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Posting-Version: version Vortex 1.1 8/4/83; site vortex.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!vortex!lauren
From: lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein)
Newsgroups: net.tv,net.misc
Subject: "NBC Overnight" has been ***CANCELLED***
Message-ID: <184@vortex.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-Nov-83 01:18:57 EST
Article-I.D.: vortex.184
Posted: Wed Nov 16 01:18:57 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 11-Nov-83 20:59:13 EST
Organization: Vortex Technology, Los Angeles
Lines: 58

It was just announced that NBC's excellent late-night news program
"Overnight" has been cancelled, with the last show scheduled for
December 2.  I personally consider Overnight to be the most interesting
and enjoyable news/information program on television, and of consistently
high quality.  Their policy of running foreign news footage and local
stories with which the prime-time programs wouldn't spend time has made
for consistently fascinating and high-quality viewing.

My own experience with the television industry tells me that the 
probability of saving the show at this point is exceedingly small.
However, those of you who have enjoyed the program as much as I
should *PLEASE* express your disgust for this decision to NBC News.

Letters are good, but those of you who can afford calls to NBC 
in NY should call directly.  The decision was apparently made
by Rubin Frank (I hope I have the spelling correctly) who I'm told
is President of NBC News.  The official reason for the cancellation
is that "their studies show that `not enough' people watch TV that
late at night".  I would suggest pointing out in your letters and
calls that the currently existing techniques for measuring TV audience
size are NOT ACCURATE for late night viewing, which tends to involve
a different set of viewers than normally watch prime-time television
to a great extent.  The networks had previously expressed dismay at
their inability to accurately gauge late-night audiences -- they
apparently have decided to make up their numbers since they couldn't
get accurate figures.  I began to suspect that NBC was about to zap
Overnight when they began promoting an information booklet on 
Central America with a special address that was DIFFERENT from
the ones they promoted on their other news programs -- it was 
obvious that they were trying to get some sort of audience figures
using that feeble technique.

In any case, if you want there to be even a 1% chance of saving
the program, please contact NBC News by phone, mail, telegram, and
telex IMMEDIATELY and keep contacting them after the Veteran's
day holiday.  Be sure to call and write to NBC News DIRECTLY and
don't just register a complaint with whoever answers the
phones at the main NBC New York Switchboard.  Letters should go
to NBC-TV News, Radio City Station, NY, NY (I don't know the ZIP).
The main number for NBC New York is (212) 664-4444.  Ask for the
News department or even for Rubin Frank himself directly (that might
be an especially good idea -- you'll never reach him, of course, but
your opinions will register.)  Be sure to point out that you know
of many people who work late at night, regularly watch the program, and
who feel that the loss of "Overnight" is undesirable and based
on false premises.

FAST and CONTINUED action is essential.  Let's make Usenet do
something USEFUL.

Have your friends and co-workers call and write -- numbers are
important in these situations!

Please keep me informed (by mail) of any efforts you make in this
area.  Thanks much.  

--Lauren--
{allegra, seismo, decvax, ihnp4, randvax}!vortex!lauren