TV & VIDEO - Feb. 27, 1987

Because of unexpectedly low ratings for its miniseries “Amerika,” ABC had to offer free commercial time to some of the show’s sponsors, the Associated Press reported Thursday. General Foods Corp., Northwest Mutual Life Insurance Co. and New York Life Insurance Co. each said they had received assurances about audience size and already have been given extra time or expect to receive it later. ABC executives refused to say how much extra time they had to offer but said guarantees were given only to sponsors who bought sizable amounts of time on the program.