Billboards Convey Hope for ABC
BURBANK, Calif. (AP) -- Gigantic billboards showcasing four prime-time ABC shows are on display on the side of sound-stages at The Walt Disney Co.'s studios, a gesture meant to convey the confidence Disney has in the network's comeback effort. "They represent the future and the building blocks of what we are in the midst of doing right now," said Lloyd Braun, chairman of the ABC Television Group. The billboards, introduced Friday, show the casts of "Alias," "My Wife and Kids" and "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" — all produced by the Disney-owned Touchstone Television and filmed on the Disney lot. A fourth billboard advertises the upcoming "Wonderful World of Disney" movie "The Music Man," starring Matthew Broderick. Such billboards would have been unheard of a year ago, when ABC finished fourth in the ratings. This year, the network's lineup of new comedies and specials was good enough to give ABC a second-place finish in the November ratings sweeps among adults 18-49. "It was a surprise. A very nice surprise," said ABC programming chief Susan Lyne.
BURBANK, Calif. (AP) -- Gigantic billboards showcasing four prime-time ABC shows are on display on the side of sound-stages at The Walt Disney Co.'s studios, a gesture meant to convey the confidence Disney has in the network's comeback effort. "They represent the future and the building blocks of what we are in the midst of doing right now," said Lloyd Braun, chairman of the ABC Television Group. The billboards, introduced Friday, show the casts of "Alias," "My Wife and Kids" and "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" — all produced by the Disney-owned Touchstone Television and filmed on the Disney lot. A fourth billboard advertises the upcoming "Wonderful World of Disney" movie "The Music Man," starring Matthew Broderick. Such billboards would have been unheard of a year ago, when ABC finished fourth in the ratings. This year, the network's lineup of new comedies and specials was good enough to give ABC a second-place finish in the November ratings sweeps among adults 18-49. "It was a surprise. A very nice surprise," said ABC programming chief Susan Lyne.