Universal Television Division

First, there were two experienced executives vying to become head of syndication for the soon-to-be merged NBC and Universal Television units. On Thursday, there was none. Ed Wilson, the president of NBC Enterprises and Syndication, resigned. He had been the front-runner for the job of heading up TV distribution and sales for NBC and Universal Television once they integrate next month.

First, there were two experienced executives vying to become head of syndication for the soon-to-be merged NBC and Universal Television units. On Thursday, there was none. Ed Wilson, the president of NBC Enterprises and Syndication, resigned. He had been the front-runner for the job of heading up TV distribution and sales for NBC and Universal Television once they integrate next month.

The stars of Fox's "New York Undercover" were back on the beat Thursday, ending a contract holdout that briefly delayed production on the police drama. Actors Malik Yoba and Michael DeLorenzo didn't report to work on Monday to begin shooting the program's third season.

At a gathering of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society in Beverly Hills several weeks ago, Universal Television Group chief Michael Jackson stood out in more ways than one. It wasn't just the British accent or the quirky purple striped socks he was wearing in a sea of Armani suits, but his unconventional praise for "reality" TV.

Network TV Chief Reportedly Headed to Paramount Pictures: Garry Hart, former senior vice president of current programming at Universal Television, is reportedly joining the Hollywood studio in a senior capacity, succeeding longtime network TV division chief John Pike, sources said. Hart, a close associate of Paramount TV Group Chairman Kerry McCluggage, previously worked under McCluggage when he headed Universal's network TV division.

NBC, in a move that pointedly illustrates the new financial reality in Hollywood, is seeking financial relief from the producers of the hit TV series "Quantum Leap" because of possible advertiser pullouts over a controversial upcoming episode about a gay teen-ager. Already under pressure because of declining prime-time ratings and a weak advertising market, NBC asked "Quantum Leap" producer Universal Television to make changes in the episode.

The Directors Guild of America's decision to accept a percentage of the profits, rather than a flat sum, as residual compensation for hourlong series programming in syndication may rescue some television episodes from languishing on the shelves--but it will probably not cause a boom in the production or distribution of hourlong TV series, industry spokesmen said Tuesday.

Universal Television has agreed to sell non-pay-TV broadcast rights in France for selected new programming and theatrical movies to the country's leading network, TF1. Industry sources said the deal could be worth more than $60 million over its five-year term for Universal. Competition with digital services that are being launched throughout Europe is pushing TV broadcasters such as TF1 to lock in programming.

The chairman of Universal Television is leaving the company, marking the first major change since media mogul Barry Diller agreed to acquire the Seagram Co. division last month. The studio confirmed that Greg Meidel, who joined the studio as chairman of its TV operations two years ago, has been "unable to come to an agreement" with Diller and won't join the new company forged by Universal and Diller's Home Shopping Network named USA Networks Inc.

At a gathering of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society in Beverly Hills several weeks ago, Universal Television Group chief Michael Jackson stood out in more ways than one. It wasn't just the British accent or the quirky purple striped socks he was wearing in a sea of Armani suits, but his unconventional praise for "reality" TV.

The chairman of Universal Television is leaving the company, marking the first major change since media mogul Barry Diller agreed to acquire the Seagram Co. division last month. The studio confirmed that Greg Meidel, who joined the studio as chairman of its TV operations two years ago, has been "unable to come to an agreement" with Diller and won't join the new company forged by Universal and Diller's Home Shopping Network named USA Networks Inc.

Universal Television has agreed to sell non-pay-TV broadcast rights in France for selected new programming and theatrical movies to the country's leading network, TF1. Industry sources said the deal could be worth more than $60 million over its five-year term for Universal. Competition with digital services that are being launched throughout Europe is pushing TV broadcasters such as TF1 to lock in programming.

More than the cops are undercover on "New York Undercover" as the edgy Fox police drama enters its third season tonight. The behind-the-scenes conflict sparked by a brief strike last month by the series' two lead actors is still simmering beneath the surface. Michael DeLorenzo and Malik Yoba, who declined to show up for the season's first days of filming while demanding more money and creative input, remain bitter about the handling of their holdout by the show's executive producer, Dick Wolf.

The stars of Fox's "New York Undercover" were back on the beat Thursday, ending a contract holdout that briefly delayed production on the police drama. Actors Malik Yoba and Michael DeLorenzo didn't report to work on Monday to begin shooting the program's third season.

Network TV Chief Reportedly Headed to Paramount Pictures: Garry Hart, former senior vice president of current programming at Universal Television, is reportedly joining the Hollywood studio in a senior capacity, succeeding longtime network TV division chief John Pike, sources said. Hart, a close associate of Paramount TV Group Chairman Kerry McCluggage, previously worked under McCluggage when he headed Universal's network TV division.

NBC, in a move that pointedly illustrates the new financial reality in Hollywood, is seeking financial relief from the producers of the hit TV series "Quantum Leap" because of possible advertiser pullouts over a controversial upcoming episode about a gay teen-ager. Already under pressure because of declining prime-time ratings and a weak advertising market, NBC asked "Quantum Leap" producer Universal Television to make changes in the episode.

More than the cops are undercover on "New York Undercover" as the edgy Fox police drama enters its third season tonight. The behind-the-scenes conflict sparked by a brief strike last month by the series' two lead actors is still simmering beneath the surface. Michael DeLorenzo and Malik Yoba, who declined to show up for the season's first days of filming while demanding more money and creative input, remain bitter about the handling of their holdout by the show's executive producer, Dick Wolf.

Is the fight finished? Fans--and non-fans--of the "Jerry Springer Show" will be seeking the answer this week as they determine whether the controversial program has indeed entered a new era of nonviolence. Tonight's broadcast of "Springer" is supposed to mark the end of the chair-throwing brawls that have turned the talk show into a ratings phenomenon and a target for politicians, religious groups and television executives offended by its fights, coarse language and nudity.

The Directors Guild of America's decision to accept a percentage of the profits, rather than a flat sum, as residual compensation for hourlong series programming in syndication may rescue some television episodes from languishing on the shelves--but it will probably not cause a boom in the production or distribution of hourlong TV series, industry spokesmen said Tuesday.