing back 'Star Trek' -from Lee Goldberg's tribute to Gene Roddenberry, Starlog Magazine,
http://www.lgoldberg.com/Bylines%20Pages/starlog_roddenberry_obituary.htm

The movie actually began as a revived series called "Star Trek II" -- envisioned by Paramount executive Barry Diller as the cornerstone of studio's own ad-hoc television network. But the studio was a bit ahead of it's time on both fronts -- it would be another ten years before Paramount's new "Star Trek" TV series, and Diller's fourth network, would be launched. He may be a little thick, but he knows what makes money.

[MediaSavant]

Originally posted by AnnieBW
Or maybe we can focus our efforts towards having GE/NBC re-hire Stephen Chao to run USA Networks and Sci-Fi again? I mean, wasn't "Monk" developed on his watch? That's the biggest thing that USA has. The guy was frelling brilliant.

- Annie

The guy had far more failures than successes, I'm afraid, and that's why you probably won't see him return.

He also had a penchant for having scantily clad female models and dancers at his corporate meetings. It got him fired from Fox once upon a time.

I highly advise that you all do a little bit more research on him before you come to these sunny judgments.

I'm not even sure how much he had to do with "Monk".

He didn't even greenlight Farscape. That was Rod Perth.

[MediaSavant]

Originally posted by vhsiv
He may be a little thick, but he knows what makes money.

Therein, may lie the issue with Farscape.

It wasn't making as much money--for either SciFi or EM.TV--as it was costing.

[gurnemanz]

Originally posted by MediaSavant
Therein, may lie the issue with Farscape.

It wasn't making as much money--for either SciFi or EM.TV--as it was costing.

In at least a limited sense, that was probably the case.

Still, I think you will agree, MS, that a pre-adolescent with a paper route and monkey with a bongo drum could have done a better promotion, advertising and scheduling job for Farscape than did the V-U folks. To my eyes, it seems they had to work to *avoid* using the show to make money.

I believe *that's* what the numbers really reveal.

[MediaSavant]

I was doing some searching today and turned up some interesting backstory articles. I was first interested in what was the the first mention of Farscape EVER in Variety. Then I found subsequent messages touching on several people/topics discussed in this thread.

Daily Variety
May 13, 1998 Wednesday
HEADLINE: USA touts its lineup; Sci-Fi on 'Farscape'
BYLINE: JOHN DEMPSEY

BODY:
NEW YORK --- Barry Diller is still some months away from putting his programming stamp on the USA Network and its sibling Sci-Fi Channel, based on the movies and series announced during the upfront presentation to advertisers here Tuesday evening.

The most notable original movie revealed by Rod Perth, president of USA Networks Entertainment, is "The Jacqueline Susann Story," starring Michele Lee in the title role of the late celebrity author who wrote "Valley of the Dolls" and other bestsellers (Daily Variety, May 12). Also notable are a pair of four-hour miniseries: a fresh adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" by David Rintels and a Hallmark Entertainment miniseries based on the life of the World War I spy "Mata Hari."

The other big announcement is a 13-episode interplanetary-adventure series from Hallmark Entertainment and the Jim Henson Co.'s Creature Shop in the U.K. for Sci-Fi called "Farscape."

Hurled through space

Written and created by Rockne S. O'Bannon, "Farscape" is about a 20th-century astronaut on an experimental space mission who gets "hurled across a thousand galaxies to a completely alien world." Sci-Fi Channel is touting "Farscape," which has a target air date of January 1999, as its signature show. The executive producers are O'Bannon, Brian Henson and Robert Halmi Jr.

USA gave a vote of confidence to its three original Sunday primetime action hours --- "La Femme Nikita," "Silk Stalkings" and "Pacific Blue" --- by renewing them all for another full 22-episode season.

Earlier in the year, USA said it would add two new hourlong series, Columbia TriStar TV Distribution's "The Net," based on the 1995 Sandra Bullock theatrical, and the Miami-based private-eye melodrama "Shades of Sin," from Alliance Communications and Chesler-Perlmutter. Each gets a 13-episode commitment and a Saturday-night berth, beginning in August.

Perth disclosed a batch of additional firstrun movies to the advertisers:

n "Sipes vs. McGhee," a true story about "the unlikely friendship of a black woman and her next-door neighbor in an (otherwise) all-white neighborhood." Linda Hamilton and Lynn Whitfield star, and Lee Rose is the producer-director.

n "What Makes a Family," another true story, about a lesbian whose companion dies and who has to "fight for custody of the couple's adopted daughter." Producers are Barbra Streisand, Cis Corman, Neil Meron and Craig Zadan.

n A package of original movies based on three Mary Higgins Clark novels: "Pretend You Don't See Her," "All Around the Town" and "Loves Music, Loves to Dance."

Earlier projects

Previously announced movie projects include a four-hour Hallmark Entertainment adaptation of Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn"; a sequel to USA's highest-rated made-for ever, "The China Lake Murders"; and "The Carroll O'Connor Story," about the actor's retribution against the pusher who dealt the drugs that ended up killing O'Connor's son.

USA also has a number of network premiere theatricals, which will play on USA right after their pay cable window. Titles include "Casino," "The Usual Suspects," "Copland," "Private Parts," "Red Corner" and "Seven Years in Tibet."
**************************
Daily Variety
January 11, 1999 Monday

HEADLINE: COMPANY REPORTS: DILLER DOESN'T DALLY WITH EMPIRE
BYLINE: John Dempsey

BODY:
STUDIOS USA

For Studios USA, formerly Universal TV, 1998 was a year of adjustment after the stunning news in October 1997 that Seagram had inked a $ 4.07 billion deal to sell most of the studio's domestic TV assets to Barry Diller's HSN Inc.

Those assets included the Universal TV production-distribution operation and the USA and Sci-Fi cablers. U retained the rights to its TV library, but Studios USA was granted a long-term license to handle domestic sales of the library.

The deal left U with its international TV channels and a 45% stake in Diller's company, which was renamed USA Networks Inc. The erstwhile Universal Television production-distribution wing was rechristened Studios USA.

The one domestic TV asset that wasn't sold to Barry Diller was Universal's 50% ownership stake in Brillstein-Grey Entertaiment.

Former U chair Frank Biondi wanted to buy the other half of Brillstein-Grey and rehire former Universal and Studios USA TV chief Greg Meidel to jumpstart a new domestic TV division at Universal. But Biondi's vision was nixed shortly before his job met the same fate. Universal is now settling out of the Brillstein-Grey deal and is expected to sell the company back to Brad Grey early this year.

Universal may, however, keep the small TV division it inherited with its $ 10.2 billion purchase of Polygram.

Created in mid-1997, Polygram Television hit the ground running with two firstrun syndie weeklies, the actioner "The Crow: Stairway to Heaven" and the concert showcase "Motown Live." "Total Recall 2070," a spinoff of the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger pic, is poised to turn a quick buck under the dual cable/syndie window strategy whereby the show will bow on pay cabler Showtime in March, followed a few months later by its firstrun syndie premiere.

Polygram TV absorbed the sizable ITC Entertainment library when it was formed, but U is expected to sell the ITC film and TV archive to the U.K.'s Carlton Communications for about $ 130 million.

EXEC SHUFFLE: Studios USA has not faced the same level of executive exodus during the transition as sibling cabler USA Network has over the past year, but it did lose its chief executive. Universal TV topper Greg Meidel initially resigned just a few weeks after the Diller takeover, but he reconsidered and took the chairman and CEO post at Studios USA before stepping down for good last June.

PROGRAMMING STRATEGY: There's been speculation that Diller would steer Studios USA away from the traditional deficit-financing model of network TV production and focus more on supplying original fare to USA and Sci-Fi. However, the network TV arm, headed by prexy Ken Solomon, did a respectable amount of business with broadcast webs last year, and even managed to buck the trend by retaining full ownership of the shows it landed on ABC and CBS.

"We set out to make changes in the way we approached the network business," Solomon said. "Our focus is on strategic development and asset creation, and our success proved that you don't have to be vertically integrated (with a network) to get shows on the air."

For Solomon, strategic development amounts to being selective about the projects Studios USA commits to, even when a network order is in hand.

In July, Studios USA cited "creative differences" for its decision to pull out as the production company on the rookie sitcom "Movie Stars," which the WB Network ordered for midseason.
"Hollyweird," an offbeat drama ordered by Fox, fell victim to creative disputes between creator Shaun Cassidy and the web before it ever aired.

The picture was much brighter with the promising ABC comedy "Brother's Keeper," which received a full season pickup in October. "Turks," a cop drama starring William Devane, bows on CBS later this month. Also up for midseason on CBS is "Payne," a comedy starring John Larroquette and JoBeth Williams.

The Dick Wolf NBC drama "Law & Order," which will deliver its 200th seg this year, remains the stalwart of Studios USA's primetime slate. Wolf is developing "DC," a series about Gen Xers at work in the nation's capital, for the WB Network.

"Sliders" also has been a consistent performer for the Sci-Fi Channel since it moved over from Fox in 1996.

SYNDIE STORY: On the syndie side, headed by prexy Steve Rosenberg, the story of the year at Studios USA was Springer, Springer, Springer. After six years on the air as a fair-to-middling performer, the "Jerry Springer Show" packed a punch and surged to the top of the Nielsen chart last year.

Syndie biz watchers gasped as "Springer" tied the once untouchable "Oprah Winfrey" in January and then pulled ahead of her in March.

"Springer's" now-trademark brawling and racy subject matter generated predictable controversy, and considerable hand-wringing within Studios USA, but "Springer" seems to have weathered the storm with its buoyant Nielsen ratings intact.

Talkshow host Maury Povich joined the Studios USA syndie stable last year. The rest of Studios USA's syndie stars, "Sally Jessy Raphael," "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Xena: Warrior Princess," remained solid performers.

CABLE
HIGH POINTS: Barry Diller's USA Network and Sci-Fi Channel are on a roll.

The Nielsen report card for 1998 crowns USA as the highest-rated cable network in primetime, climbing 15% year to year, from an average 2.0 rating in cable homes in 1997 to a 2.3 this year. The 2.3 rating represents USA's seventh first-place finish in primetime over the last nine years.

The Sci-Fi Channel's ratings are shooting up even faster, particularly over the last three months, when the network has jumped 50% in audience delivery over that of the fourth quarter of 1997.

If there's a downside to the solid Nielsen performances of USA and Sci-Fi, it's that the bellwether series on each network is a rerun, purchased by the two networks from outside distributors. "Walker, Texas Ranger," from CTTD (Columbia Tristar TV Distribution), averaged a 2.5 rating in USA's cable homes in 1998 every weeknight at 8, feeding massive numbers of viewers into the Tuesday-through-Friday primetime movies on USA and the hugely popular "WWF Raw" and "WWF War Zone" wrestling hours on Monday.

Sci-Fi's weeknight winner is a golden oldie from Paramount TV, "Star Trek: The Original Series," featuring new wraparounds hosted by Leonard Nimoy and other original cast members, which premiered on the network Sept. 1, and has injected fresh Nielsen adrenaline into the movies that dominate the primetime schedule.

FIRSTRUN COMMITMENT: Diller has announced even greater commitments to firstrun programming than the original shows commissioned by the previous regime under Kay Koplovitz. USA will spend more than $ 400 million for programming, both original and repeat, in 1998, a figure that's expected to soar to $ 460 million next year as the network ramps up its firstrun budget, according to Paul Kagan Associates.

Sci-Fi, although working from a smaller dollar base than its USA parent, will also increase its programming budget from $ 75 million this year to $ 85 million in 1999, shifting the emphasis to original shows, led by the interplanetary adventure series "Farscape," which the Jim Henson Co. will produce with Hallmark Entertainment at a cost of more than $ 1.5 million an episode. "Farscape" will premiere early next year on Sci-Fi.

USA is one of the five most widely circulated cable networks in the country, reaching 75.1 million subscribers as of December 1998, according to Nielsen. Sci-Fi still has a ways to go, although it added a solid 5.9 million subscribers in 1998, swelling its over-all total to 52.6 million.

Diller's third cable channel, the 13-year-old HSN (Home Shopping Network), sells well over a $ 1 billion worth of merchandise every year to some of the 53 million or so cable subscribers and satellite dish owners who have access to it. One of Diller's goals is to sell more products over HSN tied to the cable programs on USA and Sci-Fi and to syndicated TV shows owned by Studios USA such as "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys."

FUTURE CHALLENGE: The more attention Diller gets for USA, the better the possibility that USA could start challenging the broadcast networks in the Nielsen ratings. Diller would like nothing better than to move USA's Nielsen numbers closer to the viewership levels of the Big Four broadcast networks --- his forced resgination as chairman of Fox Inc. in 1992 has left a permanent scar, and he's also still rankled by his failed attempt to buy CBS in the summer of 1994.

While USA is still searching for a breakthrough firstrun series, it can point to the stunning 8.1 rating in cable homes racked up by the four-hour adaptation of "Moby Dick," starring Patrick Stewart, on March 15 and 16, 1998, a figure than translated to more than 6 million households. "Moby Dick" ended up as the highest-rated original cable movie of 1998. USA has commissioned two more four-hour miniseries from the same supplier, Hallmark Entertainment: a new version of "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and a biopic about the seductive World War I spy "Mata Hari."

USA is also digging into its pockets to buy the broadcast-premiere windows of such theatrical movies as "The Waterboy," "The Jackal," "Cop Land" and "Private Parts," hoping to exceed the 5 million households that tuned in to TBS on Aug. 16, 1998, when that cabler scheduled the TV premiere of "The American President." More people watched "American President" on that August night than any other theatrical movie on cable in 1998.
********
Daily Variety
January 25, 1999 Monday
HEADLINE: 'SCARED' & 'ROTTEN': MTV, VHI announce slate of series, spex

BYLINE: RICHARD KATZ

BODY:
<snipping other network programming for space>
Zappa squared

USA Networks prexy Stephen Chao announced that USA has signed brothers Dweezil and Ahmet Zappa as hosts of a one-hour variety show titled "Happy Hour." Premiering at 9 p.m. on April 3, "Happy Hour" is similar to such old variety series as "Dean Martin and the Golddiggers." Chao said the weekly show would be good counter-programming to the dark, one-hour dramas that run on the networks Saturday night.

Chao also announced that Richard Brooks ("Law & Order") and Clayton Rohner ("The Relic") have been signed to star in USA's original series "GvsE" (as in good vs. evil). USA also has ordered a fifth season of 22 episodes of its bike-cop beach drama "Pacific Blue."

USA Networks' Sci-Fi Channel will premiere series "First Wave" on March 19. Created by former "X-Files" writer Chris Brancato and executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola, "First Wave" centers on a man who has discovered a vast conspiracy of alien infiltration on Earth.

Also, the Sci-Fi Channel has ordered nine additional episodes of "Farscape," a production from the Jim Henson Co. and Hallmark Entertainment.

Henson and Hallmark recently invested in the Odyssey Channel, which announced it has signed Alec Baldwin to provide the channel's on-air voice. In addition, Odyssey president-CEO Margaret Loesch said the Jim Henson Co. is developing a family sitcom starring Louie Anderson for the cable web.
*******
Daily Variety
April 9, 1999 Friday


HEADLINE: MEDIA STAR WARS-fi net

BYLINE: RICHARD KATZ and LAURA FREEMAN

BODY:
NEW YORK --- After crossing swords a few years ago over Paramount, Sumner Redstone and Barry Diller may be dueling with lasers in a battle on a much smaller scale.On Thursday, Redstone mentioned plans to launch a sci-fi cable network to compete directly against Diller's existing Sci-Fi Channel.The exec made his comments on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, where the Viacom chairman and CEO celebrated Viacom's addition to the Big Board.The exec also said that Viacom has formed a task force to create a cable channel for senior citizens. Both the sci-fi and senior channels will be developed by Viacom's MTV Networks division.Until 18 months ago, Viacom owned half of USA Networks --- which operates the Sci-Fi Channel --- but Redstone sold his interest to Universal following a contentious court fight with Universal about the sale.The sci-fi skirmish also brings up memories of the 1993 battle between Redstone and Diller to take over Paramount Communications. Redstone's Viacom eventually bought Paramount, but Diller's hostile bids significantly increased Redstone's expenditure for the movie and TV studio.Redstone said Viacom would be introducing its sci-fi channel within the next few years to replace the one the company sold to Universal just 18 months ago.In 1998, Viacom completed a deal to sell its 50% stake in USA Networks --- which owns the Sci-Fi Channel --- to Edgar Bronfman Jr.'s Universal.Bronfman then did a complex deal with Diller's HSN in which Diller gained management control of USA Networks. Diller's company vowed to marshal its forces to fend off Redstone's potential competitor."We're putting a tremendous amount of our company's resources into Sci-Fi Channel," said Steve Brenner, USA Networks prexy of operations. "I don't know how he'll compete."Noncompete clause

Brenner added that Viacom's deal to sell its interest in USA Networks contains a noncompete clause that forbids Viacom from launching a sci-fi service until after fall of 2001."We'll do the things that we need to protect ourselves," said Brenner. "We're not opposed to litigation."Viacom spokesman Carl Folta said that the noncompete clause is irrelevant because Viacom would not launch its sci-fi network until after that time.Folta added that Viacom had no definite plans to create a sci-fi service. He characterized Redstone's comments as a starting point to investigate whether the company wants to launch such a channel.Confident of support

Redstone expressed confidence that cable operators would support a Viacom sci-fi channel, insisting, "Our sci-fi channel will consist of real, true sci-fi, not horror" --- a jab at Sci-Fi, which also airs fantasy and horror fare.Viacom's Paramount division certainly has produced plenty of attractive sci-fi programming. However, two of Par's key sci-fi series, the original "Star Trek" and "The Twilight Zone," have been sold to Sci-Fi Channel until at least 2004, said Brenner.Viacom, however, has not sold the rerun rights to its three newer "Star Trek" spinoffs, "The Next Generation," "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager.""They've got some great series in the 'Star Trek' spinoffs, but I don't think that's enough," said Brenner.Marketplace force

Brenner said that after a slow first few years, Sci-Fi Channel --- which launched in 1992 --- has become a force in the marketplace. The cable web has 54.7 million subscribers, and Brenner predicted it will end 1999 with 58 million households.Paul Kagan Associates predicted that Sci-Fi Channel will total $ 177.5 million in revenue this year on programming expenditures of $ 85 million.Brenner added that Sci-Fi has invested heavily in four original series on Friday night that have begun to gain traction: "Farscape," "Sliders," "First Wave" and "Poltergeist: the Legacy."Sci-Fi averaged a 0.9 primetime rating in the first quarter of 1999, according to Nielsen Media Research, a 50% gain over the first quarter of 1998.Sci-Fi Channel will also add the off-syndication "Stargate SG1" and "The New Outer Limits," both from MGM, in the fall.Cable operators agreed that Sci-Fi Channel has fixed its earlier problems.Room for more sci-fi?

"The jury is still out on whether there's enough consumer appetite to justify a second sci-fi network. The current Sci-Fi Channel, which started off with stagnant ratings, has improved recently," said Jerry McKenna, VP, strategic planning for cable op Cable One.McKenna said he'd be loath to pay big subscriber fees for a new sci-fi channel on analog. Most Cable One systems, he said, set aside 35 channels for ad-supported analog channels, with an additional five for use by the local system. "Any new sci-fi channel would have to convince the system to make one of the five local channels available," McKenna said. Otherwise, it would have to go digital.Senior web

In addition to talking up his sci-fi plans, a jubilant Redstone also waxed enthusiastic about Viacom's plans to create a cable channel dedicated to viewers over 50. In sync with Viacom's various nets oriented toward specific age groups, the channel would offer original programming as well as repeat series with an emphasis on health, nutrition and financial markets.Insisting that older Americans are a demographic worth programming for, Redstone said, "Much of the money in the world is spent by older people, yet there is no cable channel that reaches them. We know such a venture will be a successful one."The independently owned Good Life TV Network targets seniors, but the cable web has limped along for years and now has only 5.2 million subscribers.(John Dempsey contributed to this story.)
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Daily Variety
April 22, 1999 Thursday

HEADLINE: ALIEN ENCOUNTER-Fi

BYLINE: JOHN DEMPSEY

BODY:
NEW YORK --- Steven Spielberg will exec produce "Taken," an epic 20-hour miniseries focusing on alien abductions, for Barry Diller's Sci-Fi Channel.Spielberg's DreamWorks Television will produce the mini, which will be based on reports of UFO landings in New Mexico dating back to 1947, in a joint venture with USA Networks, parent of the Sci-Fi Channel. Studios USA will get the domestic-distribution rights to "Taken" and DreamWorks will get foreign rights.Diller, chairman and CEO of USA Networks, told Daily Variety all revenues harvested from selling the program "will go into a central pot to be divided equally" between Studios USA and DreamWorks."Steven has always had an interest in this subject," Diller said, referring to alien visitors, which figured prominently in Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "ET."Diller said Spielberg's treatment starts from the premise "that there are abductions, that they're real and not made up. This will be a big story with multiple characters, protagonists and antagonists, and it'll span lots of decades.""Taken," which will cost upward of $ 40 million, will begin production this summer. The director and cast are still to be named. The Sci-Fi Channel plans to schedule "Taken" in the third quarter of 2000, running it for two hours a night over 10 consecutive nights.Elaborate miniseries

Sci-Fi is touting the project as the most elaborate miniseries ever put into production in the U.S. The only comparable program was the 24-hour "Centennial" saga from James Michener's novel that Universal produced for NBC in 1978-79. But Sci-Fi regards "Centennial" as a series because NBC scheduled it once a week rather than on consecutive nights. Paramount's "The Winds of War," based on Herman Wouk's novel, ran on ABC for 18 hours over seven consecutive nights in February 1983.HBO's Emmy-winning "From the Earth to the Moon," from Tom Hanks and Imagine Entertainment, ran 12 hours last year.The "Taken" miniseries fits in with the Sci-Fi Channel's aggressive ramping up of its annual programming budget, from $ 60 million in 1998 to a projected $ 90 million in 1999 and a projected $ 120 million in 2000.The network schedules four hours of original programming every Friday starting at 8 p.m. with the Henson/Hallmark "Farscape," followed by "Sliders," the Francis Ford Coppola-produced "First Wave" and "Poltergeist: The Legacy."In a statement, Spielberg called himself a fan of the Sci-Fi Channel, and said "no other place" is better suited for a miniseries of the "magnitude" of "Taken."
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Daily Variety
November 1, 2001

HEADLINE: CIAO TO USA'S CHAO
BYLINE: JOHN DEMPSEY

HIGHLIGHT:
Cable prexy exits as Jackson takes reins

BODY:
NEW YORK --- Stephen Chao has resigned his post as president of USA Cable after four years of supervising the USA Network, the Sci Fi Channel and three other 24-hour program services.

USA has positioned the move as a logical outgrowth of the company's decision three months ago to announce the hiring of British TV executive Michael Jackson as president and CEO of USA Entertainment, reporting to Barry Diller, chairman-CEO of USA.

Diller has given Jackson responsibility not only for USA Cable but for the company's two other entertainment divisions: Studios USA, led by David Kissinger and Steve Rosenberg, which produces and distributes TV movies and series, and USA Films, presided over by Scott Greenstein, which produces and distributes theatrical movies.

USA will not replace Chao; the three executives who formerly reported to him --- Doug Herzog, president of USA Network; Bonnie Hammer, prexy of Sci Fi; and Patrick Vien , president of emerging networks such as Trio, Newsworld and Crime --- will report directly to Jackson, who officially begins work on Monday.

Sources said Chao was bored and frustrated at spending so much of his time on the administrative details attendant on running a five-network bureaucracy. With his contract due to expire soon, Chao decided not to renew so he can get back into production.

Chao had a mixed track record at USA Cable, dismantling such long-running USA Network original series as "Pacific Blue" and "La Femme Nikita" but failing to come up with successful replacements.

He continued USA's policy of commissioning high-octane original movies like "Return to Cabin by the Lake" and "They Nest," and miniseries like "Attila the Hun," which generated sizable audiences in their primetime runs. Chao also kept alive USA's blueprint of bidding for the first network windows of heavily promoted theatrical movies such as "The Waterboy" and "The Jackal."

Lost grapple grip

USA regularly finished ahead of its cable-network competitors in primetime during the first couple of years of Chao's presidency but lost its lead in October 2000 when the World Wrestling Federation declined to renew its programming deal with USA, taking its high-rated weekly series to Viacom's cable networks TNN ("Monday Night Raw") and MTV ("Sunday Night Heat").

At Sci Fi, Chao encouraged the network to buy and commission more original series than any other cable network, with "Farscape," "The Invisible Man" and "Crossing Over With John Edward" the best performing so far. But the network still averages below a 1 rating in primetime and rarely winds up among the top 10-rated cable networks in any given week.

In a statement, Chao lauded Diller's strategy to get USA Network and Sci Fi to work more closely with the TV and film production divisions of USA Entertainment.

In the Chao announcement, USA Entertainment also juggled the titles of two executives. Adrienne Becker moved from VP of corporate communications for USA Networks to VP of operations for the entertainment group. Michael Bonner shifted from VP of business development for Studios USA to VP of strategic planning for the group.

Chao joined USA Cable in April 1998 after five years as head of his own company, which produced programs for a number of broadcast networks and major studios, as well as launching Playboy TV in Latin America and Locomotion, a 24-hour animation channel.

For nine years before that, Chao filled various posts at News Corp., developing such long-running hits as "America's Most Wanted" and "Cops."

[Stargate2077]

The Sci-Fi Channel plans to schedule "Taken" in the third quarter of 2000, running it for two hours a night over 10 consecutive nights.

MS, do you have any idea what caused a two year delay on the airing of the mini-series?

[MediaSavant]

Yeah. Spielberg had absolute control over his scheduling. He wasn't ready to do it yet because of other projects.