By Michael Schneider and Josef Adalian
Wednesday July 25 4:44 AM ET
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - CBS will approach its affiliates in the coming weeks about giving the broadcaster a greenlight to start repeating primetime series on its sister Viacom cable channels.
While rival networks NBC and ABC have already carved out secondary cable windows for some of their series (with Fox and the WB expected to do the same this year), CBS hasn't yet jumped on the repurposing bandwagon.
That's because CBS' current pact with stations keeps entertainment programming exclusive to the broadcast network for one year after its premiere. CBS made the promise in 1998; in exchange, affiliates agreed to help the network cover its pricey NFL package.
That may change, CBS Television CEO Leslie Moonves told reporters Tuesday at the network's portion of the Television Critics Assn. press tour.
While the session was dominated by questions on the controversial reality skein ``Big Brother 2,'' Moonves also addressed the need to re-examine CBS' policy on dual windows.
``We're in the process of trying to work out a new affiliate deal,'' Moonves said. ``At the moment, we have no plans to (carve out dual windows).''
CBS Entertainment president Nancy Tellem said the network wants to be careful about sharing programs, because it's still unclear whether a second window hurts the original network run.
``We haven't fully embraced repurposing,'' Tellem said. ``We want to be careful.''
Moonves admitted he's been afraid to jump on the repurposing bandwagon due to his fears about how it might affect a program's performance on CBS. He now concedes the concept is ``the wave of the future.''
For now, the network has found a middle ground by reselling rookie crime hit ``C.S.I.'' to sister cable network TNN, but with a two-year lag. TNN will start airing the first season of the drama next year. CBS made-for-TV movies also may end up on TNN.
When CBS struck the exclusivity clause with its affiliates, the network had few cable outlets with which to carve out dual windows anyway. But now, as part of the Viacom behemoth, CBS is anxious to synergize its lineup -- and deflect primetime costs by immediately rerunning its shows elsewhere. Viacom also owns MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon and Showtime.
CBS affiliate group owners are meeting with the network in a few weeks to address repurposing, among other topics, said Freedom Broadcasting president Alan Bell.
``Obviously we will try to be reasonable,'' Bell said. ``I think it's inevitable. But you just want to do it the right way.''
Meanwhile, Moonves and Tellem defended the network's decision to air ``Big Brother 2,'' despite the show's recent controversial turn when a knife-wielding housemate with a criminal past was evicted by producers.
``'Big Brother' is an experiment,'' Moonves said. ``We're trying it out over the summer. ... I'm looking for trying different types of programming forms. I'm tired of putting on 'Diagnosis Murder' reruns in the summer.''
Moonves also took issue with the spin offered by rival executives that repeats of drama and comedy series have taken a ratings nosedive this summer.
``The other guys aren't doing so well,'' he said. ``Our original programming is holding on to a larger ratio of the originals than the other guys.''
Despite the poor showing of repeats on some networks this summer, Moonves said it's unlikely CBS will ever make a serious attempt to put more scripted programming on during the off-season. ``You can't economically afford to put sitcoms or dramas on in the summer,'' he said. ``It can't work.''
Enter reality -- much to the TV critics' chagrin. After a nearly hourlong barrage of questions about ``Big Brother 2,'' with critics exploring virtually every possible angle of the show, Moonves seemed frustrated with the relentless focus of the journos.
``It's going to be over in 10 weeks,'' he said of the show. ``And then we're going to have a nice fall schedule.''
Before being bombarded with ``Big Brother'' questions, Moonves managed to announce CBS' fall premiere dates.
The network's latest reality series, ``The Amazing Race,'' will be first out of the gate, bowing Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 9 p.m. That's the same day NBC is launching its limited-run chase series ``Lost'' (although NBC's show airs an hour earlier).
Moonves wants to give ``Race'' a two-week headstart on NBC's ``The West Wing (news - web sites),'' which is expected to return Sept. 19.
CBS is saving its biggest gun of the season for last, launching ``Survivor: Africa'' on Thursday, Oct. 11. The show will run without pre-emptions, wrapping up Jan. 10 with a two-hour finale.
After a break for the Winter Olympics, the fourth edition of ``Survivor'' is expected to bow in early March, wrapping up in the last week of the 2001-02 season.
Moonves wouldn't say what CBS will air Thursdays at 8 p.m. in the weeks leading up the ``Survivor: Africa'' premiere, but indicated the lineup would include a ``Survivor'' casting special.
The only CBS scripted series getting an early jump is spooky drama ``Wolf Lake,'' debuting Sept. 12.
CBS is giving the Ellen DeGeneres comeback vehicle ``The Ellen Show'' a sneak peak on Monday, Sept. 17, in the 9:30 p.m. slot after ``Everybody Loves Raymond (news - Y! TV).'' That's the first night of the new season -- and, not coincidentally, the night after DeGeneres hosts the 53rd annual Primetime Emmys on CBS.
``The Ellen Show'' settles into its regular 8 p.m. Friday slot on Sept. 21. ``Becker'' begins its fourth season Sept. 24 at 9:30 p.m.
Otherwise, all of CBS' new and returning programs will roll out during premiere week, starting with ``The King of Queens'' Sept. 17 and ending with ``The CBS Sunday Movie'' Sept. 23.
Reuters/Variety REUTERS
[MAIN] [ABOUT THE WEBMASTER] [AIRDATES FOR CSI CAST MOVIES] [ARTICLES] [AWARDS] [BOOKS]
[CAST] [CHARACTERS] [CHAT TRANSCRIPTS] [CSI ETC] [CSI ITEMS ON E BAY] [EMMY AWARDS]
[EPISODE GUIDE] [FACTUAL INACCURACIES] [FAN FICTION] [FAN FIC BY APRIL] [FILMING LOCATIONS]
[FORENSIC SCIENCE] [FORENSIC SCIENCE ON TV] [GUEST STARS] [JERRY BRUCKHEMER] [LINKS]
[MESSAGE BOARD] [MUSIC FROM CSI] [NEWS] [PICTURES] [RATINGS] [SEARCH ENGINE RECORDS]
[SEARCH THIS SITE] [SOUNDS] [TRIVIA GAME] [VIDEO CLIPS] [WEBSITE UPDATES] [WORLDWIDE SCHEDULE]
Webpage created on: July 30, 2001
Webpage last updated on: December 22, 2001 @ 7:00 P.M. CT.
Comments? Questions? Send E- Mail to the webmaster (Joshua Bozeman) at JBoze3131@hotmail.com