Universal cancels NBC soap opera weekend
By Robert Johnson and Todd Pack
Sentinel Staff Writers
September 2, 2002
One of Universal Studios' most popular and profitable special events has been canceled for the second straight year and appears to be on the way out permanently.
The NBC Soap FanFest weekend, which was tentatively scheduled for Nov. 2 and 3, is off. Rebecca Marks, NBC's senior vice president for entertainment publicity, said that talks to stage the event this year broke down over issues involving the cost and scheduling around TV production.
"You've got to find just the right time for Universal and for us," she said.
This marks the second time that the melodrama lovers' dream weekend has been canceled. Last year the event was called off because of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Will NBC Soap FanFest be back? Maybe, Marks said. "We look forward to possible discussion in the future."
Daytime-television addicts still have one chance this fall for a live and in-person encounter with their heroes and heroines. That would be the event that Universal started FanFest two years ago to compete with: Walt Disney World's ABC Super Soap Weekend. The seventh edition of Super Soap is scheduled Nov. 9 and 10. Among the headliners is Susan Lucci of All My Children.
Gault touts survey results
The early returns are in, and Bob Gault's "We Will Win" campaign to boost Universal Orlando's employee performance seems to be a success.
So says Gault, president of the attraction. In a recent edition of Universal News, the employee newsletter, Gault writes that he's "thrilled" at results from the Guest Satisfaction Survey during the first two weeks of July. "Even with the large numbers of guests and the summer heat and rain, we earned at 51 percent top box score at Universal Studios and a 54 percent top box score at Islands of Adventure. Wow."
The top rating is "Excellent." Gault's letter to employees crowed, "That means more than half of our guests at both of our parks don't just think we're very good, good, or that we're just OK."
11th orca born at SeaWorld
Katina, a 26-year-old killer whale at SeaWorld Orlando, gave birth Aug. 25 to a 7-foot calf in Shamu Stadium. The unnamed calf is the 11th killer whale born at the park, which opened 29 years ago.
Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...090202sep02.story?coll=orl-business-headlines
By Robert Johnson and Todd Pack
Sentinel Staff Writers
September 2, 2002
One of Universal Studios' most popular and profitable special events has been canceled for the second straight year and appears to be on the way out permanently.
The NBC Soap FanFest weekend, which was tentatively scheduled for Nov. 2 and 3, is off. Rebecca Marks, NBC's senior vice president for entertainment publicity, said that talks to stage the event this year broke down over issues involving the cost and scheduling around TV production.
"You've got to find just the right time for Universal and for us," she said.
This marks the second time that the melodrama lovers' dream weekend has been canceled. Last year the event was called off because of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Will NBC Soap FanFest be back? Maybe, Marks said. "We look forward to possible discussion in the future."
Daytime-television addicts still have one chance this fall for a live and in-person encounter with their heroes and heroines. That would be the event that Universal started FanFest two years ago to compete with: Walt Disney World's ABC Super Soap Weekend. The seventh edition of Super Soap is scheduled Nov. 9 and 10. Among the headliners is Susan Lucci of All My Children.
Gault touts survey results
The early returns are in, and Bob Gault's "We Will Win" campaign to boost Universal Orlando's employee performance seems to be a success.
So says Gault, president of the attraction. In a recent edition of Universal News, the employee newsletter, Gault writes that he's "thrilled" at results from the Guest Satisfaction Survey during the first two weeks of July. "Even with the large numbers of guests and the summer heat and rain, we earned at 51 percent top box score at Universal Studios and a 54 percent top box score at Islands of Adventure. Wow."
The top rating is "Excellent." Gault's letter to employees crowed, "That means more than half of our guests at both of our parks don't just think we're very good, good, or that we're just OK."
11th orca born at SeaWorld
Katina, a 26-year-old killer whale at SeaWorld Orlando, gave birth Aug. 25 to a 7-foot calf in Shamu Stadium. The unnamed calf is the 11th killer whale born at the park, which opened 29 years ago.
Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...090202sep02.story?coll=orl-business-headlines
