TECHNOLOGY - June 5, 1996

NBC, IBM to Produce Technology Series: International Business Machines Corp. and NBC Cable are creating a weekly half-hour program on the global influences of information technology, which will air worldwide on NBC’s networks and be sponsored solely by IBM. “Scan,” premiering Sept. 12 on CNBC, grew out of NBC’s desire for programming “alliances,” in which the network and partners make shows that create a compatible environment for the partner’s products and services. The Wall Street Journal reported that IBM will own the show outright and have final say over its content. Patricia Karpas, vice president of program development for NBC Cable, said the show “is not an infomercial for IBM.” “NBC has editorial control over programming that airs on its networks. Period. End of story,” she said.