Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 1, 1995 TAG: 9508010082
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
The quick answer: The Disney Channel will remain on cable.
Despite all the talk of a ``good fit,'' industry observers doubt that Disney-produced series will swamp ABC's lineup, and Disney officials dismiss that possibility.
One reason: Even when they have the same owner, a network and a studio operate by different rules. A network wants hits, wherever they come from. A studio wants to sell its shows to the highest bidder - even if that's a competing network.
While Disney has a thriving TV production arm, ``we're not looking to dominate or even be the majority player on the ABC prime-time schedule,'' Disney Chairman Michael Eisner said during a news conference Monday to announce his company's acquisition of Capital Cities-ABC Inc.
``We want ABC to pick the best shows and the best people that will get the biggest audiences for the advertisers,'' said Eisner, himself a former ABC entertainment president.
For the upcoming 1995-96 season, ABC happens to have scheduled four Disney-produced series - the returning sitcoms ``Ellen,'' ``Home Improvement'' and ``Boy Meets World,'' as well as newcomer ``Maybe This Time.''
But Disney landed other new series all over the place: on CBS (``If Not For You''), NBC (``Brotherly Love''), Fox (``Misery Loves Company''), as well as UPN (``Nowhere Man'') and The WB Network ( ``Unhappily Ever After'').
The latter two networks were launched this year by, respectively, the Paramount and Warner Bros. film studios to give them broadcast-TV outlets for series they produce. Yet not only are UPN and the WB buying series from other studios, they also aggressively pitch their own studios' shows to their rivals.
``I'm sure Disney will keep on selling programs to the other networks,'' said Steve Sternberg, an analyst for BJK&E Media Group.
As for ABC, he added, it will keep on doing what comes naturally: looking far and wide for series that will get the biggest viewership and bring in the heftiest advertising rates.
A former president of CBS, Gene Jankowski, sees compatibility in the shows Disney is known for and the series ABC has had success with - broad-appeal comedies - and called the marriage ``a great match.''
``But ABC or any network survives by getting the best programs from whoever has them,'' Jankowski said. ``Nobody has a lock on talent.''
by CNB