Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 26

NASDAQ WEDNESDAY March 30, 2005 DOW Closing 10,405.70 PHONES I WINNER DECLARED Verizon has won the bidding for MCI a second time, pagegc Closing 1973.88 Industry Report People 2 Markets 3-4 Mutual funds 5 ON THE WEB www.freep.com 1 nr. 1 1I phone 313-222-8765 Section lundred. its Five 'ord to freshe an Automaker plans to make grille more distinctive amid criticisms By JEFFREY McCRACKEN FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER Ford Motor Co. will give its all-important Five Hundred sedan an earlier-than-usual face-lift, changing the front of "The Five Hundred is going through a mid-cycle refreshing. The reality is this process started even before the Five Hundred went on sale, so it has nothing to do with sales," said Ford spokesman Dave Reuter.

"The redesign has to do with wanting consistency in the Ford showroom. We want the face of the Five Hundred to be more like the front of the Ford Fusion, which insisted the front-end redesign had nothing to do with customer complaints, slow sales or even the excitement of the hot-selling Chrysler 300, which is much more boldly designed. The Five Hundred, made at Ford's Chicago assembly plant, went on sale in October, and the automaker hopes the midsize sedan finally hits it monthly sales targets in March. Ford's goal is to sell at least 100,000 Five Hundred se dans a year, but monthly sales topped out at 7,524 in February. The refreshing of the front end, which includes a redesign of the grille and new styling to give the front a more aggressive look, will hit dealerships in mid-2007.

Normally, U.S. automakers wait four to five years before they do a minor redesign or give a face-lift to a vehicle, followed by a more extensive redesign that typically alters the vehicle dramatically. the vehicle, which auto critics, car magazines and consumers have criticized for its conservative Ford styling. Sales of the Five Hundred have been slow out of the gate, but Ford Please see FORD, Page 2C The 2005 Five Hundred is off to a slower start than Ford expected. DINGELL GOES Northwest wants more from unions Concessions total grows to $1.1 billion 0 BAT FOR FANS By JEWEL GOPWANI FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER By GRETA GUEST FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER Lack of free over-the-air Tigers broadcasts this season prompts Delta outsources repairs.

3C most of whom are unionized. "Airline officials are meeting with union representatives to discuss the new labor cost-savings and pension proposals with a goal of reaching agreements with all contract groups as soon as possible," the airline said in a statement Tuesday. Metro Airport's dominant carrier warned in January that it would ask for larger cuts. The figure includes $300 million in annual savings the airline realized in givebacks from pilots and salaried employees. While the Air Line Pilots Association expected a second round of Northwest Airlines Inc.

said Tuesday that it needs $1.1 billion in concessions from its unions $150 million more than it sought several months ago. The airline blamed high fuel prices and competitive fare reductions for having to bump up concessions it's seeking from seven labor unions. Eagan, Northwest plans to ask the unions to freeze their pension programs, capping what the airline owes to more than 34,000 unionized employees. The airline proposes replacing the current pension plan with a defined-contribution plan, such as a 401(k) employs 8,400 people based at Detroit Metro Airport, U.S. Rep.

John Dingell has fired off a letter to the owner of UPN-50 and WWJ-TV complaining about the lack of free Detroit Tigers broadcasts this season just as fans' hopes are rising about the baseball team's prospects. The stations, local CBS affiliates, and Tigers management were unable to reach contract agreements earlier this month, they said. The lack of free, over-the-air broadcasting of Tigers games has Dingell disappointed with opening day scheduled for Monday. Fans can still watch the majority of Tigers games this season through cable systems on Fox Sports Net Detroit. "While I am sure there are two sides to the story with re the longti ime congressman to complain to the stations involved Please see NWA, Page 3C Murtaugh reportedly will leave GM's China division Dingell's office has not received complaints from Tigers fans about the UPN-50 situation, he said.

The station aired 25 games last year. Fox Sports Net aired 100 games last year, but will air 110 games this year. "Detroit is famous as a sports town," Dingell said. "A congressman is not supposed to wait around for complaints." Bob Raymond, vice president of ticket sales for the Tigers, said the optimistic outlook for the team this year has heightened fan interest. "I would say we have had response from the fans that would like to see our games on over-the-air television, which is why we continue to try to ByTIANYING and EUGENE TANG BLOOMBERG gard to the Tigers and those negotiations, I am concerned for the baseball fans in southeast Michigan," the Michigan Democrat wrote.

"Their taxes helped fund construction of Comerica Park, but now they will have to pay for tickets or cable service if they want to watch Tigers baseball." Dingell sent a letter late Monday to Les Moonves, co-president and co-chief operating officer of Viacom Inc. in New York. "We have a long history with the Detroit Tigers, and unfortunately, negotiations on a deal to broadcast games this season hit a snag while the Tigers were considering their options," Linda Danna, senior vice president and general manager of WWJ-TV (Channel 62) and WKBD-TV (Channel 50), said in a statement Tuesday. "But we are looking forward to working with the Tigers in the future and fully intend to pursue a deal for next year." ment is found, they said. The departure comes as GM, the world's largest automaker, faces slowing sales in China, falling market share in North America and rising debt costs as its cred Philip Murtaugh Philip Murtaugh, who set up General Motors most profitable overseas venture, quit as chairman of the company's China unit after less than five years in the job, four people familiar with his resignation told Bloomberg News.

Murtaugh, 50, resigned for undisclosed personal reasons, said the four people, who declined to give their names. Troy Clarke, 49, the carmaker's Shanghai-based Asia-Pacific president, will oversee GM's four manufacturing ventures in China with the country's largest carmaker, Shanghai Automotive Industry until a replace it rating hovers near non-investment grade. Rick Wagoner, GM's chief executive, this month said the company would post its biggest quarterly loss in 13 years and make that happen," Raymond said. "I'm not going to comment on the over-the-air situation, other than to say we are hopeful to make a deal. UPN-50 has been a very good partner over the years.

They have been good to work with." Meanwhile, Raymond said that Tigers tick Please see CHINA Page 6C Y37 John Dingell says he's disappointed about the lack of free Tigers broadcasts and is airing his gripes. F3 I IW FINANCIAL HEADLINES ENERGY Commission OKs credit for excess energy Individuals and businesses that generate clean energy now can get credit for sending their excess production back onto the energy grid under an order approved Tuesday by state utility regulators. The Michigan Public Service Commission signed off on a statewide voluntary net metering program for at least five years. The program covers all renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, geothermal, bio-mass and hydroelectric. Commission Chairman J.

Peter Lark said the program is an important step toward encouraging more use of renewable energy sources. Customers who return excess energy to the grid will receive a credit at the utility's retail price of generation. "wv m. 4. jr- et sales are up over 20 percent this season compared to last year and opening day on Monday is sold out.

The team already has sold 1 million tickets for the season, which is the first time it has done so before a season started since Comerica Park opened in 2000. Fox Sports Net Detroit, which has the exclusive cable rights in a multi-year contract, increased the number of games it will broadcast "based on our belief that the Tigers are headed in the right direction and fans want more games from us," said Greg Hammaren, general manager. "This is a team that in two years has gone from the bottom of the pile to the top middle of the American League. They have a shot at the playoffs and we want to be there every step of the way," Hammaren said. ECONOMY Confidence falls Consumer confidence fell in March for the second consecutive month, the Conference Board said Tuesday.

The consumer confidence index dropped 2.0 points to 102.4, down from a revised 104.4 in February. But the board's Lynn Franco said, "Consumers are still quite confi-dent despite recent increases in unemployment claims and rising prices at the gas pump." TECHNOLOGY H-P replaces Fiorina Hewlett-Packard Co. named Mark Hurd, a low-key longtime NCR Corp. executive, on Tuesday to replace the ousted Carly Fiorina as president and CEO. Hurd, 48, resigned Tuesday as president and CEO of NCR and takes charge at HP on April 1.

Hurd joined Dayton, Ohio-based NCR, a computer services company, in 1980 and quietly spearheaded an ambitious turnaround. For more, see Page 2C. Contact GRETA GUEST of 313-223-4192 or gguestfrecpress.eom. Ifcistmtion by JOHN FIEMINQDetrolt f-m. Ptm.