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Show BUSINE C7; THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2000 THE DAILY HERALD (www.HarkTheHerald.com) (GIBS BRAINSTORMS WASHINGTON (AP) 'ederal "There is no public service argument regulators approved the merger on Wednesday, paving the way for the two CBS-Viaco- that could be made that would warrant the death of UPN, which is just what would happen if we don't get it." , media companies to merge their extensive interests in television, movies, radio and outdoor advertising. The action by the Federal Anne Golden C o Send here: News from Utah County .' news. .' , '; want faxes and from Utah County businesses. I And I'd also love hearing from businesses in some great southern Utah towns like Price and ' Nephi. Is your business going public? Tell me about it. Are you having an incredible promotion that's going.to knock my socks off? Fax me. Have you faced a big challenge in your life or in your business and it somehow? Have you incorporated con-quere- d some new technology? Have you embraced some new corporate into your business? How about all. that fharity work you've been doing for so long, without any recognition? ' Got any tips that will help others lead better, ; Jives? Or have you invented a better mousetrap? want to know. Believe me, I love that stuff. I wrote a story recently about a company that was in the process of inventing some new technology. It was exciting to hear I them talking about it. You could even feel Sumner Redstone, Viacom Vchairman unications Commission "gives the companies one year to shed some TV stations to comply with rules that limit the percentage of national audience one company may reach through its own I sigh as I look at the faxes I receive every day. So many of them end up in the file that looks suspiciously like a trash can. There are faxes from businesses in California, who for some strange reason feel that their earning statements should make the business pages of The Daily Herald. There are announcements screaming at me from Salt' Lake City, telling me of new busi- - nesses opening there. And you know what? I'm not interested. I want Utah County mm the controlled excitement pulsating through the air. But in the midst of it all, one of the computer guys expressed amazement that I would find what they were doing interesting. j "OF COURSE I find it interesting," I told him. The companies their deal, the companies would have CBS and the fledgling UPN network, -- also would have a year to comply with another FCC rule that bans one entity from owning two networks. Under S control was essential: "There is no public service argument that could be line broadcast network that, keep it, it will succeed." Regulators gave the six company merged months to abide by rules that limit how many television and radio stations one company can own in the same market. The agency ruled that in five markets the combined company would exceed the caps. ' Commission approval is the final step in the The Justice process. has brought viewers 60. Minutes" and "Murder, She . Wrote." CBS, which changed hands four years ago when it was by bought Electric Westinghouse Corp., will now become part of a radio, television and film powerhouse to rival Time conglomerates Warner Inc. and Walt Disney Co. The deal gives CBS a television and film studio to provide shows. for, its net-- , work. Viacom gains major advertising outlets to promote the films and shows produced by Paramount Department 'already determined that the deal did not raise any antitrust con- - Id warrant, cerns. The deal, originally val the death of UPN, which is just what would happen if ued at $36 billion when it in announced we don't get it," Sumner was Redstone said. He said he September, combines" the hopes and expects they will owner of hip properties like be able to keep UPN. "If we MTVand VHl with the old- - made,ihatwou -- its and Spelling Entertainment TV studio. covering new 'air' The inspira NEW YORK (AP) tion struck Don Kempf while he was sitting in the .back row of a movie about Niagara Falls at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. He decided he would use the massive IMAX screen for some thing other than a nature film. He wanted the world to have an eight-stormovie about one of his heroes: Michael Jordan. Three years later, the results of that epiphany arrive in IMAX thegiant-scree- iiiHu, n (I y aters around the country this an extremely close-ucelebration of the world's most famous athlete, called "Michael Jordan to the Max." If it's successful, you can expect fewer IMAX movies about natural wonders and more about sports human draand other mas. Think Super Bowls instead of weekend , p The Associated Press New directions: Screen Sports. Michael Jordan, shown 'in , this undated photo, is the subject of a new fast-movin- g project created IMAX by Giant , Jordan's artistry and time to examine rivulets of sweat on his body and the pained expressions on his opponents' faces. After the invention of IMAX technology more than 30 years ago, year; 1999 revenue was $203 mil- But with - lion. The company also landed its . film, Disney's . "Fantasia 2000," which has taken in $64 million worldwide;' supernovas. With that in mind, the makers of "I don't think there's any other "Michael in Jordan to the Max", should be IMAX theaters were mostly way that Michael Jordan believe who with amusement or said 33, museums they have hit on a winning shown," Kempf, parks, his brother, Steve, and they tended to explore natural formula. It cost just $7.2 million to formed a company called Giant subjects, such as the wonder of make. The Kempf brothers hooked up Screen Sports. "Very few people flight and African elephants. have had the opportunity to see But around the time the Kempf with director Jim Stern, whose: Michael Jordan that close." brothers were putting together first feature film, "All the Rage," also comes out this spring. Stern The Kempfs are already working their Jordan idea, IMAX Corp. on their next IMAX projects, which makes the projection and happens to be a part owner of the including films about Wayne sound systems and distributes Chicago Bulls, which helped the filmmakers get Jordan to particiwas expandGretzky and World Cup soccer. many IMAX films IMAX theaters' giant screens fill ing, signing deals with commercial pate. Jordan's agent and NBA viewers' peripheral vision, immers- theater chains. There are more Entertainment also signed on as than 200 IMAX theaters world- producers. ing them in a setting. The film follows Jordan through In the Jordan movie, the effect wide, 130 of them in the United-States- . the 1998 final performance his basketball on the audience the puts he led his when NBA in the court with 20,000 fans clamoring The company, based playoffs, sixth to team its Bulls record Toronto all around. aging footage suburbs, posted gives the viewers a sense of profits for the fourth quarter last -- th Slow-motio- n old footage, non-IMA- and the narration of actor Laurence Fishburne, the film also; slows down to recount Jordan's life ; story, from his initial failure to ; make his high ' school ' his father's murder and short-livebaseball career to', his team;-throug- h d his finals-winnin- shot in '98. g Capturing fast-pace- d . . sports footage courtside presented some' challenges not faced by IMAX film- - ; makers on savannahs or above volcanoes. IMAX cameras weigh about 100 Stern' pounds and are bulky jokes that they "look "like they could pitch batting practice." Also, the cameras can handle only three minutes of film at a time, and it takes about four minutes to change rolls. That forced the filmmakers to roll spare cameras at. all times, so as not to miss any action. FCC: Time Warner violated rules in dropping ABC WASHINGTON (AP) The Federal Communications Commission deter-mine- millions of consumers paid the price. No company d Wednesday that Time Warner violated a " I love new technology. Xnd Utah County is a hotbed of Internet start- up companies and new Anne Golden is the busi ness reporter for The Daily Herald. She can be reached or at cable companies from deleting local signals during the period known as "sweeps." The sweeps, a period when ratings are used to set local advertising rate,s, began Thorsdayand runs" until May 24. The commission's decision comes a day after the two companies called a and set a new cease-firJuly 15 deadline for their negotiations over compensation for cable channels. FCC officials said enforcement actions would be considered separately. "Time Warner Cable committed a clear violation of FCC rules," said FCC William Chairman UtdhBusinesNewsaol.com Kennard. 344-256- 2 Last month, Viacom's chairman said keeping UPN under Viacom-CB- which Viacom owns. The companies would hold onto the UPN network during the oneyear period. The FCC also is reviewing the dual network ban, and it could be relaxed by the time the companies had to comply with the agency's rule. communications law when it dropped ABC stations from its cable systems in some markets earlier this week. Acting on a petition filed by ABC on Monday, the commission found Time Warner had breached the inventions. We're actually a. pretty creative bunch when it comes to creating new businesses or finding new ways of doing things. So call me. Or better vet, take a break some afternoon and come and tell, me your story in person. Don't be shy. These are your pages. And I want them to be filled with your stories. meow sippowed osKSinni provision that prohibits e - "Unfortunately, should use consumers as pawns in a private contract dispute." If the FCC decides on enforcement action, it could assess forfeitures of $7,500 per violation per day up to a maximum of $250,000, agency officials said. ABC had argued that Time Warner overstepped the law when the cable company stopped airing ABC programs in a number of markets at 12:01 a.m. Monday. The FCC's cable service bureau sided with ABC, asserting that the law did coveTheaseTCTeTrthougn it involved two companies engaged in private contractual negotiations over transmission. "The clarification provided by today's action will protect consumers from experiencing a disruption in viewing a local television station during the sweeps period," the FCC said. The skirmish left 3.5 million cable TV customers without the ability to watch ABC for more than 27 hours. the 3.5 million customers around the country who lost The media giants have been fighting over the money The Walt Disney Co, ABC's corporate parent wants for letting Time Warner air some of its cable channels. When they face their new July 15 deadline, the companies will be in another sweeps months meaning that the FCC rule would be in play again. "We appreciate the speed with which the FCC acted, and are obviously pleased with the decision," said ABC spokeswoman Julie Hoover. The National Association of 'Broadcasters chief, Edward Fritts, said Time Warner's action "once again shines a spotlight on the cable industry's gatekeeper ABC's signal for a day and a tern-porar- power." in The victory Washington aside, ABC stepped up its battle with on Warner Time Wednesday, offering a $198 rebate to certain cable customers who want to switch to satellite television. The offer was made newspa-- . through to Time Warner per ads ' cable subscribers in New full-pag- e York City, Houston and Los Angeles. They were among half because of a battle between the network and Time Warner. "If Time Warner can dish at no it out, so can we cost to you," the advertisement said. made Rebates were available to the first 1,000 people to respond by telephone in each city. Within 2 12 hours, all the rebate coupons were gone, Hoover said. Time Warner reacted angrily to what an executive called "an assault on our business." The company on Tuesday reached a truce with ABC's Walt Disney Co., the parent, restoring the network's signal to its customers and setting a July 15 deadline to resolve its dispute over compensation for Disney's cable networks. "Instead of continuing to run attack ads against us, we had hoped they would want to negotiate on the issues that separate us," Warner Time said Michael spokesman Luftman. "I'm afraid that . . y Disney has indicated that they're not interested in a real agreement." Time Warner is preparing its own offer to customers that will demonstrate the company's regret what over happened, Luftman said. He would not offer details. Disney's offer was made with the satellite TV provider DirecTV. EchoStar which Communications, manufactures competing satellite systems under the brand Dish Networks, has offered Time Warner customers a free dish and installation if they agree to gramming for $40 a month. ABC has not decided whether to expand its offer to more customers, Hoover said. Other communities affected by the ABC blackout, including Raleigh-DurhaN.C.; Philadelphia; Toledo, Ohio; and Fresno, Calif., were not included either because DirecTV was not ready to handle an extensive rollout of service there or the ter-- ; for satel-- ; rain was lites. |
