The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 307

3 1 TELEVISION Among the first-run movies is Bo Derek in 'Ten' Super-Time: A New Pay Channel Programmed to Please the Bay Area SAN television FRANCISCO'S service first subscription "Super expand S.T.S.F. its has some programming ambitious commitment plans to to Time" debuted this month on KTSF- the community to include local producTV, Channel 26. Subscription Television tien of sports, cultural events, and of San Francisco (S.T.S.F.) recently ac- entertainment. Chris Lathrop, director of quired the rights from KTSF to broadcast program development, explained, pay-TV programming during the evening "There's so much going on in the Bay hours after more than a year of negotiat- Area and so much local talent that we'd ing. Now, KTSF stops its regular commer- like to show this off as much as possible.

cial programming every evening at 7 p.m. We're considering a number of possibiliand raises the curtain on 6-8 hours of ties now, including programs featuring first-run, uncut, commercial-free movies the work of local filmmakers, nightclub on "Super performers, theater groups, musicians, and possibly even the three symphony While it's true that subscription TV orchestras." broadcasts its signal over the air like commercial TV stations, that's where the Local production will depend to a similarity between the two ends. Viewers great extent on STV's ability to attract a who can receive KTSF's daytime signal stable vewing audience. For the moment, but who are not subscribers to "Super TOM THOMPSON S.T.S.F. is concentrating on attracting Time" will be disappointed when they that audience with first-run films.

Ac- discover that their sets start getting a scrambled picture at 7:05 p.m. every evening after a tantalizing "sneak preview" of that evening's programs on pay-TV. Only those who subscribe to the service and have the signal decoder box will receive the "Super Time" picture unscrambled. This month, "Super Time" offers subscribers a total of 30 feature films, including "And Justice For All," starring Al Pacino and La French Farce "La Cage Aux To receive "Super Time" there is a one-time fee to install an 18-inch antenna for optimal reception of the signal and the decoder box to unscramble the signal. Before any equipment is installed, however, a technician from "Super Time's" headquarters in San Bruno is sent to the site to find potential reception problems and to check the strength of KTSF's signal in that area.

The installation takes about one hour and costs $39.95. The subscriber pays a monthly charge of $19.95 for the service, which will continue to offer 30-40 films and other programs each month. The fact that STV is moving into a highly competitive. market where several major cable systems already provide pay channels with -run films doesn't dampen S.T.S.F. president Tom Thompson's confidence that "Super Time" will provide a viable alternative to pay-cable in the Bay Area.

He sees a marked difference in the services "Super Time" will provide. movie channels are programmed out of New York to please a national audience. It's difficult to be responsive to local audiences under those circumstances. We don't program to please the world; we program to please 'our Bay Area audience whether it fits national viewing patterns or not. For example, foreign films are very popular here, but not with a mass audience.

This month you can see 'La Cage Aux Folles' on 'Super Time' or see it in a theater, but you can't see it on cable movie channels," he explained. 12 13 1010) YOU Datebook, Sunday, Aug. 31, 1980 Meet, That Special Person Soon. Call Today and You Could Be Dating Someone Redily Nice Next Week! For Our FREE Brochure, Phone 431-2500, Any time (South Bay 295-8600) DATIQUE, INC. 505 VAN NESS.

8.F. 94102 "Largest Membership. Lowest Cost VIDEO CASSETTES Feature Films- -All Ratings RENTALS SALES RAYCOM 2884 Geary '931-3191 By Robert Cremer TOM THOMPSON cording to Thompson, a Bay Area ad campaign will begin in September to attract potential subscribers from Vallejo to San Jose. This means that S.T.S.F. will move into "cable territory." Thompson noted, "We're going to do everything we can to provide subscribers with the earliest showings of blockbuster films, and keep our eyes open for special programs that have particular local appeal." Getting the product is Bonnie Bellin's responsibility as programming director.

Her desk is adrift in a sea of program contracts and she's seldom without a phone in her hand. The competition for films is fierce and the race for scooping competitors relentless. Her efforts for September include first -run features such as "10" with Bo Derek, "Onion Field," and "The Deer Hunter" with Robert be Niro. Next month's program also includes thematic groupings of films by performer or genre. For example, a tribute to George Burns will feature two classic episodes of the "Burns and Allen" TV series and two features: "Going in Style" with Art Carney and "Just You and Me, Kid" with Brooke Shields.

A Woody Allen Festival will feature all his films from "Sleeper" through "Interiors." Animation will be very much in evidence with "Wizards," "Lord of the Rings," and "Pete's Dragon" on the schedule. Bellin is particularly excited about October's line-up. "We're going to show 'Superman, The and a Halloween triplebill with 'The and Horror'." But before you can ask about films coming up in November, she's back on the phone with another film distributor trying to close another deal. "My Bodyguard' is sensitive and gripping. It's 'Breaking and more.

It's brilliant!" Manlyn Beck. Syndicated Columnist Bodyguard' is fast, funny and freckled with unvarnished Rex Reed Bodyguard' is as refreshing as lemonade on a hot afternoon!" Rona Barrett. ABC TV Bodyguard' could be this summer's sleeper." Daily Vanety MY BODYGUARD MELVIN SIMON PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS A TONY BILL. FILM MY BODYGUARD STARRING CHRIS MAKEPEACE MATT DILLON CRAIG RICHARD NELSON INTROS IN: ADAM BALDWIN DAVE GRUSIN IS ALAN ORMSBY MS MELON TONY PRODUCTIONS AC CENTURY RUTH GORDON JOHN HOUSEMAN KATHRYN GRODY MARTIN MULL TINE MELVIN SIMON IN DON DEVLIN BILL PG PARENTAL MY OR 4 THIRD BIG WEEK! -EXCLUSIVE SAN FRANCISCO at 18th. Ave.

752:5100 SHOWS DAILY AT: 1:00,3:10, 5:20, 7:30 and 9:40. SAN FRANCISCO THEATRES INC. -ALSO AT THESE SELECTED -EAST BAYCALIFORNIA Berkeley FESTIVAL Hayward FESTIVAL Walnut Creek VINE Livermore METRO 04 Antioch -PENINSULAOLD MILL 6 Mtn. View UA TANFORAN San Bruno BAY AREA CENTER Sunnyvale -SAN JOSEOAKRIDGE San Jose SARATOGA San Jose UA PRUNFYARD Campbell -MARIN COUNTYFESTIVAL Larkspur -SANTA ROSAUA CINEMA SQ. Santa Rosa 'AND JUSTICE FOR ALL' OP HENA PAGE 9 41.