The Year in Preview

Entertainment:

Television and Cable Networks: Stations fear that the lack of political and Olympic advertising in ’99 could dampen advertising revenues for the first time in years. The broadcast networks will continue to suffer from rising programming costs and declining ratings and will lean on their affiliates to reduce the fees they pay stations to carry their programming and advertisements. Warner Bros.’ WB network is creating a new model. It earns fees for providing programs to its affiliates and uses cable to distribute to the smallest cities. Cable will face stiffer competition than ever if lawmakers, as expected, push through legislation allowing satellite services to carry local broadcast signals.