Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • 7

Austin American-Statesman From Page One NS Friday, February 26, 1999 A7 Aiistiii's ABG sdfiliate joins Belo stable of Texas stations Let's Hands Free 1 Austin TV Who owns Austin's television stations: KEYE Channel 42 Granite Broadcasting Corp. KXAN Channel 36 Lin Television Corp. KTBC (FOX) Channel 7 Fox Broadcasting KVUE Channel 24 A.H. Belo Corp. (pending FCC and other approvals) ERICSSON DH618 strategic transaction for both Gannett and Belo and allows us to better position our strong television groups to compete in the next millennium." Gannett officials declined to comment further.

Moroney said the swap will give Gannett more broadcast coverage in the United States. "They are increasing their U.S. footprint. Sacramento represents twice the number of homes as Austin," he said. Gannett owns 21 TV stations in such cities as Cleveland, Minneapolis, Denver, St Louis and Little Rock, Ark.

Its holdings would cover 17.3 percent of the U.S. television market if the deal with Belo gains regulatory approval. Nationwide, Belo owns 17 stations, manages four other stations and owns three local cable news channels. Moroney said it is not clear who will become general manager of KVUE. Sam Rosenwasser, KVUE's station manager since 1995 and its president since 1996, willmove by April 1 to Sacramento to be station manager of KXTV.

On Thursday Belo's stock closed $49 Continued from Al to help support that," Moroney saidV'When KVUE is a part of our company, we will absolutely be adding content to this system." With KVUE, an ABC affiliate, Belo will be able to air news reports from KVUE news crews on TXCN. But most television viewers shouldn't expect to see TXCN in the Austin area anytime soon. That's because the region's primary cable television Warner Cable, is planning its own 24-hour news channel and isn't expected to carry TXCN. Belo also gets a very profitable station with KVUE. "Even though (Gannett is) going into a bigger market (Sacramento), they were clearly making a greater profit in Austin than we were in Sacramento," Moroney said.

"I think it's a great deal for Belo," said Paul Sweeney, a media analystfor Salomon Smith Barney in New York. "It furthers their strategy of clustering their television stations, especially in Texas." Sweeney said a similar Belo cable news operation in the Pacific Northwest is doing well. KVUE went on the air in 1971. In the early 1980s, when it was a CBS affiliate, KVUE broke KTBC's longstanding grip as Austin's No. 1 news station.

KVUE dominated the television news market for several years, but recently it fell to 4E i Call today and receive a FREE Ericsson DH618 with the purchase of any Digital Phone. second place behind NBC affiliate KXAN in viewership by all ages. KVUE still is No. 1 for news viewership in the key 25- tq 54-year-old category something that clearly was of interest to Belo. KVUE has long had a close relationship with WFAA-TV, a Belo television station in Dallas.

The two stations have at times shared resources. And KVUE's former news director, the late Carole Kneeland, once headed WFAA's Capitol coverage. In Sacramento, KXTV, also an ABC affiliate, is the second-most-watched news station, far behind highest ratings of any NBC affiliate in the country. Cecil L. Walker, Gannett's president and chief executive, said in a news release that the trade "is a at $17.6834, up 12V4 cents.

Gannett closed at down 37V4 cents Plus FREE ERICSSON HandsFree Kit!" Area Locations South Austin Barton Creek MalL 347-9470 North Austin Lakeline Mall 336-9358 American-Statesman staff writer Diane Holloway contributed to this report. You may contact Kim Tyson at ktyson statesman.com or 445-3642 and Diane Holloway at dholkway statesmah.com or 445-3608. Ericsson DH618 Ford to unveil huge new SUV While supplies last. but others will want every bit of it. For some people, he said, "it's all about having the biggest and the baddest." Choose from any of the 7 great rate plans including our most The Excursion originally was conceived as a heavy-duty hauler largely for commercial use.

But the unexpected strong demand for the big Ford Expedition and its luxury sibling, the Lincoln Navigator, prompted executives to de 700 MINUTES 3498 building the kind of vehicles people want. And one of the biggest growth markets has been for big, expensive SUVs. Environmentalists argue that Detroit has created the SUV demand by spending billions on advertising over the past decade to promote them as fashionable, rugged, go-anywhere transport even though most owners use them primarily to commute and go to the store. Nonetheless, many drivers including lots of Texans love SUVs. Ford is hoping Excursion will keep it among the forefront of SUV makers.

Chuck Jett, general sales manager at Georgetown's Draeger Motor Co. said Excursion's size may turn away some buyers, Continued from Al for powerful pickups and SUVs, which burn more fuel and tend to pollute more than cars. Indeed, the Excursion, expected to sell for $45,000 to $50,000, carries a per-vehicle profit of between $12,000 and $20,000, making it one of the most profitable vehicles. Ford has been uncommonly quiet about the Excursion. The vehicle is conspicuously absent from this year's auto show circuit.

Ford executives generally have declined to talk about it. Today, Ford plans a low-key unveiling of the Excursion to reporters at its Dearborn headquarters. Ford wouldn't comment on the criticismfrom environmentalists. The standard reply from Detroit executives is that they're simply sign the Excursion as an upmarket alternative to the Suburban. General Motors has been antic 200 Anytime 500 Weekend LET'S TALK CEUUIAR WIREltSS ipating the new competitionfor its Suburban, which has been redesigned for 2000 based on GM's new OVER 250 LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE full-size pickup chassis.

Includes Free Voice Mail Call Waiting Toll Free Texas Newacovaflonsonly-12 to service egreameffl required 500 weekend mJnutes WeekwJ nwutes araOato tram 12: 1999 reqixes aedn approval actvatan ol Otgoi One Rate caning plan, annual contract and a digital mum-network phone from Must subscribe to Wireless tang distance Rates not avaiatte wnen using your phone out arte me S. or wnen cas require a aedrt card operator assstance irfernat long (Usance Is not included- fcrtme far each caK measure tun minute maemenfc and rounded up to the next tui minute. Digital PCS features not avatiaote in aH areas ti terms and cprrttwns are contained the welcome Gude. Rate Sheet or Carafi Offer may rty.fe.99mo.chgewiapptjar1 ue Staff writer Charlotte Moore contributed to this report, which also includes materi AM" Wireless Services Authorized Dealer al from the Associated Press. TM I SAVE ON NEWBORN, INFANT, TODDLER PRESCHOOL SIZES 25-30 OFF ALL CARTER'S 30 OFF ALL OSHKOSH B'GOSH 25OFF ALL LITTLE ARIZONA JEAN CO.

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