COMPANY TOWN ANNEX

MTV to Test Home Shopping: MTV Networks plans in April to begin testing home shopping programming on its three cable TV networks: MTV, VH-1 and Nick at Nite. Included in the three-to-six-month test will be the direct sale of recorded music, concert tickets, CD-ROMs, books and “anything basically in the entertainment realm,” said MTV Networks Chairman Tom Freston. After the test, MTV will decide whether to launch a separate MTV-style home shopping channel. The move appears partly aimed at blunting a joint venture by cable TV giant Tele-Communications Inc. and record company BMG that would allow people to shop for music industry products. Freston said MTV is negotiating for products from record labels in addition to contracting with a “major” fulfillment operator.