Coverage Boosts Cable Sign-Ups

With the surge of interest in news about the war in the Persian Gulf--and particularly coverage by CNN--cable television systems in Southern California are reporting urgent calls for new cable service.

Lisa McCarthy, marketing manager for King Videocable in the Santa Clarita Valley, said some of the new sign-ups were from “nevers”--industry jargon for people who have never taken cable service. She said the callers indicated an interest in the war coverage.

In Palm Springs, where Warner Communications has a very high penetration of home subscriptions, general manager Mark Matthews said he’s received 30 to 40 new jobs since the war began.