Syndie Insider

NBC's pain is other syndicators' gain. After two weeks on air, the off-NBC syndicated version of Fear Factor has been downgraded in Charlotte, N.C. Cox-owned WAXN, an independent, is moving Fear Factor from 5 to 11 p.m., trading time periods with back-to-back episodes of Twentieth's Divorce Court. Divorce Court also got an upgrade in Jacksonville, Fla., at the expense of NBC Universal's beleaguered Jane Pauley (see below). Both Charlotte and Jacksonville are metered markets.

Starting Oct. 11, Gannett NBC affiliate WTLV Jacksonville, Fla., will move Jane Pauley to 3 p.m., putting back-to-back Divorce Court s in at 4 p.m. WTLV President and GM Ken Tonning says the move will strengthen his news lead-in and give Pauley a fighting chance. At 4 p.m., the show was competing with Ellen and Oprah.

WRGB Albany, N.Y., a CBS affiliate, also moved Pauley out of the news lead-in, giving that spot to Warner Bros.' Ellen DeGeneres Show. Pauley goes to Ellen's 3 p.m. slot. Albany is not a metered market and will not see local ratings until December.

Also on Oct. 11, Pauley trades places with Paramount's Montel Williams on LIN TV's WAVY Norfolk, Va. Montel will air at 4 p.m., and Jane moves to 3 p.m. "I wouldn't call it a downgrade," says GM Edward Munson. "We're getting Jane out from under the shadow of Oprah so we can grow the show more."

Twentieth Television's Good Day Live is scouring the Big Apple for a new local correspondent to join Steve Edwards, Debbie Matenopouos and Arthel Neville. Anyone over the age of 18 who lives in New York is eligible to apply by sending a one-minute audition on VHS or digital video to Good Day Live From New York, c/o Good Day Live, P.O. Box 25337, Los Angeles, CA 90025.