Fort Lauderdale News from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Page 8

8A Fort Lauderdale News. Wednesday, December 28, 1988 Station shuffle CBS I 'ans may find picture p. little fuzzy 021 Channel 6 1 fT 1 TT 7 ia, 'tn iHvk 1 i fx if uCt ii rf a 1 jii man, j.i... unwnmi: 1 fid Jimmy Smits of Law' tapes promotional spot for Channel 4. 'Operation Peacock' has stars strutting for new NBC station By BILL KELLEY Television Writer Channel 7 and Channel 4 want to make sure you know about Channel 6's signal problems.

If you live in Broward County and some parts of Dade County, you know about them only too well. The signal problems that afflict WCIX-Ch. 6 which no one cared about when Channel 6 was an independent station, airing old movies and reruns become a grave concern for the station and its audience on New Year's Day. On Jan. 1, Channel 6 becomes Miami's CBS station, airing Dallas, 60 Minutes and other network shows.

More people will be tuning in Channel 6 than ever. Thousands of them won't be thrilled with the picture they see. WCIX, with a transmitter in Homestead, 40 miles south of the other Miami stations' transmitters, delivers a fuzzy picture north of Dade County. A CBS engineering study concedes that Channel 6 has a signal that is 13 percent NBC News with anchor Tom Brokaw, FROM PAGE 1A New station affiliations mean TV turmoil, 'war' for local broadcasters comes the ABC affiliate. To help create an instant identity, it has hired former Channel 4 anchor Jim Brosemer for its evening newscast with former Orlando newscaster Sheila O'Connor.

West Palm Beach's former CBS affiliate, WTVX-Ch. 34, becomes an independent station. All six stations insist that viewers will be used to the changes within a few days. To answer questions, two Miami stations are providing call-in hot lines for viewers. It would probably all happen without a hitch if not for Channel 6's signal, which is the weakest of any TV station in Miami.

All sides agree that Channel 6's weak signal is one of the major issues of the affiliate switch. Channel 6 has 13 percent less power than Miami's other VHF stations, and barely reaches Broward County, a significant part of its service area. Poor reception for WCIX is expected to cause serious problems for CBS viewers, who will no longer have the benefit of Channel 4's strong signal when they want to watch Dallas, CBS Evening News with Dan Rather or other CBS programs. Channel 6's signal shortfall is no secret to competing stations. That has prompted the nastiest media blitz in years.

Miami's television stations, which normally maintain an aloof attitude about each other, are engaging in trench warfare. Both Channel 4 and Channel 7 have mailed slick brochures to their advertising clients, purporting to reveal "the real story about Channel 6's signal." Channel 4's brochure, designed to lure potential advertisers away from Channel 6, says Channel 6's signal problem causes "a major under-delivery of the Broward County audience." Channel 7's media package hits even harder and lower. "WCIX does not deliver!" claims the Channel 7 brochure, which then denounces the local programming track record of CBS 0 O's owned and operated stations throughout the country. The WSVN campaign also makes a big pitch for Channel 7's news operation, which, inheriting resources from Channel 7's decades as an affiliate, will be uncommonly well-staffed for an independent ni ijimj i. IfrlM Mi ii weaker than its competitors.

It does not acknowledge the portions of Miami Beach and Coral Gables where the WCIX signal is blocked by high-rise buildings. Channel 6 can't relocate its tower to the row of antennas in Hallan-dale that transmit Miami's other TV stations, because its signal would interfere with Channel 6 in Orlando, which broadcasts on the same Shaklan Aiien Shaklan, a CBS executive who was appointed general manager of Channel 6 two weeks ago, called other stations' criticism of WCIX's signal "an exaggeration. But, Shaklan admits, "There's no getting around our signal problem in parts of Broward." It's not the first time CBS has had to confront Channel 6's signal shortfall. In 1986, CBS executives balked at buying WCIX because of its weak signal. left, will follow Channel 4 news with CHANNELS HOTLINES Channel 4 has added a toll-free number to answer questions about the affiliate switch.

"Ask 4" is a bilingual 24-hour hot line operating until mid-January. Dial (800) -228-9885. Starting on Sunday, Channel 6 answers questions at 1-593-0606. That call is not toll-free. The news department is the flagship operation of a station.

Industry awareness of Channel 6's Broward signal dropoff has already prompted a decision by the management of Channel 12 West Palm Beach's new CBS affiliate to open a Broward news bureau. "We will have three news crews permanently assigned to Broward, and a fully staffed Broward news bureau by March 1," says Channel 12 executive Donn Colee. "We intend to fill the gap not covered by Channel 6." Another broadcast history milestone of the affiliate switch is Channel 25's precedent-setting deal with ABC. The station goes on the air today as an ABC affiliate. But Channel 25's owners, John C.

Phipps and Alan Potamkin, are paying the network reportedly as much as $1 million for the privilege of affiliating, rather than the other way around. This industry first has prompted fears among affiliates throughout the country. For years the networks simply fed them programming, paid them to carry it, and let them sell advertising time. Now, after Channel 25's deal, they fear they may one day have to pay for the privilege. "I would hope it doesn't spell the future for network affiliations," says Channel 12's Colee.

"If you had this every two years when affiliation contracts run out, where there's a bidding war each time, I think viewers would just get disgusted and turn off the networks." While NBCChannel 4 has Stanville coordinating the promotional campaign at the network level, no counterpart exists at CBS. The network will take possession of WCIX next Tuesday, although it begins airing its programming on Channel 6 at 9 a.m. Sunday. CBS's decision to move quietly into Miami especially in contrast to Channel 4 and NBC, with its saturation "Don't WorryBe Happy" campaign isn't just a way of diverting attention from its weak broadcast signal. Explains a longtime Channel 6 employee, who requested anonymity: "We're not if It 'v -1 But, when NBC bought Channel 4, and Channel 7 owner Ed Ansin declined to sell his station, CBS bought Channel 6 at the bargain price of J59 million.

"For that kind of savings," said a CBS executive in August, comparing the $59 million to the $275 million that NBC paid for Channel 4, "we'll eat a lot of signal problems." Meanwhile, Palm Beach County viewers who received CBS programming from Channel 4 (if they lived in the southern part of the county) and Channel 34 (if they lived north of Boca Raton), will now receive it from one source: WPEC-Ch. 12, the old ABC station. Channel 12 has a clear signal that can be easily received by viewers who rely on their TV set's antenna. Cable viewers who make up 65 percent of the South Florida audience can rest easy. Beginning on Jan.

1, all major area cable companies will offer every station affected by the affiliate switch. For now, that's the only solution to Channel 6's signal problem. Susan Lichtman and John Hambrick. going to come on like gangbusters and say, 'We're gonna be just like the other NBC has formally owned Channel 4 for almost a year. Dick Lobo's been there six months.

"CBS just announced our new station management last week. They haven't even arrived in town yet. And we're still hiring personnel to expand our news operation." At Channel 7, however, the image-boosting is on. General manager Robert Leider has been appearing in commercials for the former NBC affiliate which begins airing a 10 p.m. newscast on Monday in which he points to its unique position in the market.

Although WSVN took both NBC and CBS to court to block the acquisition of Channels 4 and 6, Leider now says he thinks "presenting ourselves as 'South Florida's news station' offers a unique opportunity. It's the first time an independent with the sophistication of an affiliate has offered so much news." Channel 7 has also bought 650 additional movies for its library, bringing the total to 750. Some have been acquired from Channel 6, along with the Fox Broadcasting lineup (America 's Most Wanted, etc.) that airs Saturday and Sunday nights. Even the stations that aren 't directly involved in the affiliate switch are reacting. "We're concentrating on prime-time movies," says Mike Stopnick, program director for MiamiFort Lauderdale's WDZL-Ch.

39, which will air such recent features as 9Vt Weeks. "That's what viewers expect to see us show." The only Miami affiliate that isn't changing, Channel 10, is expected to reap short-term benefits. Traditionally, when an affiliate switch occurs, the affiliate that doesn't change registers high ratings until viewers adjust to the new scheduling. Both Channel 10 and Channel 5 (the NBC station in West Palm Beach) will benefit by remaining stable. The stations that are changing nearly everything are trying to emphasize stability.

Channel 4's campaign, which started last week, shows anchors such as John Ham-brick and Susan Lichtman frolicking incongruously with NBC stars. Whatever happens, station executives will know on Tuesday who was watching. Miami is a metered market, and overnight ratings will reveal which station attracted the lion's share of viewers. West Palm Beach will take slightly longer. "What at first looked pretty dark has turned into a golden opportunity for us," says WSVN's Leider.

"If every station delivers half of what it promises, the real winner will be the viewer. In theory, that's the way it's always supposed to work." By BILL KELLEY Television Writer NBC will fly in the biggest horde of television stars that South Florida has seen in years to promote "Operation Peacock." That's the slogan given to the changeover of WTVJ-Ch. 4 from a CBS to an NBC station. Many of the stars Miami Vice's Philip Michael Thomas, L.A. Law's Jimmy Smits and The Golden Girls' Betty White among them are already turning up in slick TV spots that also feature Channel 4 newscasters and other personalities.

NBC will spend an estimated $3 million between now and the end of the first week in January, to court South Florida's TV viewers and keep them watching Channel 4. It's not a difficult task. WTVJ is giving up its affiliation with the third-rated network, CBS, and going with top-rated NBC. Robert Stack (Unsolved Mysteries), Raymond Burr (Perry Mason), Michael Talbott and Olivia Brown (Miami Vice), Estelle Getty (The Golden Girls) and Richard Dysart (LA. Law) are among the NBC stars who will introduce NBC 4 Tonight, a nightly half-hour show that will follow Channel 4's evening news and precede its NBC prime-time lineup of programs.

Channel 4 hired Bobby McFerrin to customize his record, Don't Worry, Be Happy, to the affiliate switch and Channel 4's leap to NBC. Thursday night at 7, Channel 4's executives will take calls from viewers in a half-hour special, Ask 4. WTVJ's chief engineer, Paul Russell, was enlisted to answer any questions about potential signal problems. Russell says none of the advance questions from Channel 4's research department are about "anything technical. Everyone just wants to know where they'll see their favorite stars." But what about CBS and Channel Good question.

CBS is buying WCIX-Ch. 6, but it doesn't plan much in the, way of promotion. A tentative appearance by Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sa jak (who will become host to a CBS late-night talk show beginning on Jan. 9) fell through last week. The network that brings us Dallas, 60 Minutes and Murder, She Wrote doesn't plan any fanfare to announce its takeover of Channel 6.

ABC isn't changing affiliates in Miami, and its new West Palm Beach affiliate, WPBF-Ch. 25, is paying the network to join the ABC family. Beyond a few print ads, ABC plans no promotion. For their $3 million, NBC and Channel 4 will, it seems, get the whole market to themselves. For the first week, anyway.

"It's true. The station has been polling people in shopping malls, and all they care about is where they're going to see their shows." Paul Russell, chief engineer of WTVJ-Ch. 4. Channel 6 used to be an independent. With NBC moving to Channel 4, former NBC affiliate Channel 7 becomes Miami's independent.

ABC programs in Miami continue to air on WPLCKIh. 10, which is not involved in the affiliate switch. ABC programs in West Palm Beach move from WPEC-Ch. 12 to a new station, WPBF-Ch. 25.

Channel 12 becomes West Palm Beach's CBS affiliate, so those who have watched CBS shows on Fort Pierce's WTVX-Ch. 34 will have to turn the dial. Channel 34 loses its CBS affiliation on Sunday and becomes an independent, airing movies and syndicated reruns. Shifting TV channels confuse many viewers Tracking shifts in networks just a numbers game By BILL KELLEY Television Writer The one question viewers want answered is, "Where can I see my favorite shows after the affiliate switch?" "It's true," says Paul Russell, chief engineer of WTVJ-Ch. 4.

"The station has been polling people in shopping malls, and all they care about is where they're going to see their shows." First off, the affiliate switch involves only network shows. You will continue to see all your favorite local anchors on the stations where you've always seen them. So, for example, although WSVN-Ch. 7 is becoming an independent after years as an NBC affiliate, Steve Dawson and Sally Fitz will continue to anchor the news. All NBC shows, which used to be on Channel 7 in MiamiFort Lauderdale, will be seen on Channel 4, starting on Sunday.

This includes Today, The Cosby Show, Miami Vice and NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. West Palm Beach viewers will continue to watch NBC shows on WPTV-Ch. 5. CBS programs in MiamiFort Lauderdale Dallas, Falcon Crest, CBS Evening News with Dan Rather will start airing on Sunday on WCIX-Ch. 6 instead of Channel 4..