Arts coverage abandoned

Thursday, July 13, 2000 | 9:23 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

The Big Three evening newscasts, seen by more than 20 million households every night, steadily decreased arts coverage during the 1990s.

Arts coverage on ABC's "World News Tonight," "NBC Nightly News" and "CBS Evening News" is down from 3.5 percent of the total news time in 1990 to just 2.1 percent in 1999, the National Arts Journalism Program at Columbia University says.

That's more than education or religion but less than sports.

The report found that attention given to the arts and culture has been eclipsed by stories about the media, such as television and the Internet.

Singer Michael Jackson's sex life was the top scandal story of the decade, while Frank Sinatra's death prompted the longest obituaries. Sex and violence on TV combined to be the biggest story, and "Titanic" got the most movie buzz.

In terms of individual newscasts, ABC's "World News" spent more time covering visual and performing arts than "NBC Nightly News" and "CBS Evening News" combined.

NBC and CBS opted for mass entertainment, while ABC was inclined to cover higher arts. The study shows that "Americans are less informed about arts and culture through television than they were 10 years ago," says Andras Szanto, a study co-author. He says that other outlets, including cable, print and new media, "have tremendous opportunities to fill the void left behind by the major networks."

Duncan sniffs out 'Spot' role: Oscar-nominated actor Michael Clarke Duncan ("The Green Mile") is in negotiations to join David Arquette in "See Spot Run."

"Spot" revolves around a mailman (Arquette) who takes care of a dog that, unbeknownst to him, is an FBI drug-sniffing superdog. The canine has escaped from the witness protection program after becoming the target of an assassination.

Duncan would play the role of FBI agent Murdoch, the dog's partner and obsessive trainer.

Dennehy bound over for 'Trial': Tony Award-winning actor Brian Dennehy has been named host of the upcoming syndicated TV series "Arrest & Trial."

The series from producer Dick Wolf will follow criminal cases from the police investigation through the trial.

"Brian's extraordinary talent cannot help but magnify the strong foundation we have already established for 'Arrest & Trial,' " Wolf said in a statement.

No Oscar for pics with 'Net debut: A film will not be eligible for an Oscar if it screens on the Internet before its theatrical release, according to a new rule by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Board of Governors.

The board made its decision Tuesday night, comparing the Internet transmission of streaming video with a television broadcast, which disqualifies a film if the transmission occurs before its Los Angeles County qualifying run.