Thursday's trouble for ABC
By PHYLLIS FURMAN
Nov 14 2002 4:48PM GMT
NEW YORK (New York Daily News) -- ABC's Thursday night is still a big "black hole" for Disney. CEO Michael Eisner said ABC's making strides this season but still faces huge roadblocks on Thursday nights when the network faces off against CBS' "Survivor" and "C.S.I." and NBC's "Friends" and "ER."
"Thursday night is still the black hole," Eisner told the Daily News yesterday after a media breakfast in New York. "We're working on it."
Eisner also said there's a "50-50 chance" that ABC News will merge with AOL Time Warner's CNN, but "there's no time table" for striking a deal.
He called the merger of the two news giants "a good idea" that would allow CNN and ABC News to compete equally with Fox and NBC, which spread their news costs over broadcast and cable channels.
Eisner said the biggest impediment to the deal now is the constant flood of media speculation.
"Its become the most interesting thing to read about other than the butler," he said.
Answering questions from New Yorker media writer Ken Auletta, Eisner denied he's facing pressure from the Disney board to shore up his entertainment empire, whose stock is trading at below its level of five years ago.
"I have a very good relationship with the Disney board," Eisner said. "Our board has been completely understanding of the effects of the end of a boom era."
Eisner added he's under no pressure to name a successor and claimed he has a strong No. 2 in Bob Iger.
"He's doing a great job fixing ABC as we speak," Eisner said.
The Disney boss said ABC faltered by filling up its schedule with too many nights of game show "Millionaire." But he also said ABC is not the centerpiece of the Disney empire and that the Disney brand and ESPN as well are far more important.
By PHYLLIS FURMAN
Nov 14 2002 4:48PM GMT
NEW YORK (New York Daily News) -- ABC's Thursday night is still a big "black hole" for Disney. CEO Michael Eisner said ABC's making strides this season but still faces huge roadblocks on Thursday nights when the network faces off against CBS' "Survivor" and "C.S.I." and NBC's "Friends" and "ER."
"Thursday night is still the black hole," Eisner told the Daily News yesterday after a media breakfast in New York. "We're working on it."
Eisner also said there's a "50-50 chance" that ABC News will merge with AOL Time Warner's CNN, but "there's no time table" for striking a deal.
He called the merger of the two news giants "a good idea" that would allow CNN and ABC News to compete equally with Fox and NBC, which spread their news costs over broadcast and cable channels.
Eisner said the biggest impediment to the deal now is the constant flood of media speculation.
"Its become the most interesting thing to read about other than the butler," he said.
Answering questions from New Yorker media writer Ken Auletta, Eisner denied he's facing pressure from the Disney board to shore up his entertainment empire, whose stock is trading at below its level of five years ago.
"I have a very good relationship with the Disney board," Eisner said. "Our board has been completely understanding of the effects of the end of a boom era."
Eisner added he's under no pressure to name a successor and claimed he has a strong No. 2 in Bob Iger.
"He's doing a great job fixing ABC as we speak," Eisner said.
The Disney boss said ABC faltered by filling up its schedule with too many nights of game show "Millionaire." But he also said ABC is not the centerpiece of the Disney empire and that the Disney brand and ESPN as well are far more important.