Tv Week 13 Plucky Headline

ABC executives braced for a round of layoffs that could exceed the 150 positions eliminated just a year ago. The job cuts, which could come as soon as this week, are seen as a way to cut expenditures in the face of declining ratings and escalating programming costs. The network's earnings this year are expected to fall to as little as $25 million, down from $420 million in 1995 when Walt Disney Co. acquired Capital Cities/ABC.



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The National Association of Television Program Executives threw the switch on its three-day animation and special effects convention that was scheduled for next month. NATPE executives said the second annual event was canceled because several major studios and other participants were not receptive to such an event at this time of the year. The organization said it plans to hold a one-day animation and technical conference later in the year.



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NBC led the field for the 19th annual Sports Emmy Awards with 26 mentions including seven for this year's most-nominated show, "Ironman Triathlon World Championship." ABC ran in second place with 17 contenders, followed by Fox's 16, ESPN and HBO's 15 each, ESPN2's seven and CBS and TNT's four apiece.



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Fox Kids Network revamped its Saturday morning lineup with a three-show package that will be collectively branded "The No Yell Motel." The package, which is similar to ABC's successful "Disney's One Saturday Morning" block, will comprise episodes of "Goosebumps," "Eerie, Indiana: The Other Dimension" and "Ultimate Goosebumps" from 9-10:30 a.m. The block will be hosted by two newly created characters, Cyrillius and a one-eyed spider sidekick. Fox Kids senior vp planning Maureen Smith denied that the network is reacting to ABC's recent dominance in the 2-11 age group. "This is very different from what ABC is doing, both in our approach and the audience we're seeking," she said.

-- Jonathan Davies