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At Press Time

Apr 9, 2001  •  Post A Comment

USA’s Hoffman dies
New York-Neil Hoffman, 49, the former programming chief at USA Networks who broke the broadcast networks’ stranglehold on off-network series and theatricals’ premieres during his 14-year tenure, died in his sleep last week. The well-respected, well-liked executive left USA last year and worked briefly at Lifetime this year.
Bush unveils FCC picks
Washington-President Bush announced his picks Friday for three of the top slots at the Federal Communications Commission: Republicans Kathleen Abernathy and Kevin Martin and Democrat Michael Copps.
Ms. Abernathy, 44, is vice president of public policy for Broadband Office Communications, a telecommunications firm with an office in northern Virginia. She was an assistant to former FCC Commissioner Jim Quello. Mr. Martin, 34, is a White House aide. He was an assistant to FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth. Mr. Copps, 60, was a top aide to Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C.
News Corp. deal probed
Washington-The Federal Communications Commission has asked News Corp. to provide more information about the financial status of the New York Post as part of its review of News Corp.’s planned acquisition of 10 Chris-Craft stations.
Under an FCC waiver, News Corp. owns both the Post and Fox TV station WNYW-TV in New York. It wants to retain the newspaper after the Chris-Craft deal even though it would gain another TV station in the New York market: UPN station WWOR-TV in Secaucus, N.J.
News Corp. spokesman Andrew Butcher said the company can own two TV stations in the market under the FCC’s duopoly rules. News Corp. says it should be allowed to keep the New York Post after the deal because the paper, which is in the red, would likely fold without its backing.