COMPANY TOWN ANNEX

Stay Denied in Fin-Syn Case: The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals refused to freeze a judge’s decision lifting restrictions that have prevented major broadcast networks from owning financial shares in television programs. A coalition of Hollywood studios and independent producers had sought a stay pending court appeal on the issue, fearing that the networks will have unfair advantage in negotiations involving upcoming fall programs. The issue involves the “financial interest and syndication rules.” In November, a Los Angeles federal judge lifted government antitrust decrees entered into by the three major networks that prevented them from owning programs they air and earning profits when the shows are sold in syndication to television stations.