NETWORK BIG BOYS ARE ON THE GRILL AS MORE VIEWERS DEFECT TO CABLE.(Entertainment/Weekend/Spotlight)

Byline: Dusty Saunders Rocky Mountain News Broadcasting Critic COLUMN

It's the second week of July, network programmers. Where are your viewers?

Either barbecuing on the patio or watching cable.

Summer always has been a down viewing time for the networks because the schedules are glutted with reruns.

But this summer has become a viewing disaster for ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

Recent national Nielsen reports show that the combined share of television audiences for the four broadcast networks has hit a new low, while cable audiences have reached a new high.

The four networks entertained only 53% of the viewing audience last week, down from 57% the same time a year ago. Cable channels, meanwhile, displayed a 35% audience share, up from 31% a year ago.

Only nine series on the prime time network schedule had a double-digit rating, with five of them on NBC Thursday night.

Actually, the peacock is smiling.

With the Summer Olympics beginning a 17-day run July 19, audiences will briefly come back to network TV - at least to one network.

But the overall problem won't go away.

While the networks are busy planning the fall premieres, the programmers are worrying about the summer of '97.

Two things are needed - fall hits (of which there were few last season), which might keep some viewers even during reruns, and new summer product.

In other words, networks must find ways to keep viewers from defecting to cable. Some defectors may never return.

*

Broadcasting names: Christopher Reeve will have a small role in Snakes & Ladders, a CBS TV movie - his first film work since being paralyzed in a horseback riding accident. He'll portray a quadriplegic who becomes a mentor to a young man paralyzed in a diving accident. Judith Light plays the diver's mother. The film, which begins filming next month, is scheduled on CBS during the fall season. . . . Bob Dole may still trail President Clinton in the popularity polls, but he's assumed the lead in the late-night talk show joke race, according to a recent survey by the Center for Media and Public Affairs, a conservative watchdog group. The survey says Jay Leno, David Letterman and Conan O'Brien have delivered 176 jokes about Dole through June since he clinched the Republican presidential nomination on March 26. Clinton's joke total is 131.

For the record, runners-up include O.J. Simpson and Kathie Lee Gifford, third and fourth respectively. . . . KCNC-Channel 4 has a new investigative reporter - Vince Gonzales, who previously worked for CBS News and at KPHO-TV in Phoenix where he broke a story about the FBI and the Department of Justice investigation of an Arizona county sheriff's abuse of jail inmates.

*

Just spell-my-name-right: The aforementioned Gifford, in the controversial spotlight over charges she supported sweatshops through her Wal-Mart clothing line, has signed a new one-year deal to continue hosting her daytime syndicated series with Regis Philbin. This, after a TV Guide poll indicated readers were tired of Gifford's self-involvement antics on the series.

*

Old pal department: The husband-wife team of Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen star in Ink, a new CBS fall comedy. Perhaps the connection of CBS Entertainment president Leslie Moonves, a former actor, had something to do with the booking. Moonves went to drama school with Steenburgen and their kids now carpool to school.

*

Blue women: Another policewoman has left the NYPD Blue squadroom.

Detective Adrienne Lesniak, portrayed by Justine Miceli, won't be back in the fall. Miceli's character was in the spotlight last season after she deflected romantic overtures from Detective James Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) by saying she was gay. She wasn't and the two eventually got together romantically. Then Martinez dumped Lesniak for being too possessive.

Other women who have departed the series during its three-year run include Sherry Stringfield (now of ER), who played David Carsuo's estranged wife; Amy Brenneman and Debrah Farrentino, who both portrayed Caruso's love interests; and Gail O'Grady, as the earthy blond police station secretary.

Kim Delaney, Jimmy's Smits' romantic companion, returns with a larger role this fall, along with Sharon Lawrence, as Dennis Franz' wife. Lawrence, however, will be seen on an irregular basis as she prepares for her new NBC situation comedy.

While such departures may not sit well with series fans, they do somewhat mirror what happens in real police life.

*

Ratings roulette: Recent audience surveys show the most-watched cable network is TNT, which surpassed long-time leader USA from January through May. Part of TNT's success stemmed from an audience bump during the NBA playoffs, which produced more viewers than a year ago. . . . USA still has the honor of airing the most-watched movie made for cable - China Lake Murders, which premiered Jan. 31, 1990. Runnersup: Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story (Lifetime), aired Sept. 5, 1995; and Gettsyburg (TNT) a two-part historical epic presented June 26-27, 1994.

*

Today's quote: ``I think the cliche is true that money doesn't buy happiness. . . . It can actually let you focus more time on your misery.'' - Garry Shandling on HBO's Dennis Miller Live.

NETWORK BIG BOYS ARE ON THE GRILL AS MORE VIEWERS DEFECT TO CABLE.(Entertainment/Weekend/Spotlight)

Byline: Dusty Saunders Rocky Mountain News Broadcasting Critic COLUMN

It's the second week of July, network programmers. Where are your viewers?

Either barbecuing on the patio or watching cable.

Summer always has been a down viewing time for the networks because the schedules are glutted with reruns.

But this summer has become a viewing disaster for ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

Recent national Nielsen reports show that the combined share of television audiences for the four broadcast networks has hit a new low, while cable audiences have reached a new high.

The four networks entertained only 53% of the viewing audience last week, down from 57% the same time a year ago. Cable channels, meanwhile, displayed a 35% audience share, up from 31% a year ago.

Only nine series on the prime time network schedule had a double-digit rating, with five of them on NBC Thursday night.

Actually, the peacock is smiling.

With the Summer Olympics beginning a 17-day run July 19, audiences will briefly come back to network TV - at least to one network.

But the overall problem won't go away.

While the networks are busy planning the fall premieres, the programmers are worrying about the summer of '97.

Two things are needed - fall hits (of which there were few last season), which might keep some viewers even during reruns, and new summer product.

In other words, networks must find ways to keep viewers from defecting to cable. Some defectors may never return.

*

Broadcasting names: Christopher Reeve will have a small role in Snakes & Ladders, a CBS TV movie - his first film work since being paralyzed in a horseback riding accident. He'll portray a quadriplegic who becomes a mentor to a young man paralyzed in a diving accident. Judith Light plays the diver's mother. The film, which begins filming next month, is scheduled on CBS during the fall season. . . . Bob Dole may still trail President Clinton in the popularity polls, but he's assumed the lead in the late-night talk show joke race, according to a recent survey by the Center for Media and Public Affairs, a conservative watchdog group. The survey says Jay Leno, David Letterman and Conan O'Brien have delivered 176 jokes about Dole through June since he clinched the Republican presidential nomination on March 26. Clinton's joke total is 131.

For the record, runners-up include O.J. Simpson and Kathie Lee Gifford, third and fourth respectively. . . . KCNC-Channel 4 has a new investigative reporter - Vince Gonzales, who previously worked for CBS News and at KPHO-TV in Phoenix where he broke a story about the FBI and the Department of Justice investigation of an Arizona county sheriff's abuse of jail inmates.

*

Just spell-my-name-right: The aforementioned Gifford, in the controversial spotlight over charges she supported sweatshops through her Wal-Mart clothing line, has signed a new one-year deal to continue hosting her daytime syndicated series with Regis Philbin. This, after a TV Guide poll indicated readers were tired of Gifford's self-involvement antics on the series.

*

Old pal department: The husband-wife team of Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen star in Ink, a new CBS fall comedy. Perhaps the connection of CBS Entertainment president Leslie Moonves, a former actor, had something to do with the booking. Moonves went to drama school with Steenburgen and their kids now carpool to school.

*

Blue women: Another policewoman has left the NYPD Blue squadroom.

Detective Adrienne Lesniak, portrayed by Justine Miceli, won't be back in the fall. Miceli's character was in the spotlight last season after she deflected romantic overtures from Detective James Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) by saying she was gay. She wasn't and the two eventually got together romantically. Then Martinez dumped Lesniak for being too possessive.

Other women who have departed the series during its three-year run include Sherry Stringfield (now of ER), who played David Carsuo's estranged wife; Amy Brenneman and Debrah Farrentino, who both portrayed Caruso's love interests; and Gail O'Grady, as the earthy blond police station secretary.

Kim Delaney, Jimmy's Smits' romantic companion, returns with a larger role this fall, along with Sharon Lawrence, as Dennis Franz' wife. Lawrence, however, will be seen on an irregular basis as she prepares for her new NBC situation comedy.

While such departures may not sit well with series fans, they do somewhat mirror what happens in real police life.

*

Ratings roulette: Recent audience surveys show the most-watched cable network is TNT, which surpassed long-time leader USA from January through May. Part of TNT's success stemmed from an audience bump during the NBA playoffs, which produced more viewers than a year ago. . . . USA still has the honor of airing the most-watched movie made for cable - China Lake Murders, which premiered Jan. 31, 1990. Runnersup: Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story (Lifetime), aired Sept. 5, 1995; and Gettsyburg (TNT) a two-part historical epic presented June 26-27, 1994.

*

Today's quote: ``I think the cliche is true that money doesn't buy happiness. . . . It can actually let you focus more time on your misery.'' - Garry Shandling on HBO's Dennis Miller Live.