Third time’s a charm for Jennings

Is the balance of power shifting in the evening-news race?

For the third consecutive week, ABC’s “World News Tonight,” anchored by Peter Jennings, beat Tom Brokaw’s “NBC Nightly News” in total viewers, averaging 12 million viewers to NBC’s 11.7 million viewers (the week of Nov. 12-16).

“World News Tonight,” in fact, is up 13 percent in total viewers thus far this season (and was up 13 percent over the same week last year). It’s also up 17 percent season-to-date in adults 25-54.

Has Bell rung for the last time on WABC?

Art Bell’s days on WABC (770 AM) could be numbered.

Post radio reporter John Mainelli says Bell, who has been absent many times the last few months, has irritated WABC suits so much that they’re considering throwing him off the air for good.

Bell’s latest malady, a bad back, marks the fifth time in the past few months that he’s taken major time off from his syndicated show, which airs from 1 to 5 a.m. on WABC. This week, WABC is pre-empting Bell’s show with a show hosted by San Francisco-based conservative commentator Michael Savage.

Mainelli says that the buzz is that Savage will replace Bell permanently (via tape delay). WABC had no comment.

Honor for Showtime chief draws Blank slate

Showtime chief Matt Blank was feted last Sunday night during the 17th annual People For the American Way Foundation’s “Spirit of Liberty” awards dinner.

The dinner, hosted by “Law & Order” co-star Richard Belzer, lauded those who support and protect the First Amendment and included Charles S. Dutton, Kathleen Turner, Bill Boggs, James Naughton and David Dinkins among the celebrants.

Blank was singled out for special recognition for Showtime offerings like “Queer as Folk,” “Soul Food” and “Resurrection Boulevard” by Alan Alda, Laura Linney and Peter Gallagher.

This just in . . .

* CBS chief Les Moonves on Viacom chief Mel Karmazin at Monday’s Center for Communication lunch tribute honoring Karmazin: “He is a force of nature, and thank God, he happens to be on our side.”

* The resurgence of “Friends” on NBC is translating into big dividends for the show’s syndicated run on Ch. 11. For the first two weeks of November sweeps, “Friends” is averaging a 5.9 (431,000 households) at 11 p.m. on Ch. 11, edging out “Seinfeld” on Ch. 5, which averaged a 4.2 (307,000 HHs).

* Universal’s Steve Leeds reports that last week’s LIFEbeat industry breakfast, benefitting AIDS awareness, raised over $100,000. The breakfast honored MTV’s Tom Calderone.