THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 26, 1995 TAG: 9509260051
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
LOCAL TV NEWS and views to ponder why you wait for Fox to air Part 2 of ``Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction'':
It's the answer to a kayaker's dream - Outdoor Life, which was nowhere on the list of new cable channels requested by readers of this column in a recent Infoline poll, becomes part of Cox Communications' expanded service on Saturday.
Larry Michel of Cox Communications said the company added the channel because it is programming for the whole family and ``covers a subject of growing popularity among our customers.''
In my little Infoline poll (I can be reached by calling 640-5555, Category 3333) readers voted the TV Food Network as the cable channel they would most like to have added to basic cable.
Also in local cable, the system that serves Chesapeake (TCI of Virginia) adds Peninsula station WPEN on Channel 25 starting Saturday. It's where you will find the ``Three's Company'' reruns.
Tele-Communications Inc., the country's largest cable operator, recently agreed with Cox to swap cable systems involving 600,000 customers. The TCI operation in Chesapeake will be included in that trade.
What's it all mean to local subscribers? A change in channel numbers? Better service? It's too early to tell.
Take me to your leader - Who could have imagined it? Who could have predicted in the fall of 1994 that in less than a year there would be a change at the top at four local television stations?
When the Dallas company that operates ABC affiliate WVEC here announced last week that Rick Keilty would replace Lee R. Salzberger as general manager, Belo followed the owners of WAVY, WTKR and WGNT in changing faces in the executive suite.
The New York Times Co. brought in Elden A. Hale to replace Chris Pike at WTKR. Pike moved over to WGNT as general manager, succeeding W. Howard Jernigan, who retired. At WAVY, Lyle Banks left to run the NBC affiliate in Chicago and was replaced by Edward L. Munson.
Keilty won't need a road map when he arrives at WVEC from Houston. He was once Channel 13's general sales manager. Guess what, Rick. Since you left, they removed the tolls on the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway.
It isn't TV, but it's the next best thing - Memo to the dozens of readers who have called me to (1) express shock because WTKR did not renew anchor-weather reporter Carol Novotny Horton's contract and (2) to ask if she's found a new job: Horton is back on the air, on radio, with the morning team on WFOG-FM.
She said it felt like ``a kick in the pants'' when Channel 3 did not renew her contract. In fact, Horton expected to be promoted, perhaps moved from the morning news to the 5 or 6 p.m. newscasts when she got the bad news.
Let's just say he was destined for stardom - What was actor Stephen Furst like when he was in high school in Norfolk, attending Lake Taylor? ``He was always on,'' said Leslie Stouter Lowrance, who was in the drama club with Furst.
At 9:30 p.m. Sundays, Furst co-stars in a new Fox sitcom ``Misery Loves Company.'' Stouter said she never had any doubt that Furst would one day make a living on the stage or in front of a camera. ``All he talked about was acting,'' she said.
Furst is one of Hollywood's busiest actors, appearing in three series this fall. He's also a producer, director and writer with his own production company, Curmudgeon Films. Inc.
You bet we're ready for big-time sports - Harvey Penn, a reader on the Eastern Shore, writes to ask if there are any television markets smaller than Hampton Roads with major league professional teams. There are, indeed, Harvey.
This area, which is No. 40 in market size, is larger than New Orleans (41), Jacksonville, Fla. (55) and Green Bay, Wis. (70).
They all have NFL teams. by CNB