The Billings Gazette from Billings, Montana • 13

The Billings Gazette Friday, March 9, 1990 5-B MGM accepts buyout FCC makes move fo reduce long-distance rules on LOS ANGELES (AP) Hollywood's latest corporate marriage would unite a European film conglomerate that produced "American Ninja 4" with the legendary studio responsible for "The Wizard of Oz." MGM UA Communications Inc. said Wednesday that it accepted a $1.2 billion buyout offer from Italian financier Gian-carlo Parretti's Pathe Communications Corp. Parretti also will take over $400 million in junk bond debt as part of the deal. The deal concludes a drama in which several individuals and companies, includ ing Ted Turner and Walt Disney Co, considered buying MGM-UA. MGML'A and Pathe make an odd couple.

Pathe's Cannon Releasing Group is a leading purveyor of so-called exploita-tion films packed with guns and flying kicks. Upcoming releases include "American Ninja 4," "Death Warrant" and "Stranglehold: Delta Force IL" MGML'A, whose films are released under the MGM and United Artist banners, is one of Hollywood's jewels, producing the 1939 Judy Garland classic "The Wizard of Oz" and the 1988 Academy Award-winning "Rain Man." FCC formally declared in 1981 as a "dominant" carrier that should be subject to regulation to prevent abuses to competitors or customers. has argued that it no longer is dominant and that it has lost $10 billion in business to competitors since the 1984 breakup of the old Bell System. Prices have fallen 40 percent and its share of the long-distance market has dropped below 70 percent. MCI now has about 12 percent ot the business, US Sprint about 9 percent, and the rest is scattered among hundreds of smaller companies.

applauded the proposals for long-distance carriers, saying the commission "took a major step toward shaping policies based not on outdated orthodoxy but on future flexibility. The FCCs proposal validates premise that everyone gains when all competitors are free to anticipate an meet customer needs." Competitors were less pleased, with MCI saying that while it too welcomed the FCC inquiry, the FCC "clearly recognizes" that can leverage its "dominance to abuse" competitors. The commission decided not to propose any changes to residential and small business services at this time. WASHINGTON (AP) The Federal Communications Commission, taking another big step towards deregulating the interstate long-distance market, proposed Thursday to loosen rules on because the one-time monopoly now faces "significant competition." The commission, in a 4-0 vote, adopted a staff proposal that, if finally approved, would give the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. the freedom it says it needs to maneuver against about 500 long-distance companies in today's $55 billion long-distance marketplace.

The commission said it would study competition in the interstate long-distance arena and adopt necessary regulatory reforms. But it tentatively concluded that "interstate services as a whole are now subject to significant competition and that competition in the provision of business services is particularly vigorous" a key finding that must be made to deregulate Based on those conclusions, the commission proposed a phased-in package of changes in certain business services, extending later to toll-free 800 services, international calling and operator services. The proposals are a victory for which the GIANCARLO PARRETTI Italian movie mogul Glendive TV station joins MTN Livestock, meat prices go higher again news director at KXGN, will continue to report and anchor the local news. Besides KTVQ, the other members in the Montana Television Network are three stations owned by Cordillera Communications: KXLF in Butte, KRTV in Great Falls and KPAX and in Missoula. KTVQ is owned by SJL of Montana Associated Limited Partnership.

The network also operates news bureaus in Helena, Kalispell and Bozeman. The network assignment desk in Billings coordinates the sharing of news, weather and sports material gathered from member stations, although each local station decides on the content of its news broadcasts. Glendive-based KXGN, Channel 5, has joined other CBS affiliates in the Montana Television Network. KXGN is a CBS and NBC network affiliate serving Eastern Montana. Beginning March 19, KXGN will be part of the cooperative news-gathering organization that includes the state's other CBS affiliates.

KXGN will rebroadcast the news programs of KTVQ, Channel 2, of Billings Monday through Friday at noon and 5:30 p.m. KTVQ's late-night newscasts will be broadcast nightly at 10 p.m. The Glendive station will continue to provide local news each week-night at 10:30 p.m. Mark Gauthier, The relationship with KXGN offers us an opportunity to get timely coverage of events in Eastern Montana," said Al Nash, news editor at KTVQ. Advertisements from Glendive and surrounding communities will be used during KTVQ's broadcasts over KXGN, Nash said.

Dan Frenzel, general manager at KXGN, said the station expects to provide reports about Eastern Montana to other CBS affiliates. Glendive Broadcasting Corp. operates KXGN, which went on the air in 1957. The Montana Television Network was founded in November 1971 by longtime Montana broadcaster Joe Sample. Mercantile Exchange.

Crude oil settled 11 cents to 18 cents lower, with the contract for delivery in April at $20.78 a barrel Heating oil was .01 cent to .85 cent lower, with April at 55.34 cents a gallon; and unleaded gasoline was 25 cent to .88 cent lower, with April at 56.14 cents a gallon. The Associated Press Livestock and meat prices surged Thursday for the third consecutive session at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange amid concerns about tight hog supplies. Cattle settled .30 cent to .70 cent higher, with the contract for delivery in April at 77.27 cents a pound; feeder cattle were .25 cent to .85 cent higher, with March at 81.87 cents a pound. Meanwhile, live hogs were .05 cent to .65 cent higher, with April at 52.07 cents a pound; and frozen pork bellies were .37 cent to 2.00 cents higher, with March at 50.95 cents a pound. Soybean and grain futures finished higher after opening slightly lower on the Chicago Board of Wheat settled 2 cents to 3 cents higher, with the contract for March at $3.83 a bushel; corn was 14 cent to 2 cents higher, with March at $2.42 a bushel; oats were 14 cents to 2 cents higher, with March at $1.45 a bushel; and soybeans were 4 cents to 7 cents higher, with March at $5.81 a bushel Oil prices sagged for a third straight session on the New York I 1 1 I -i I 1 p.n H7) TP ppp Li ULJJlJ vryUMLb i 1 ii Stock listing survey Within the next few months, The Gazette will convert to a new high-speed, satellite-delivered stock system known as SelectList I.

It will provide more flexibility and greater reliability that the existing system. And it can be tailored to meet the needs of readers and investors. We'd like your help in designing the stock market page and in selecting the stocks and mutual funds that will be carried in The Gazette. All you have to do is tear out the stock market page, circle those Mutual Funds, NYSE and AMEX stocks that you follow and mail the page to: Stock Markets Editor The Billings Gazette P.O. Box 36300 Billings, MT S91 07-6300 If there are stocks or mutuals that you follow, but are not currently listed, write those on a separate sheet of paper and mail it along with the markets page from The Gazette.

Mail it before March 15. The new SelectList which is purchased from the Associated Press, carries only the most active Mutual Funds and NYSE and AMEX stocks but can be modified to meet the needs of local investors. Your input now will help us design the stock market page to satisfy your needs. imiiED TIME OFFER YOUR DOLLARS 0 r. hs FURTHER AT almost like giving money For a Limited Time, get your choice of FREE I furniture with every purchase you make.

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