BRIEFS

CABLEWORLD STAFF

Nielsen Media Research is pitching to a small group of ad agencies and networks a new service that would provide minute-by-minute, respondent-level data, according to Media Markets Daily, which is owned by Cable World's parent. If the proposed service takes off, it could transform the way TV advertising is bought and sold by helping Madison Ave. more minutely plan and buy ad time on the basis of ratings.

Cox Communications reported a bundle of solid fourth-quarter results and expects continued strong demand for its advanced products in 2003. About 26% of Cox's customers, or 1.7 million, are now taking a bundle, a stat that underscores Cox EVP operations Pat Esser's remark that Cox is ?no longer simply a cable company.? Cox posted a $179.6 million net profit, or 28 cents a share, on revenue of $1.3 billion, even as it cut capital expenditures by 17%, to about $501 million.

Cablevision saw stronger-than-expected growth in its digital and high-speed data services in the fourth quarter, beating analysts' forecasts. Cablevision added over 136,000 digital video customers during the quarter to end the year with 216,500. It also added 90,000 high-speed data subs; those advanced service additions overshadowed the loss of 5,300 basic customers during the quarter. Separately, the company said it would close or sell its remaining 17 The Wiz electronics stores.

Profit margins at Viacom's cable networks dropped in the fourth quarter and fell short of Wall Street forecasts because of higher programming costs, the company reported last week. Viacom COO Mel Karmazin assured analysts on a conference call that expenses are under control.

Adelphia Communications is reducing courtesy accounts and has informed school districts that it is limiting individual schools to only one free cable connection. The MSO is also rolling out a new national ad campaign produced for $750,000 by Pittsburgh ad agency Giant Ideas.