The Minneapolis Star from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 22

The Minneapolis SUr Wednwday, March 12, 1980 2B Variety Did local WTGN go lame on NBC? m. i nv sir M'U V. i I V- dominated by a clip-out survey listing the titles of TV series best described as old favorite. Viewers were invited to check off, or write In, the shows they'd like to see on KMSP's schedule. They did, and Channel 9 took some requests to heart.

More important, viewers took in Channel 9's programs. Swartz brags that KMSP-TV currently ranks highest among independents in the top 20 broadcast markets for share of audience, averaging 17 to 18 percent sign-on to sign-off. A spokesman for 20th Century-Fox, which owns Channel 9, condones boasting. "KMSP has done extremely well in 1979 since becoming an independent." he said. "What more can I say?" Swartz credits the advertising campaign, which, he cheerfully notes.

Is reusable. "We don't have to worry about it going down the drain and having to come up with another theme," Swartz said. Programming success But there's more. The station draws children with a late afternoon slate of cartoons and classic (Affiliates, from Page the programming problem shrewdly. WTCN-TV already held the rights to many syndicated reruns upon which an unaffiliated station might build its schedule the "Mary Tyler Moore Show," "M'A'S'H." even "The Andy Griffith Show." And with money from its parent corporation, Metromedia, WTCN-TV continued to outbid tight-fisted Swartz for the rights to popular newer series as they became available, according to a local advertising source.

So when "Three's Company," "La-verne and Shirley" and "The Wal-tons" are cleared for local broadcast, they'll be seen on Channel 11. Channel 9 did obtain a few recent hits, including "All in the Family," "Maude and "Good Times." But Swartz, with the help of the Martin Williams advertising agency, ingeniously tied KMSP-TV's programming strategy to a new image. An advertising campaign was launched upon the slogan "We're Receptive." A numeral 9 wearing rabbit ears became the station's signature. Advertisements were Don Swartz tltli but who somehow didn't strike viewers (or news consultant's "focus groups" of viewers) ts quite "right" for the Twin Cities. Maybe his chin wss too weak; maybe he sat too stiffly at his desk.

No matter, Dyer was replaced by weekend anchorman Stan Bohr-man, whose broadcast style borders on the overbearing out projects his presence, in his own words, "through the glass." Channel 1 1 Is pleased. "If we had hired Sun earlier (before Dyer), perhaps we would've used him from the start," Fransen said. Another change was necessary at the sports desk. Bob Kurtz, who like Dyer was well-regarded off-eamera, never quite recovered from a debut marked by guffawing over films of bikini-clad female skiers. When former Channel 5 sportscaster Tom Ryther wailed that he wanted out of Cleveland, Kurtz got the boot.

Other on-air reporters grated on Twin Cities viewers, too. Jane Mitchell a year ago sounded like a female Walter Winchell. Some viewers still complain that Dr. Michael Breen tells a story like Mr. Rogers.

On top of that, most of the Journalists were newcomers to Minnesota and persistently mispronounced and misspelled local names. Also, technical foul-ups occasionally flecked the veneer of professionalism. Personnel problems are easily traced to the news consultant network has a lock on third place In a three-way race, and Its news show, "Newscenter 11," has consistently finished distant third behind the newscasts of Channel 5 and Channel 4 (WCCO-TV) alnce Its debut 53 weeks ago and Igno-miniously behind the game shows and situation comedy reruns Channel 9 schedules at 6 and 1 0 p.m. The situation breaks down like this on the ledger As of the first of the year, Channel 11 could charge only $300 to $400 for a 30-second commercial on Its 10 p.m. news.

That compares with upwards of $18,000 for a half-minute on Channel 5 and $11,000 to $13,000 on Channel 4. That gap could spell trouble for WTCN-TV, which as an affiliate relies heavily on Income from commercials during its newscast. But when you consider that WTCN-TV sold spots at estimated prices of $1,200 before Its newscast's debut, the current $400 figure looks embarrassing. TV personalities Much humor derives from the "misfortunes of others, of course. And over the last year Channel 11 'i attempts to launch a competitive newscast provided considerable dlvertlsement for local media observers.

The station's problems went on the air with Its first newscast. Attention naturally focused on anchorman Jim Dyer. Here was a newsman with respectable creden- Robert Fransen com. such as "Gilllgan's Island." It counts on telecasts of the Twins, North Stars and basketball Gophers to draw male viewers. Women tune in to daytime programs such as "Dinah Friends" and, come June, can see Mike Douglas In his new show, too.

"Also, I think our position on the dial helps us," Swartz added. "You have to go through 9 to get to 1 1." WTCN-TVs Fransen says Channel 9 owes more than that to Chan- nel 11. "They copied our format right down the line, and away they went." Fransen told the trade weekly Variety. "We didn't," replies Swartz. "We use a limited amount of movies, for one thing.

We run drama in late-night, and they were running comedies. Our 'Rockford' beats (NBC's) Tonight So 1 don't know how Fm copying them." If Fransen longs for the 19 years that Channel 11 was an independent, he won't admit It. Being an NBC affiliate, he says, "feels mighty good. It may be a horse of a little bit different color, but It's still a horse. And it's still a horse race." The trouble is WTCN-TV isn't finishing in the money.

Its NBC TV Tonight U.S. Government Report: Box or menthol: 13 Carton have le tar than 1 Merita Wyld Ryce. A look at Steve Christiansen's essay on land and its meaning, in this second program dealing with video works on the theme of "Minnesota Landscapes." (Ch. 2, 7:30 p.m.) Charlie's Angels. The Angels try to outwit a swindler who victimizes the elderly.

(Ch. 3, 8 p.m.) Kojak. A killer tries to blame her crimes on a frightened model. (Ch. 8 p.m.) Diffrent Strokes.

(Repeat) The kids' plans for a slumber party interfere with Dnimmond's plans for a quiet dinner with a friend. (Ch. 11, 8 p.m.) Facts of Life. A student father has problems accepting his daughter's modest career goals. (Ch.

11, 8:30 p.m.) Sanford Son. Lamont's wardrobe and diet are driving Fred crazy. (Ch. 9, 9 p.m.) From Here to Eternity. Jeff Prewitt is determined to find the answers about his brother's death.

(Ch. 11,9 p.m.) Movies To Race the Wind (1980). A blind law student uses his wits and sense of humor to fight an endiess battle for normality in a sighted world. Steve Guttenberg, Randy Quaid. (Ch.

4, 8 p.m.) In the Good Old Summertime (1949). A comedy romance involving two music shop clerks who unknowingly court each other through the mail. Judy Garland, Van Johnson. (Ch. 2, 9:05 p.m.) The Promoter (1952).

A rags-to-riches chronicle of a con artist, starring Alec Guinness and Petula Clark. (Ch. 2, 12:15 a.m.) Scarlet Street (1945). In order to impress a girl, a cashier pretends he's a famous artist and becomes involved in embezzlement to carry out the fraud. Edward G.

Robinson, Joan Bennett. (Ch. 5, 2:35 a.m.) Late Night Tonight Show. (Repeat) Johnny Carson is joined by Burt Reynolds, Susan Sarandon, Ken Woods and Andrew Tobias. (Ch.

11, 10:30 p.m.) Streets of Sao Francisco. The search is on for a murderer who is killing the members of his graduating class. (Ch. 1, 1 1:40 p.m.) Baretta. A deaf-mute shoeshine boy tries to avenge the rape and attempted murder of a friend.

(Ch. 5, 11:55 p.m.) Tomorrow. Marcia Lyons, the widow of a Ford Motor Co. mechanic who died of cancer, discusses the suit she and three other women have brought against the company, charging that working conditions caused their husbands' deaths. (Ch.

11, midnight) Phil Donahue. (Replay) Psychologist and marriage counselor Marcia Lasswell reports on her research into styles of loving. (Ch. 4, 1 a.m.) Specials The CoBSteau Odyssey. Cousteau goes beneath the ocean's surface to observe some of the most famous shipwrecks on earth.

(Ch. 2, 8 Minnesota Mania. A preview of the high school State Hockey nament. (Ch. 9 p.m.) Fred Astalre: Change Partners and Dance.

(Repeat) Picking up after his 1939 departure from RKO, this biography covers the latter part of Astaire's career. (Ch. 2, 11:15 p.m.) Series PM Magazine. Visits to a satellite launching at Cape Canaveral, and an underground mushroom farm in Pennsylvania highlight night's show. (Ch.

4, 6:30 p.m.) Prisoner: Cell Block H. A new prisoner arrives and is destined to cause big problems for the governor. (Ch. 5, 6:30 p.m.) Beyond Westworld. John Moore goes to the aid of an Oklahoma oil man who has become a target of Simon Quaid and his robots.

(Ch. 4, 7 p.m.) Eight is Enough. (Repeat) Abby's back in school full time and Nicholas is left on his own after school. (Ch. 5, 7 p.m.) Real People.

A look at a family living In its backyard yacht, a 103-year old gambler and a contest for sand castle builders. (Ch. 11, 7 p.m.) Cjrton B-m less than 0 5mg ar'C 0 05 eg Mot.ne. M-i I "9 i 9 31 Cwjc 0 5 Channel 11 hired to turn the nine-member news staff that produced "Total News" st 9:30 every night Into a staff of about 50 preparing two competitive nightly newscasts. Ted Kavanau was hired on the recommendation of the president of Metromedia.

They had become friends when Kavanau directed the newsroom at the corporation's flagship station, WNEW-TV In New York City. Kavanau fashioned the New York newscast In his own Image. It relied heavily on film of subway crime and took hard shots at politicians. TV critic Jeff Greenfield described the show as "a seemingly endless series of body bags and corpses." But WNEW-TV's newscast became a New York institution, like dirty streets. Kavanau wanted the same for the Twin Cities.

Fransen had other Ideas. Kavanau, who Is now a top producer at Ted Turner's Cable News Network in Atlanta, describes himself as "a street-fighter." Fransen he calls "one of the few remaining gentlemen broadcasters." The general manager wanted a traditional, respectable newscast in the mold of those on Channel 5 and Channel 4. And when he and Kavanau laid out their differences in a corporate meeting in New York, Fransen prevailed. "He convinced everyone that he knew his market best, and his approach won," Kavanau re Caritai 5s lweto Less than 1 nig. tar, Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined Thai Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health.

Television Listings tc: it. 0 rr i 55 Tig ikoih. S(t tci MrtM 1 i 0 1 try uco'n vs 'rr, dejan Dec i isf rn' sstcn Wednesday p.m. WYIDRYCE 7:30 PM Video artists on the theme "Minnesota Landscapes" IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME 9:09 PM Judy Garland and Van Johnson star Xi I i THE COUSTEAU ODYSSEY: 'LOST RELICS OF THE SEA' il ii hum iijii.ii I ill II) I vVi A El TONIGHT 8:00 PM Jacques Cousteau soes beneath the ocean's surface to see some of the most famous shipwrecks on earth. JOIN US! Tl -Mgaa I tiC IH.t'1 HSSJU HI (-Wt tt It I ImwmI 1 iMr.ttfMt lor fiitrtH llnNMh called.

"He convinced the president of the corporation." Muddled newscast But the newscast that appeared was Jazzy, souped up and flashed like a strobe. Part of the problem was pacing, but the personalities that overpowered viewers were Kavanau's responsibility. "Ted's main function was to find people for us," said Fransen. Kavanau hired "the flamboyant ones," he said, for the tabloid newscast that never was. Result: a muddled, schizoid newscast was unveiled to thousands of viewers who tuned in to sample what WTCN-TV had advertised as a $1 million news effort.

Most tuned right back out again. They have been slow to return. Viewers go out of their way to avoid "NewsCenter 11." Big audiences from NBC's prime-time shows tune out at 10 p.m., then return for the "Tonight Show." Meager audiences for Channel 11 's early news have crippled the "NBC Nightly News" in the Twin Cities. NBC president Fred Silverman expressed concern at a news conference last June. "Of course It bothers me," he said.

This week, an NBC spokesman acknowledged that WTCN-TV's local news operation "has not been an overnight success" but added: "We are very pleased with WTCN's new emphasis on local news and the market's growing awareness of these efforts." "NewsCenter 11" has Improved. A stronger news director, Brink Chlpman, replaced Gil Amundson last August. On-air reporters have gotten to know the territory. And rivals view the newscast with respect. Channel 4 News Director Ron Handberg said WTCN-TV blew unique opportunity to create the news Image that they wanted." But he adds, "In a lot of cities, 'TCN would be viewed as a very respectable newscast." He motions to the TV screens flashing beside his desk.

"I now have three monitors. I used to have two." "I think we're competitive," says Chlpman, vowing, "It's not enough to be satisfied with that. There will be changes, whether they be format changes or other changes I can't say." he does say this, however, about commitment: "The WTCN as an Independent is gone. Nor are we the KMSP of old. Nor will we ever be KMSP." 50 Sesame Street i Neuj Hogan Heroes Brady Bunch jlO (5:50) 3-2-1 Contact I Cronkite Ncv.t World New Dick Van Dyke News 6:00 3-2-1 Contact tN's Newi Tic Tac Dough News :30 MacN'eiiLfhrer f'M Magazine Ceil block i All in the Karnily Newlywtd Game 7:00 Dick Cavett Beyond Westworld Eight is tnouph Gunsmoke Re! Pccple JO Wyld Pyce Beyond Westworld Eight is Enough Gunsmoke Real People 8:00 The Cousteau Movie: i Charlie'i Angels Kojak Diffrent Strokes Odyssey "To Race the Charlie's Angels Kojak Facts of Life 9:00 (6:05) Movie: Minnesota Sanford Son Erom Hereto jJO "In the Good Old Steve Guttenberg Mania News Eternity 1 A :00 Summertime'1 News News Good Times News 1U :30 (1949) fudy Garland Marcus Welby Iranian CrisisLove Rockford Private Tonight Show UKM) (11:15) Fred Marcus Welby Boat Investigator Burt Reynolds Astaire Bonanza (1 1:55) Baretta (ll.sO) Streets of Susan Sitrandon Thursday I :00 (12:15) Movi: Bonanza baretta San Francisco Tomorrow 1 i -30 "The Promoter" News Replay 1 2:50) Twilight Tom Snyder 1:00 (1952) Peluli Clark Donahue Replay (105) News Replay Zone Adam-12 :30 Alec Guinness Marcia Lasswell (1:35) Match Game Gmucho Bewitched 2:00 All Night News, Little Rascals Tphil Silvers Family Affair :30 Weather, Sports (2:35) Movie: News Lucy Show 3:00 Update "Starlet Strm" Mayberry D- :30 News (1945) Dating Game 4:00 News Edward G.

Robinson Ironside News Joan Bennett Ironside 5:00 News To be announced What's New? News To be announced What's New? 6:00 (6:15) Weather Thursday Morning News 700 Club PTL Club :30 College Thursday Morning (6 20) Country Day 700 Club PTL Club 7:00 Energy Fred Elintstone Good Morning Underdog Today :30 Mr. Rogers Cartoon Time America Bullwinkle Tom Brokaw 8:00 Sesame Street Phil Donahue Good Morning Popeve Today :30 Sesame Street Marsha Mason America Krofft Superstars Today 9:00 Electric Company Crosswits Twin Cities Today I Dream of Jeannie Card Sharks :30 Advocates In Brief WhewlL pdate Twin Cities Today Candid Camera Hollywood Squares 1 A :00 Nova Price is Right Laverne Shirley Perry Mason High Rollers Nova Price is Right family Feud Perry Mason Wheel of Fortune 3-2-1 Contact Young and R--st less $20,000 Pyramid Bold Ones Bob Newhart :30 Sesame Street Young and Restless Ryan's Hope Hold Ones Password Plus Sesame Street Midday Hockey Pre-Game News Days of Our Live Mr. Rogers Search" for Tomorrow Minnesota State I Percentages Days of Our Lives 1:00 Electric Company As the World Turns High School Dinah Friends! The Doctors 30 To Your Health As the World Turns Hockey Dinah Friends! Another World 2.00 Over Easy Guiding Light Tournament Dinah Friends! Another World :30 Dick Cavett Guiding Light Quarter Finals Gong Show Another World 3:00 Bill Moyers' Joker's Wild Minnesota State Casper Merv Griffin :30 Journal Mike Douglas High School Popeye Debby Boone 4:00 (4:05) Mr. Rogers Pam Dawber Hockey Addams Family Mary Tyler Moore :30 (4:45) Sesame Robert Hays Tournament Gilllgan's Island M'A'SH 5:00 Street News Hogan's Heroes Brady Bunch M'A'S'H :30 (5:50) 3-2-1 Contact Cronkite News World News Dick Van Dyke News 6:00 3-2-1 Contact News News Tic Tac Dough News :30 MacNeilLehrer PM Magazine Cell Block All in the Family Newlywed Game 7:00 Dkk Cavett The Waltons I Minnesota S'ate Gunsmoke Buck Rogers :30 Sneak Previews The Waltons High School Gunsmoke Buck Rogers 8:00 All Creatures Barnaby Jones Hockey Kojak Ouincy :30 Great and Small Barnaby Jones Tournament Kojak Quincy 90 Voyage of Knots Landing Quarter Finals Sanford Son Rockford Files 30 Charles Darwin Knots Landing Minnesota Slate News Rockford Files 4 AM (10:05) Movie: INews I Hiph Schonj 7kJ lUSOl "Three Little Marcus Welby Hockey Rockford, Private Tonight Show nffl Words" (1950) Marcus Weibv Tournament Investigator Peggy Lee :39 Red Skelton bonanza News Replay (1 1 40) Streets Fernando Lamaa GOLD, SILVER COINS, STERLING SILVER, DIAMONDS, SCRAP GOLD, etc. Read our ad in the Minneapolis MORNING TRIBUNE.

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