Time Warner's chairman, Gerald M. Levin, was widely criticized for replacing longtime music executives with Michael J. Fuchs, the former chairman of Home Box Office.

Michael Fuchs, the chairman of Home Box Office, argues that basic cable channels are not all that competitive with the pay services.

Time Warner is about to negotiate severance with Mr. Fuchs, the former chairman of Home Box Office and Warner Music, who was forced out in November.

But "Dear America" had its genesis less with any of those men than with Michael Fuchs, the chairman and chief executive officer of Home Box Office.

The new structure, he said, had no place for Mr. Fuchs, who was also the chairman of Home Box Office.

Michael J. Fuchs, the former chairman of Home Box Office, has emerged as one of several candidates to run Sony Pictures Entertainment, people close to the talks said today.

The idea originated with MICHAEL FUCHS, the chairman of Home Box Office and a member of the corporation's board, Mr. Biederman said.

At a breakfast meeting with Michael Fuchs, chairman of Home Box Office, Mr. Rubin broached the notion, only to get a cool response.

And Michael Fuchs, chairman of Home Box Office, said: "They have built a very successful business out of their individual skills, expertise and personalities.

"When Home Box Office was floundering back in 1976, he saved it," recalled Michael Fuchs, chairman of Home Box Office, recalled.