A NEW LOOK AT THOSE WHO LOOK IN ON C-SPAN

A new study of the audience of C-SPAN (Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network) found that the average viewer watches the program service about 12 hours a month, with 10% of the network’s audience claiming to watch between 20 and 100 hours monthly.

The survey, conducted by the Media Analysis Project of George Washington University, found that 7.8 million homes watch the service at least one hour each month.

According to the survey, slightly more men than women watch C-SPAN, 58% of the viewers had graduate degrees, more than half had incomes over $30,000 a year and 93% voted in the 1984 presidential elections.

Fifty-five percent of the C-SPAN audience voted for President Reagan, compared to 59% of Americans overall and 68% of cable-TV viewers.

The random sample of 959 cable homes in 41 states found that 61% had heard of C-SPAN, which began operating in 1979 with live broadcasts from the floor of the House of Representatives. The network, now operating 24 hours a day, is carried on about 2,000 cable TV systems nationwide, serving about 20 million homes.

A COMEDY TONIGHT: Cinemax announced plans for an unusual new comedy series, and Showtime has made an unheard-of 50-episode commitment to its half-hour sitcom, “Brothers.”

The “Cinemax Comedy Experiment” is set to debut on the network next month with a half-hour featuring comedian Howie Mandell. Each monthly show will feature a new and well-known comic performing in an unrestricted format. Coming shows will feature Martin Mull, Sandra Bernhard and David Steinberg.

Meanwhile, Showtime and Los Angeles-based Gary Nardino Productions have agreed to a two-year deal assuring the continued production of the situation comedy “Brothers,” which premiered on the pay-TV network last July.

The unusual deal was struck last week with Nardino and Paramount Video.