COMPANY TOWN ANNEX

30-Week TV Ratings Standard Abolished: The presidents of the four broadcast networks’ entertainment divisions abolished the traditional 30-week TV season as a standard for the ratings winner. “Together, we are declaring an official end to the obsolete practice of declaring a prime-time winner after the conclusion of the traditional 30-week television season that runs from September to mid-April,” they said. The joint statement from ABC’s Ted Harbert, CBS’ Leslie Moonves, Fox’s John Matoian and NBC’s Warren Littlefield was made before a meeting of the International Radio and Television Society in New York. “Since we compete for viewers on a 52-week basis with both original and repeat programming, it is also appropriate to acknowledge annual ratings at the end of each summer,” their statement said.