‘LIBERTY’: ALL-STAR WEEKEND

Predicting “a 50-goose-bump event,” producer David L. Wolper and ABC executives this week unveiled detailed plans for the Statue of Liberty’s coming centennial celebration.

ABC plans to devote 17 1/2 hours of its daytime and prime-time schedules to “Liberty Weekend,” set to take place here July 2-6.

Under the supervision of Wolper, who produced the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, the celebration will be highlighted by opening ceremonies presided over by President Reagan, performances by leading entertainers and athletes, a flotilla of 50 naval ships from 35 countries, a parade of Tall Ships and what is being billed as the most ambitious fireworks display ever mounted in the U.S.

TV, according to Wolper and ABC News and Sports President Roone Arledge, is likely to provide the best view of the festivities.

“There are some very special events that the public realizes are the kinds of events people paint pictures of, and this is one of them,” Arledge said. ABC plans to spend about $14 million on its coverage of the five-day event and to deploy 400 of its editorial and technical staff, including some of its best-known on-air reporters, he said.

Arledge and Wolper previewed “Liberty Weekend” for the press Wednesday during an excursion around New York Harbor. Most of the festivities are scheduled to take place on tiny islands in the harbor or Hudson River, and the public will have only limited opportunity to view the celebration at close range.

Arledge said ABC will make its coverage of “bona fide news events”--specifically President Reagan’s lighting of the statue’s torch and the induction of new U.S. citizens by Chief Justice Warren Burger--available to other broadcast and cable news operations.

Arledge said ABC paid $10 million to the Statue of Liberty Foundation for the television rights to the centennial celebration. He said production costs are expected to reach about $4 million.

ABC expects to recoup its expenses from commercial advertising spots, which Arledge said are “90% sold.” He pointed out that worldwide licensing fees for ABC’s coverage will be paid to the foundation, rather than to the network. The foundation expects to cover most of its about $30 million in costs from the sale of television rights, Wolper said.

With ABC’s Peter Jennings and Barbara Walters serving as co-anchors throughout the five-day coverage, the network plans to cover all centennial events. ABC also plans to air taped reports dealing with the centennial and at least two prime-time specials. The first special will be a one-hour preview of the weekend, scheduled for broadcast July 2 at 8 p.m.

Regularly scheduled ABC shows, such as “This Week With David Brinkley,” “World News Tonight” and “Good Morning America,” also will focus on the centennial.

The centennial officially is scheduled to get under way July 3, with opening ceremonies to be broadcast by ABC from 5-8 p.m.

The centennial celebration is scheduled to conclude July 6 with two events to be broadcast live from 4-8 p.m., a “sports salute” from Byrne Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey and the closing ceremonies from nearby Giants Stadium.