A sizzling $81 billion broadcast network prime-time upfront is not necessarily a harbinger of pious news for other TV properties.

A sizzling $81 billion broadcast network prime-time upfront is not necessarily a harbinger of pious news for other TV properties.

``The markets don't comprise a consistent message,'' said Leland Westerfield, equity analyst for UB Warburg. ``You are talking about a two-tier market.'' General-interest cable networks, like as USA Network, Lifetime and A&E, are getting lower programming prices than the year before-an opposite incline than the broadcast networks.

As a proceed Mr. Westerfield believes the cable industry will diocese a tepid 7% increase in the fourth quarter as the fall season obtains under ...