The South Bend Tribune from South Bend, Indiana • 49

The arrival of a Fox affiliate one year ago changed Michianas TV landscape fyALESIA I. REDDING Tribune Skiff' Writer local programming consists of an eight-minute late evening news summary and public service announcements, has spotty coverage in noncable households. tien television station WSJV switched from ABC to Fox a little more than a year ago, more than a few people wondered at the effect of such a move. What happens when the largest market in the country without a local Fox affiliate, and a conservative market to boot, is invaded by the bold, in-your-face fourth network? "Im not sure we knew what to expect," says Kevin Sargent, vice president and general manager at WSJV Thomas A. Oakley, president of WSJV parent Quincy (HI.) Newspapers says, Changing networks is a gigantic job.

And going from a traditional to a newer network, one that is not as well-known in the market, is an even bigger job. Today, both men say theyre pleased with this first year of a long-term plan. Less pleasant were the six months between the announcement and the actual switch, when speculation and doubts were rampant. Initially, it appeared as if WSJVs change would result in the gain of a somewhat unknown quantity Fox, at the expense of a more familiar one, ABC. The public relations portion of the situation was enormous.

The time between the announcement and the switch was the roughest time, explains Sargent, who says most of the uproar died down within two weeks of the switch. Part of that reaction was undoubtedly due to the signing of WBND as the new ABC affiliate. The first low-power major network affiliate in the country, WBND signed on the same day, Oct. 18, 1995, that WSJV became Fox 28. Available on cable systems including TCI of Michiana, WBND is seen by about 100,000 cable subscribers, says Diana Ganser-Brandt, WBND sales manager.

But the station, whose 1 Sargent says. November will be our first real book with the revamped morning newscast. The goal for WSJV, a third-place finisher in local newscasts as an ABC affiliate, is to improve its numbers. But the long-term goal is to be No. 1 absolutely, Sargent says.

Ratings provide a measurement of a stations success; they inevitably lead to discussions of another R-word: revenue. While declining to give specific figures, Sargent says the switch is proving to be a good business decision: Its a major change, and it takes time for everything to balance out. Were not making less money than we did as an ABC affiliate, but it hasnt been a windfall. He notes, The decision was a long-term one. And we didnt expect an immediate wind- affiliates.

And, overall, he sees some ratings growth for his station since that first ratings book in November 1995. The prime-time newscast grew out of the ashes of November," he says. The broadcast earned a 1 rating in November 1995 among key demographics 18 to 49 and 25 to 54, moved to a 2 rating in February and a 3 in May (Rating equals the percentage of total households.) The numbers for the stations other newscast, however, have been less encouraging. Wake Up, which originally aired from 6 to 8 a.m., was moved to 7 to 9 a.m. and relaunched in July to offer an alternative to the national news shows.

The program earned a 1 rating in both key demographics in the November 1995 and February 1996 ratings; in May, it earned less than a 1 rating among ages 18 to 49 and a 1 in the 25-to-54 demographic. From a ratings standpoint, we dont know what will happen, Ratings and Revenue WSJVs strategy as a Pox affiliate has been to offer alternative programming. For example, the stations late local newscast airs one hour earlier than the competitions. And at 7 a.m., when national news programs such as Good Morning America are airing, WSJV offers "Wake Up, a local morning newcast. These and other moves are possible because Pox, unlike the traditional networks, provides less programming to its affiliates.

The network, which features NFL football and a top-rated lineup of childrens shows, programs 15 of 22 prime-time hours and has no afternoon lineup of soap operas or national evening newscasts. Sargent says WSJVs prime-time numbers are on par with the Midwest average for Fox See FOXE3 History of Jewish life in U.S. exhibited Hebrew grammar book there. The title page describes the language as this primitive tongue." Following the early arrivals of Spanish and English Jews, the first large-scale Jewish influx came in the mid-19th century with German Jews. As a result, German and Yiddish were used frequently in American Jewish communities, as shown in the photograph of an 1848 advertisement D.

Behrman" announced the sale of Passover groceries at his new store in New York, as well as the sale of Passover Haggadahs (holiday prayer-books) in both English and German. These historical artifacts, however, are dwarfed in number by dozens of portraits, both painted and photographed, of American Jews. Visitors with a healthy Jewish education will be well-acquainted with many of the figures depicted from See JEWISH E3 that have been reproduced as laminated signs hung through the museums hallway galleries. American Jewish history is divided into eras, beginning with 1654-1819: A Few Among the First Settlers." In fact, the exhibition makes no mention of a Jew believed to have traveled with Christopher Columbus in 1492. Each section begins with a large chart filled with dates and historical data through which only the most devoted history buffs will wade.

Fbr the persistent, however, the exhibition reveals a few facts that may surprise Jews and non-Jews. As early as 1660, settler Asher Levy was licensed as a butcher in New Amsterdam (now New York City) and excused from slaughtering hogs, in keeping with Jewish dietary law. The religious freedom of the United States did not immediately extend to all; a reproduction of an 1826 docu- By USA BORNSTEIN Tribune Staff Writer SOUTH BEND A traveling exhibition on Jewish life in the United States depends heavily on the viewers interest and knowledge. It also would benefit greatly from a local exhibit larger than the display case that is currently used. "Jewish Life in America is a touring exhibition curated by the Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith and the American Jewish Historical Society and sponsored in Indiana by the Michiana Jewish Historical Society It is on display in the Northern Indiana Center for History through Saturday The portrait it presents of Jewish America is literally two-dimensional, as the exhibition consists of documents, photographs and paintings JIWISH LIFE IN AMERICA: FULFILLING THE AMERICAN DREAM Through Saturday, in the Northern Indiana Center for History, 808 W.

Washington St, South Bend. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays, closed Mondays.

For more Information, call 235-9664. ment, The Jew Bill extended equal rights to Jews in Maryland, which was the first to do so. The photographs of early documents are among the most interesting items in the exhibit. Judah Monis, an American Jew who converted to Christianity, was a Hebrew scholar at Harvard University and in 1735 published a The Torah Is protected by the Torah cover, on display at the Northern Indiana Center for History. Tribune Staff Photo TiOlBS-UP Sblscl Ci Ebert report Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert agree on this one.

Space Jam, a Michael Jordan funfest, gets 3 Va stars from each. Pago E4 PLUS South Bend comic Jamahl Keyes looks forward to Canadian tour and TV spotPage E3 New album releases, including one by the Kinks, go under the reviewers knifeTPage E6 tr- r..