While the rest of the city was out blazing trails through the jam-packed parade routes of Mardi Gras 2000, New Orleans television executive Michael LaBonia spent last week charting a course of a different sort: how to capitalize on one of the nation's first TV duopolies.

"We are the pioneers," said Mr. LaBonia, the vice president and general manager of Tribune Broadcasting Co.'s two New Orleans properties, ABC affiliate WGNO-TV and WB affiliate WNOL-TV.

Tribune, which previously held a 33 percent equity stake in WNOL and its fellow Qwest Broadcasting property WATL-TV in Atlanta, purchased the remaining interest in the two stations in November. After receiving final Federal Communications Commission approval late last month, it installed Mr. LaBonia, WGNO's general manager of the past two years, in the same position at WNOL and announced plans to reconfigure station operations.

That's why Mr. LaBonia spent the usually laissez-faire week before this city's annual Fat Tuesday celebration in meetings with staffers and clients, detailing his ambitious short-term strategic plan. It includes moving the two affiliates into the same building; starting up a prime-time WB newscast that will pool resources and studio space with its ABC counterpart; promoting each other's programs on the air; and packaging WGNO and WNOL commercial spots to try...