Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : C-Cube -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: coopie who wrote (25643)	11/24/1997 5:19:00 PM
From: John Rieman	Respond to of 50808

The Mouse is rolling out digital channels................................. mediacentral.com Disney/ABC Cable Maps Four New Digital Nets By Alan Breznick Disney/ABC Cable Networks is developing four digital cable services that'll draw programming and ideas from three of the company's existing networks. Gerry Laybourne, president of Disney/ABC Cable, said last week that her division is crafting new digital networks that'll feature "what people really love from Lifetime, A&E and The Disney Channel." Speaking at a Nov. 17 Washington (D.C.) Metro Cable Club luncheon, she said Disney/ABC plans to package the services "inexpensively" and roll them out quickly to cable operators. "As existing cable networks, we need to examine opportunities for helping the cable operator build out the new digital tiers," Laybourne said. "Obviously, as we strive to reach critical mass, this will be with highly recognizable product that is programmed for viewer convenience." What's more, Laybourne said Disney/ABC still may develop a 24-hour cable news network. Although ABC last year backed away from widely publicized plans to launch such a service due to stiff competition from MSNBC and Fox News Channel, Laybourne said she sees "huge opportunities for ABC" to aim a news service at 18- to 49-year-olds. She said Disney/ABC made "the right decision" not to go forward with a cable news channel last year, given the sizable programming subsidies that Fox News was offering cable operators and MSNBC's low ratings. But Laybourne noted that ABC may revisit the issue because consumer research shows that adults under 50 still want "news more tailored to them" than CNN and the broadcast networks deliver. Laybourne declined to divulge any more details about the new digital networks or say when they might launch. She would only say that Disney/ABC will announce them shortly -- perhaps as early as the Dec. 10-12 Western Show in Anaheim, Calif. A&E Television Networks, Lifetime Television and The Disney Channel declined to spell out their networks' digital plans last week. But spokesmen for all three said each network has ideas in the works. "We have a lot of ideas in development," said an A&E spokesman. "But we're not ready to go into details or announce them." In the past, A&E has talked about creating a Biography Channel based on its popular Biography prime-time series. But sources said A&E has put that project on hold due to cable operators' fears that A&E would shift Biography off the parent network. Lifetime has also floated concepts for new services in the last few years, but then pulled back from creating a romance network. It still seems undecided about a channel for younger women. A Lifetime spokesman declined comment last week. Meanwhile, The Disney Channel is tinkering with ABZ, a proposed educational service for children. The network has also toyed with the idea of a service aimed at teenagers. "We are definitely in discussions about digital networks," said a Disney Channel spokesman. "But nothing has been green-lit yet." (November 24, 1997)