REPORT: NETWORKS GIVEN FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR ANTI-DRUG MESSAGES

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The U.S. government gave up its right to network
advertising time in a deal to promote anti-drug messages on some of the
nation's most popular television shows, Salon.com reported this week.

The exchange allowed the networks to earn $25 million by reselling the ad
time at higher prices, according to reports published Wednesday by the
online news and arts company headquartered in San Francisco.

Salon.com, without citing sources, said shows that have participated since
the program began are NBC's top-rated "ER," CBS's "Chicago Hope," and ABC's
"The Practice" and now-canceled "Home Improvement."

"Cosby," "Providence," "The Drew Carey Show," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch"
and "General Hospital" also reportedly participated.

Former Federal Communication Commission chief counsel Robert Corn-Revere
called the arrangement "insidious."

"Government surreptitiously planting anti-drug messages using the power of
the purse raises red flags," he told Salon.com. "Why is there no disclosure
to the American public?"

The arrangement began after Congress approved a five-year, $1 billion
program to pay for anti-drug advertising in 1997. Networks were persuaded
to sell advertising at half-price so the government could actually get $2
billion worth of ads.

However, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy later gave
up some unused advertising time, allowing networks to sell it for full
price. The office also agreed to credit networks for unused ad spots based
on the length of anti-drug episodes and the number of viewers who watched.

"I know it's allowed us to make some deals we wouldn't normally make
before," said Alan Levitt, the drug-policy official running the campaign.
"We can make it more flexible for (media outlets)."

As part of the program, the White House office's former ad-buying firm
occasionally reviewed scripts under development and commented on them, said
Kayne Lanahan, senior vice president at News Corp. One, the media and
marketing arm of the Fox network.

Rosalyn Weinman, NBC's executive vice president for content policy and East
Coast entertainment, said the network and the anti-drug office had
conversations when the office had "specific concerns." She said there was
no "script approval."

A CBS spokesman said the network was "proud to be working with the
government in regard to the war on drugs."

Rob Dwek, Fox's former executive vice president of comedy and drama series,
said the financial incentives had "no impact on what we do creatively."

An executive at UPN confirmed its participation in the program, while
officials at ABC declined to comment.

Salon.com quoted an unidentified contractor for the drug office as saying
"Smart Guy" on the WB network was altered after the contractor complained
that two kids using drugs were depicted as being cool and popular.

Rick Mater, WB's senior vice president for broadcast standards, confirmed
that the White House "did sign off" on scripts.

Levitt said in "almost every instance" people with creative control of the
shows did not know about the program.

"I had not a clue about any financial incentives," said John Tinker, the
executive producer last season of "Chicago Hope." "It smells manipulative.
All of this is disturbing."

The arrangement was lambasted by media critics.

"It sounds to me like a form of propaganda that is, in effect, for sale,"
said Bill Kovach, curator of the Nieman Foundation. He called it a "form of
mind control."

Levitt, who confirmed the basic outlines of the program, defended it.

"The government is not dictating these changes. We will provide an
incentive, a financial incentive," he said.