European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 21, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Abc has a super Deal in by Richard Stevenson the new Yor times before it was acquired by Abc nearly october. Super Channel Apan european network struck Pat Rick Cox As a bewildering Mish Mash of paid religious program Ming Rock videos news and Home shopping. But Cox. The managing director of Abc operations in Europe also saw a great Opportunity. So along with Abc programming executives from the United states he tossed much of the junk off the broadcast schedule. He began improving the More promising of the existing shows especially those that focus on european culture business and news. Heis stirring in Liberal quantities of Abc programming from the United states including the tonight show with Jay Leno Abc nightly news and he today show. The result Abc executives Hope is a Chan Nel with a Strong Appeal to affluent Well educated and internationally minded viewers across Western Europe where super Channel is seen in 30 million Homes and most hotels via Cable and satellite. With the political changes new technology and deregulation creating broadcasting opportunities All Over the world International markets have Long drawn the interest of pro Gram producers from the United states As Well As Cable networks like can. As Abc s Deal for super Channel suggests foreign markets Are drawing increasing Atten Tion from the three big broadcast networks. Lbs has limited its participation to stepping up sales of its news programming abroad. But Abc has started a 24-hour news service for latin America is discussing a 24-hour Busi Ness news service in Asia and looking for other deals in Europe. Capital cities Abc inc., the Parent of Abc owns stakes in channels and program producers in Europe and in sports networks in Europe and Asia. Last month it created the Abc Cable and International broadcast group in recognition of the growing prospects for expansion abroad. European networks both state owned and private Are improving Quality and becoming More responsive to popular tastes. Cable and satellite operators such As a sky partly owned by Rupert Murdoch have blanketed Europe with news movies sports and general entertainment channels. Can while Strug gling to attract advertising has invested heavily in an International version of its service. Through telc i Inchon Abc owns a stake in Rtl-2, a German broadcaster. And through its esp subsidiary it owns a third of eur sport the largest sports network in Europe. It also recently took a Small stake in a Cable system operator in Britain. With super Channel Abc has adopted a different strategy. By taking a majority stake in the Channel the remainder is owned by credit Lyonnais the French Bank and As suming full management control the company is the first to attempt a full scale european american hybrid network. Abc did not Dis close the Purchase Price for its stake but Industry executives in Europe said Abc was believed to have paid about $23 million. Walton Hwy Chris o Donnell and Klee or Sutherland Riding tothe defense of France in the three musketeers. Kiefer Sutherland rides again this time a bit gentler by Frank Rizeq the Hartford courant Kiefer Sutherland looks exhausted As he sinks into a Plush chair in his hotel suite puffs on his next cigarette and actor was up All night shooting a new film and had Only a few hours sleep before he began a recent weekend of promotion for the Walt Disney movie the three afus Kutcers which just opened nationally. Still Sutherland was being responsible. And accessible. And Nice. For All his reputation As a bit wild a bit Moody and a bit unfriendly to the news Media Sutherland is now showing that he is a supportive player in Holly Wood willing and eager to help make his films successful. Suited and sincere he is All for one and one for All. But there is still something if not dark then at least chiaroscuro about the actor who turns 27 next the three musketeers review on Page 12 month. Mils keeters director. Stephen Here Calls Sutherland an old soul and a person who carries the weight of the world on his of i Don t know about that says Sutherland in a velvet voice that echoes the intimate tones of his famous father actor Donald Sutherland. I worry a lot. 1 worry about whether things Are going Well. Stephen is a really Nice Man and i worried a Tot if he was Happy with the film and Happy with what he was getting. But no i Don t carry the weight of the whole world. Just my Little world and How is he surviving All the trauma that he has been through Jip Tab a the very Public cancellation of his wedding several years ago to Julie Roberts who is now blissfully wed to Lyl Elovett the trauma he says barely arching an Eye brow. It was t that it did t slow his career which has been amazingly prolific since he began films 10 years ago. In the past few years he has acted in big films and Small including a few Good men the vanishing article 99, the three musketeers and the film he is now Mak ing with Woody Harrelson the Cowboy Way. " in the three musketeers Sutherland plays Athos the introspective swordsman. I identify with Athos says Sutherland not be cause he s relevant to my life right now but because he is an attractive character the same Way i thought Keith Richards sitting on the stage with a bottle of Jack Daniels was attractive when i was 12. Athos pain is incredibly powerful to me. Here was a Man who had lost everything in his life yet in his mind that made him almost invincible because there was nothing for him to lose says he read the French novel by Alex Andra Dumas when he was younger and he acknowledges that the film the umpteenth musketeers movie strays from the Book. When you try to condense it into an hour and 40 minutes you have to make choices he says. It s a really dark Book and i think that would be an inter Esting film to but Sutherland quickly Points but that he is Happy with the film he made. Don t get me wrong he says. It s vastly enter Taining and i think it s going to be a fun ride for audiences. And it was fun to and he likes that his 6-year-old daughter would enjoy seeing dad As a swashbuckler. It s As simple As that he says. She will probably identify with Chris o Donnell who plays d Artagnan because he s the Young one who is trying to be let in to the but in t this a Guy film if there has Ever been a group of people who have consistently Over time really encapsulated the concept of Devotion and single minded Ness of the musketeers it s women he says. Men he adds sometimes get caught up with the swordplay and forget about the morality of the musketeers. Sutherland does t understand some peo pie s image of him As the dirty Blond bad lost boy despite an occasional Binge or scrape with the Law. His roles he insists have been far ranging yet i still run into people who say you always play bad Guys and it s simply not this image he Hopes will change Over time. And is there a film with his father in the future Sutherland says he and his father Are still looking for the right project. It s one of those things you get in your head that you re Only going to do once and we be taken a Long time looking for just the right project. I m very close to my father. Always have november Al 21,1993 sunday Page 11
