The Herald-News from Passaic, New Jersey • 37

Ch. 47 to remain free, ABC wants to charge plied for low-power subscription licenses i five cities, including New York. The network has proposed airing pay fart with commercials, to the Apple. Los Angeles Chicago. Detroit and San Francisco.

The pr grams here would be telecast via Channel 19. ABC execs maintained the service would affect the regular stuff seen via Channel 7. Of course, the whole thing will take month for the FCC to review before reaching decisio if in Air Fare By MIKE BOTTA Herald-News Staff riter In a move that will probably delight the hearts of Wometco executives. WNJU-TV Channel 47 has dropped all plans to air pay television programming in the evening hours. The decision was made at the station's last board of directors meeting and ultimately means the owners intend to bolster their commitment to the Spanish-speaking population of New York and vicinity.

Marcella Medina, assistant to the president of WNJU, said pay TV plans were dropped for a variety of reasons, among them the existence of competition via Channel 68 WHT movie service and heavy cable penetration in the metropolitan area. Channel 47, along with WXTV Channel 41 one of two Spanish-language station's in the metro area, was sold by original owner Columbia Pictures about a year ago. While Columbia still owns 20 percent stock in the Newark-based operation, major holders are Gerald Perenchio. a West Coast over-the-air pay TV entrepreneur, and TV syndicators, Tandem Productions. Both hold 40 percent stock.

The FCC last year authorized the establishment of pay service via Channel 47 and. according to Medina, the subscription license has not yet run out. But, "all plans for STV (industry lingo for pay TV) have been dropped," she said. "It's not a good idea to go into the subscriber market right now," Medina said. "Besides, why should we do that when we now hold a two-to-one edge o'er Channel 41?" Perenchio.

who at one point attempted to steal the Yankee television package from WPIX-TV for broadcast to- paying customers, started "ON TV" in Los Angeles, generally regarded as the most successful over-the-air system in existence. He wanted to do the same thing here in the no. 1 city, but "the two markets are very different," says Ms. Medina. Amen.

George Burns his ever-present cigar in hand, goes through a few dance steps with host Dick Clark, right, and a young dancer during taping of Clark's 'American Bandstand' show for ABC, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Burns, who recently turned 85, sings a song from his new album. UA-COLUL1DIA DELIVERS AMERICA'S 1 SUPER8TATIOH. WOODY ALLEN is suing the Eastern Educ-tional Network and a program distribute among others, charging they enabled a twt year-old interview to be aired in the Unite States without authorization, according to a sti ry in Variety, the trade publication. The newspaper reported the comedian wa angered when WNET-TV Channel 13 broadca: the half-hour interview on Jan.

9. In his suit, Allen has reportedly asked for $21 million in damages from the French produce the interviewer, the Eastern network and th program syndicator. A Channel 13 spokeswoman said the static was not involved since it was an innocent thir party and purchased the interview aspart of "Super Star" interview series from EEN. Allei in the suit filed in New York Federal Cour claimed he agreed to the interview two yeai ago on the condition it would be televised onl in France. EEN obtained the package from Jerry Dexto Program Syndication, Los Angeles, and distril uted the tape to its 75 East Coast affiliates.

WHILE WNJU has decided to can its pay TV plans, word came Thursday that ABC has ap- Dial datachannel chit chat WOR-TV Channel 9: A five-day-a-week on-ai shop at homeservice planned for Septembers the 9 to 10 a.m. slot. They're calling it an "elei 4 v. A 4 By MIKE BOTTA Jterald-News SUff Writer WCBS-TV Channel 2: N.j. Assembly leaders Christopher Jackman and Dean Gallo to be interviewed on "public Hearing," Sat.

at 2:30 p.m. mud wrestling, featuring bikini-clad ladies splashing around in mud pools, to highlight next Wednesday's "7:30 Magazine." WNBC-TV Channel 4: Early edition of "News 4 New York" to run five-part special report series, "Crime in the Streets," week of Feb. 6. Three parts will concern gun laws, two parts on, repeat offenders. WNEW-TV Channel 5: Starting Feb.

2, 7 p.m. "MASH" for five weeks will feature episodes, never before seen in syndication. Showcase will present "Churchill and the Generals" starring Timothy West and Joseph Cotton, hosted by Eric Sevareid, March 5. two Agatha Chritie TV who-dun-its coming; "Seven Dials Mystery," April 16, "Why Didn't They Ask Evans," May 21. WABC-TV Channel 7: Another "Planet of the Apes" week coming Feb.

16. News Conference," Sat. 2 p.m., interviews Gov. Byrne on extended water restrictions. Beutel in Japan for feature comparing subway systems there and here.

He'll also survey industry and society there. Air dates March 2 through 4 on "Eyewitness News" shows. uviui; taiaiugue. omic uuuci lias auyci bu tion" satellite status, buyers expected from a 50 states. WPIX-TV Channel 11: "Focus: New Jersey.

10:30 p.m. Feb. 8, explores the severity of th water shortage with Public Utilities presiden George Barbour, hosted by John Hamilton. WNET-TV Channel 13 A documentary on th South Bronx has been tentatively scheduled fu March 25. feature on New Jersey unemplo.v ment now in the works.

"A Lion in Winter starring Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Tool airs for first time ever March 19. UHF: Looks as though Channel 68 will picking up Notre Dame basketball for telecast ing in the late night hours, following pa programming. 47 will expand broad cast day by four hours starting Monday, signin on at 11 a.m. instead of 3 p.m. 31 Is cense being challenged by a Harlem religion group.

License now held by city of New York. CABLE: h-K Columbia Cablevision to run 1 part series on the history space travel througl February. The NASA production may be seei on Channel 3. UA-Colurftbia Cable TV brings you WTBS, Ted Turner's unique SuperStation from Atlanta on UA Channel featuring Super Specials, Super Movies and Super Sports action, like the NBA, Collegiate basketball, indoor NASL and more. And WTBS is just one of 35 exciting channels of first-run Movies, one-of-a-kind Specials and exclusive Sports on UA-Columbia Cable TV.

If you're not a subscriber, don't miss another day. Call 337-2100 WE iDELIVER CJBCG UA COLUMBIA CABLE 7 Fir Court Oakland N.J. 07436 C-1 2 The Herald-News, Friday Jan. 30, 1981 Serving North Jersey.