Nbc Wins ‘Titanic’ Rights

NBC is adding the world’s most famous “unsinkable” sunken ship to its arsenal of big-screen movie offerings.

The network has agreed to float $30 million for the rights to air “Titanic,” the $200 million blockbuster film that is going bonkers in the box-office department.

Under the terms of the deal, NBC can air the flick five times over five years, starting in 2000.

The biggest price tag ever paid for TV rights to a film is the $80 million Fox forked over for dinosaur sequel “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.” NBC shelled out $50 million for “Men in Black.”

‘Fantasy Island’ remake

Some 14 years after pint-sized actor Herve Villechaize last offered his famous opening to the old Aaron Spelling Saturday staple “Fantasy Island” comes word that ABC has picked up the rights for a remake.

“Men in Black” director Barry Sonnefeld will produce the show. No casting yet.

The original “Fantasy Island,” which ran on ABC from 1978 to 1984, starred Ricardo Montalban. His Mr. Roarke ran Fantasy Island, a tropical resort where guests could live out their, well, fantasies. Villechaize, who left the series in 1983, played the sidekick Tattoo.

Besides the regular stars, the series was a hotbed for guest stars who played the island’s guests each week. ABC is looking at the show for a fall launch.

CNBC to air movie

CNBC will air its first-ever movie on Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. when it offers up “Barbarians at the Gate,” HBO’s original film, starring James Garner and Jonathan Pryce, about the leveraged buy-out involving RJR and Nabisco. Geraldo Rivera will host the three-hour special, and anchor a round-table discussion.