Cabler Goodlife taps prexy

Meli plans to increase net's circulation

By JOHN DEMPSEY

The struggling Goodlife TV Network has hired Larry Meli as its president and chief operating officer. His mandate is to increase the network's meager circulation of 12 million cable subscribers.

"My job is to grow the network with wholesome programming," Meli said from his office in Washington, D.C. He succeeds Squire Rushnell, who has become a motivational speaker and author of the book "When God Winks: How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life."

Meli acknowledged that Goodlife is not yet on Madison Avenue's must-buy list. "We get the crumbs that fall off the table of the big networks," he said.

Kagan World Media puts Goodlife's ad revenues for 2000 at only $3.5 million -- less than the cost of one minute of air time during the Super Bowl telecast. Kagan said Goodlife's ad revenues will decline to $3.1 million in 2001, but Meli said the figure is closer to last year's $3.5 million.

Meli said Goodlife has bought a batch of oldies to fill out its 24-hour schedule, including "Maverick," "Mayberry RFD," "The New Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The FBI."

But the network must come up with original programming, Meli said, and that will be high on his agenda.

Goodlife's owner, Concept Communications, also has a stake in United Press Intl., and the network may develop some family-friendly newscasts using the resources of UPI.