ABC Affiliates Celebrate Network’s Ratings Strategy : Television: Network will air ‘Funniest Home Videos’ payouts during three sweeps periods.

After a much improved season, with a prognosis promising for the next one, ABC executives were waxing wise Thursday during the closing sessions of the network’s annual affiliates’ convention here.

All the tricky ratings statistics seemed cheery. But one set of figures was met with rousing laughter and applause. That was when Robert Iger, the network’s chief programmer, announced that ABC’s surprising Sunday night hit, “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” will give away three of its top-prize payouts of $100,000 each next season in three very carefully selected months--November, February and May--the “sweeps” periods that are used to set local advertising rates.

Iger waded through the new network lineup, hype by hype, promo by promo, on the ballroom stage at the Century Plaza Hotel. He was bolstered by ABC star power. About 35 stars showed up and, at the closing, yelled it up, lip-syncing the “America Is Watching ABC” anthem, which viewers will be hearing all summer.

Iger’s lineup was generally approved, with the possible exception of “Cop Rock,” an innovative hourlong musical drama featuring singing police, from writer-producer Steven Bochco, co-creator of “Hill Street Blues” and “L.A. Law.”

Iger was explaining why he thought this was going to be a big hit. But when he alluded to “doubters” there was uncomfortable laughter among the audience, suggesting that in acknowledging “doubters” Iger was indulging in a major understatement.

In Wednesday’s sessions considerable boasting took place about young people’s programming, including an “Afterschool Special” on the hot topic of questionable rock ‘n roll lyrics and another on the requisite hot topic of teen sex, plus three new Saturday morning kiddie cartoons on “The Wizard of Oz,” the new sub-teenie, heart-throbby rock troupe New Kids on the Block and “Little Rosey,” a toddler version of “Roseanne” and Roseanne Barr herself.

The real Roseanne swept through the curtain and up to the podium to thrill the affiliates. But she explained, in reference to her big-mouthed image in the tabloids, “I’m in kind of a bad mood right now because, you know, I haven’t fired anybody recently.”

She said that it wasn’t because she hadn’t tried, but because the show has been on hiatus.

Barr said the animation series will present “positive messages” like goal setting, letting imaginations run free and how to make wishes come true.

The big news in ABC’s daytime arena was that Genie Francis, the once hot-eyed Laura on “General Hospital,” is coming to “All My Children” on June 27. The network promised that the men of Pine Valley will perk up.

As for the late night “Into the Night With Rick Dees,” starring the L.A. disc jockey in nightly hours of “comedic hijinks” like the old Steve Allen revues, the show will be launched July 16. The network has tried to turn up the pressure on affiliate stations to clear time for it.

Dees made a glancing reference to the problem of getting local managers to schedule his show by discussing its budget: “There’s the Station Manager’s Fund. . . . Every station manager who runs ‘Into the Night’ gets a brand new Buick Regal. Every wife of every station manager gets a huge diamond ring. . . .”

The network also announced a unique 90-minute special for Dec. 1 called “Red, Hot and Blue,” which will mark the 100th birthday of Cole Porter with a series of music video interpretations of his songs by major music and film directors and contemporary artists.