ABC CRAVING HIT 'SOPRANOS' RERUNS
By TIM ARANGO
November 14, 2002
NEW YORK (NYPost.com) -- Mickey Mouse and Tony Soprano would make an odd couple.
But in an effort to boost ratings at its ABC television network, Disney has apparently discussed airing "Sopranos" reruns.
CEO Michael Eisner reportedly made the comments yesterday in New York at a breakfast hosted by Syracuse University's Newhouse School. But he added that selling ads for the gangster chronicles on ABC, which has pushed itself as a family-friendly network, would be difficult because of the ______, violence and foul language on the HBO hit.
Zenia Mucha, a Disney spokesperson, disputed that the comments were made, and said the company is not considering paying for the syndication rights for "The Sopranos."
ABC has been a weak link for Disney, and the company has said that boosting ratings at the network is key for the company to regain its luster.
Disney stock is off considerably over the last few years, and it is also grappling with a fall-off in attendance at its theme parks.
While ABC still lags CBS and NBC, there have been some bright spots in its fall lineup. The John Ritter show "8 Simple Rules" has done well, as has "The Bachelor."
While a cable show going into syndication on a broadcast network is unusual, there is a precedent at ABC.
Last summer, the network began airing reruns of "Monk," the detective drama from the cable channel USA. The show has done well, and ABC recently installed it at 8 p.m. on Mondays on the East Coast to lead in to "Monday Night Football."
In its first airing this week, it garnered 37 percent more viewers than the previous shows in its spot, which were "The Drew Carey Show" and "Whose Line is it Anyway?"
HBO, meanwhile, is exploring putting "The Sopranos" in syndication, and has had talks with numerous parties, a source said. But there are several sticky issues, such as whether to insert advertising and whether a cable channel or broadcast network would have to edit the episodes.
By TIM ARANGO
November 14, 2002
NEW YORK (NYPost.com) -- Mickey Mouse and Tony Soprano would make an odd couple.
But in an effort to boost ratings at its ABC television network, Disney has apparently discussed airing "Sopranos" reruns.
CEO Michael Eisner reportedly made the comments yesterday in New York at a breakfast hosted by Syracuse University's Newhouse School. But he added that selling ads for the gangster chronicles on ABC, which has pushed itself as a family-friendly network, would be difficult because of the ______, violence and foul language on the HBO hit.
Zenia Mucha, a Disney spokesperson, disputed that the comments were made, and said the company is not considering paying for the syndication rights for "The Sopranos."
ABC has been a weak link for Disney, and the company has said that boosting ratings at the network is key for the company to regain its luster.
Disney stock is off considerably over the last few years, and it is also grappling with a fall-off in attendance at its theme parks.
While ABC still lags CBS and NBC, there have been some bright spots in its fall lineup. The John Ritter show "8 Simple Rules" has done well, as has "The Bachelor."
While a cable show going into syndication on a broadcast network is unusual, there is a precedent at ABC.
Last summer, the network began airing reruns of "Monk," the detective drama from the cable channel USA. The show has done well, and ABC recently installed it at 8 p.m. on Mondays on the East Coast to lead in to "Monday Night Football."
In its first airing this week, it garnered 37 percent more viewers than the previous shows in its spot, which were "The Drew Carey Show" and "Whose Line is it Anyway?"
HBO, meanwhile, is exploring putting "The Sopranos" in syndication, and has had talks with numerous parties, a source said. But there are several sticky issues, such as whether to insert advertising and whether a cable channel or broadcast network would have to edit the episodes.
