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ABC Affiliates Discuss Helping Pay for a Network Olympics Bid

Apr 11, 2011  •  Post A Comment

"ABC affiliates might help the network pay for U.S. rights to telecast the 2014 Winter Olympic Games and 2016 Summer Olympics, the head of the ABC board said after the board met on Sunday," April 10, 2011, reports our friend P.J. Bednarski at TVNewsCheck.

The article continues, "Disney-owned ESPN is expected to bid for the Games in what is expected be an expensive battle between networks that should be decided by the International Olympics Committee by mid-June. ESPN recently said if it gets the Games, sharing air time with ABC, it would show them in real time, and show repeats of major events in prime time."

The article concludes by quoting ABC affiliate board Chairman Bill Hoffman, general manager of Cox’s WSB in Atlanta: "He said affiliates told [ABC VP John] Rouse they hoped ABC would push for more prime-time comedies and improve its 10 p.m. shows that lead into affiliate newscasts. But generally, Hoffman said, the board is pleased with ABC’s position in prime time." 

“ ‘We both feel comfortable with where we are now,’ he said. ‘Our strong shows seem to have run-way left in them. We both–the affiliates and the network–have seen how sitcoms have come back and can be a valuable asset. We’d like to bolster our position at 10 o’clock because most of our best shows air from 8 to 10 and when we have good shows at 10 o’clock they deliver audience to the newscasts. The other thing is to have more and more shows that distinguish themselves with men [viewers] besides women.’ ”

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