NBC, Microsoft to Announce 24-Hour All-News Channel

NBC and Microsoft Corp. are expected to announce today that they will invest up to $100 million over the next several years in a new 24-hour news channel, and sources said that the two companies also are exploring other ways to combine NBC’s brand names with Microsoft’s personal-computer networks.

America’s Talking, NBC’s 17-month-old cable network, will be canceled to provide a large platform for launching the all-news network, which will debut in the second quarter of 1996. America’s Talking has 20 million subscribers, and distribution is a major obstacle for any potential challenger to CNN.

Sources said that some of the shows on America’s Talking--including “Ask E. Jean,” an advice program with writer E. Jean Carroll; “Politics,” with political analyst Chris Matthews; and “America’s Talking In-Depth,” a two-hour live news program--might transfer to CNBC, NBC’s other cable network, which provides financial news during the day and talk shows at night. Sources said that it is also possible--but less likely--that “In-Depth” and other news-oriented talk shows on America’s Talking might be included in the programming on the news channel.

NBC News President Andrew Lack will oversee the new network, whose programming is expected to be produced at the Fort Lee, N.J., studios where CNBC and America’s Talking are produced, as well as at NBC in New York and from NBC’s affiliate-news-feed operation in Charlotte, N.C.

The effect of NBC’s decision on Roger Ailes, president of both CNBC and America’s Talking, is not clear. Ailes is credited with building CNBC into a highly profitable venture and with launching America’s Talking since he came to NBC two years ago.

Sources said that GE Chairman Jack Welch does not want to lose Ailes, a former Republican strategist and talk show producer. Welch met with Ailes on Wednesday to discuss his future. In addition to continuing to run CNBC, some sources said, Ailes might get a production deal from NBC.

The news channel will be linked with an online network that will allow consumers to access NBC News footage on computer.