COMPANY TOWN ANNEX

BMG in TV Deal: BMG Entertainment’s North American unit is forming a TV production venture with ABC, in its first venture into programming. Observers see the venture as a start of what may be an expanded push by the German media and music giant into TV and, eventually, the film business. The first program will be “Christmas at Home With the Stars” on Dec. 17, starring such BMG recording artists as Kenny G, Toni Braxton and Amy Grant. The venture will also involve other broadcast and cable units belonging to Capital Cities/ABC and will call for ABC Video Distribution to handle domestic and international television distribution. BMG will make and distribute any audio, video and multimedia products resulting from the venture.