Television Affiliate Wants Less Prime Time More Money

Electronic Media Online -- Television and Media News

David Barrett, who heads the company that has the most ABC affiliates in the country, has a message for the network: Slash your prime-time schedule from 22 hours a week to 15 so his stations can make some decent money.

"I would love to see the networks cut back to 15 [hours a week]," said Mr. Barrett, president and CEO of Hearst-Argyle Television, at a financial seminar hosted by Bear Stearns in Washington last week.

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But assuming the time were returned -- an eventuality that could be accomplished by a simple change in an affiliate's contract with a network -- affiliates could fill the slot with syndicated programs or other fare they felt would make more money for them. ABC had no comment.

More money maybe. But do you really think local programming would be any better?
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