`` The Cosby Show '' may have single-handedly turned around ratings at NBC since its debut in 1984, and the Huxtable family still keeps millions of viewers laughing Thursday night on the network. But some of the TV stations that bought `` Cosby '' reruns for record prices two years ago aren't laughing much these days. The reruns have helped ratings at many of the 187 network affiliates and independent TV stations that air the shows. But the ratings are considerably below expectations, and some stations say they may not buy new episodes when their current contracts expire. Meanwhile, stations are fuming because, many of them say, the show's distributor, Viacom Inc., is giving an ultimatum: Either sign new long-term commitments to buy future episodes or risk losing `` Cosby '' to a competitor. At the same time, Viacom is trying to persuade stations to make commitments to `` A Different World, '' a spin-off of `` Cosby '' whose reruns will become available in 1991. Viacom denies it's using pressure tactics. `` We're willing to negotiate, '' says Dennis Gillespie, executive vice president of marketing. `` We're offering this plan now because we feel it's the right time. '' But, says the general manager of a network affiliate in the Midwest, `` I think if I tell them I need more time, they 'll take ` Cosby ' across the street, '' Viacom's move comes as the syndication market is being flooded with situation comedies that are still running on the networks. One station manager says he believes Viacom's move is a `` pre-emptive strike '' because the company is worried that `` Cosby '' ratings will continue to drop in syndication over the next few years. `` Cosby '' is down a full ratings point in the week of Oct. 2-8 over the same week a year ago, according to A.C. Nielsen Co. Mr. Gillespie at Viacom says the ratings are rising. And executives at stations in such major markets as Washington; Providence, R.I.; Cleveland; Raleigh, N.C.; Minneapolis, and Louisville, Ky., say they may very well not renew `` Cosby. '' Dick Lobo, the general manager of WTVJ, the NBC-owned station in Miami, for example, says the show has `` been a major disappointment to us. '' `` At the prices we were charged, there should have been some return for the dollar. There wasn't. '' Neil Kuvin, the general manager of WHAS, the CBS affiliate in Louisville, says `` Cosby '' gets the station's highest ratings and he's `` pleased. '' But he adds, `` I feel pressured, disappointed, uncomfortable and, frankly, quite angry with Viacom. TEXT `` The Cosby Show '' may have single-handedly turned around ratings at NBC since its debut in 1984 , and the Huxtable family still keeps millions of viewers laughing Thursday night on the network . But some of the TV stations that bought `` Cosby '' reruns for record prices two years ago are n't laughing much these days . The reruns have helped ratings at many of the 187 network affiliates and independent TV stations that air the shows . But the ratings are considerably below expectations , and some stations say they may not buy new episodes when their current contracts expire . Meanwhile , stations are fuming because , many of them say , the show 's distributor , Viacom Inc. , is giving an ultimatum : Either sign new long-term commitments to buy future episodes or risk losing `` Cosby '' to a competitor . At the same time , Viacom is trying to persuade stations to make commitments to `` A Different World , '' a spin-off of `` Cosby '' whose reruns will become available in 1991 . Viacom denies it 's using pressure tactics . `` We 're willing to negotiate , '' says Dennis Gillespie , executive vice president of marketing . `` We 're offering this plan now because we feel it 's the right time . '' But , says the general manager of a network affiliate in the Midwest , `` I think if I tell them I need more time , they 'll take ` Cosby ' across the street , '' Viacom 's move comes as the syndication market is being flooded with situation comedies that are still running on the networks . One station manager says he believes Viacom 's move is a `` pre-emptive strike '' because the company is worried that `` Cosby '' ratings will continue to drop in syndication over the next few years . `` Cosby '' is down a full ratings point in the week of Oct. 2-8 over the same week a year ago , according to A.C. Nielsen Co . Mr. Gillespie at Viacom says the ratings are rising . And executives at stations in such major markets as Washington ; Providence , R.I. ; Cleveland ; Raleigh , N.C. ; Minneapolis , and Louisville , Ky. , say they may very well not renew `` Cosby . '' Dick Lobo , the general manager of WTVJ , the NBC-owned station in Miami , for example , says the show has `` been a major disappointment to us . '' `` At the prices we were charged , there should have been some return for the dollar . There was n't . '' Neil Kuvin , the general manager of WHAS , the CBS affiliate in Louisville , says `` Cosby '' gets the station 's highest ratings and he 's `` pleased . '' But he adds , `` I feel pressured , disappointed , uncomfortable and , frankly , quite angry with Viacom . 4~6~8 22 26 30 30~32 36 42~44~46 52~54~56 60~62 66~68 75~77~79~81~83 79~81~83 89~91~93~95 99~101 103~105~107 117~119 124~126 132 136~138~140~142~144~146~148~150~152~154 140~142~144~146 142~144~146~148~150~152~154 150~152~154 160~162 169~171 179 185~187 191 199~201 205 205~207~209 220 230~232~234 240~242~244~246~248~250~252 242 260~262 270~272~274 280~282 292 298~300 307~309~311 315 325 331 335~337~339~341~343~345~347~349~351~353~355~357 355 359 359~361 371 376 380 386~388 395 411~413~415~417~419~421~423~425 432 438~440 446 454~456~458 471~473~475~477~479~481~483 481~483 487~489 495 501 505 507 511~513 517 525 540 540~542~544 550~552~554 564~566 578~580 585~587~589 593 597 597~599~601 605~607~609~611~613 617~619 627~629~631~633 645 649~651~653~655 662 670~672~674~676 680~682~684~686~688 692~694~696 698~700~702 710~712~714~716 719~721 725 729~731 742~744~746 746 752~754~756~758~760~762~764~766~768~770~772~774~776~778~780~782~784~786~788~790~792 758 762~764~766 770 774~776~778 782 788~790~792 798 812 819~821~823~825~827~829~831~833~835~837~839~841~843~845 833~835~837~839~841~843~845 845 857~859 867~869~871 875 886~888 906~908 912~914 930~932~934~936~938~940~942~944~946~948~950~952~954~956 944~946~948~950~952~954~956 956 962~964~966 970~972~974~976~978 972 982 997 1005 1033 The Cosby Show|1770,1773,1792,1803,1807,1814,1836,1851,1870,1874,1875,1883 ratings|1771,1787,1793 NBC|1772,1779 its debut|1774 1984|1775 the Huxtable family|1776 millions of viewers|1777 Thursday night|1778 some of the TV stations|1780,1790,1795,1796,1798 the TV stations|1781 `` Cosby '' reruns|1782,1786 record prices|1783 two years ago|1784 these days|1785 many of the 187 network affiliates and independent TV stations|1788 the 187 network affiliates|1789,1841 independent TV stations|1791 expectations|1794 new episodes|1797 their current contracts|1799 stations|1800,1801,1811 the show's distributor|1802,1810,1818,1819,1821,1823,1825,1832,1835,1837,1844,1847,1858,1889 an ultimatum|1804 new long-term commitments|1805 future episodes|1806 a competitor|1808 the same time|1809 commitments|1812 A Different World|1813,1815 whose reruns|1816 1991|1817 pressure tactics|1820 Dennis Gillespie|1822,1857 this plan|1824 the right time|1826 the general manager of a network affiliate|1827,1830,1831,1833 network affiliate|1828 the Midwest|1829 more time|1834 Viacom's move|1838,1845,1846 the syndication market|1839 situation comedies|1840 One station manager|1842,1843 `` Cosby '' ratings|1848,1859 syndication|1849 the next few years|1850 a full ratings point|1852 the week of Oct. 2-8|1853,1854 a year ago|1855 A.C. Nielsen Co.|1856 executives at stations|1860,1869 stations|1861 major markets as Washington; Providence, R.I.; Cleveland; Raleigh, N.C.; Minneapolis, and Louisville, Ky.|1862 Washington|1863 Providence, R.I.|1864 Cleveland|1865 Raleigh, N.C.|1866 Minneapolis|1867 Louisville, Ky.|1868 Dick Lobo|1871 WTVJ|1872,1876 Miami|1873 the prices|1877 some return|1878 the dollar|1879 Neil Kuvin|1880,1886,1887,1888 WHAS|1881,1885 Louisville|1882 the station's highest ratings|1884 1770|NUC:DIST:4~6~8 1771|NUC:DIST:22 1772|NUC:DIST:26 1773|NUC:DIST:30 1774|MOD:DIST:30|NUC:DIST:32 1775|NUC:DIST:36 1776|MOD:DIST:42|MOD:DIST:44|NUC:DIST:46 1777|MOD:DESC:52~54|NUC:DIST:56 1778|NUC:DIST:60|MOD:DIST:62 1779|MOD:DIST:66|NUC:DIST:68 1780|NUC:DIST:75|MOD:DIST:77~79~81~83 1781|MOD:DIST:79|MOD:DESC:81|NUC:DIST:83 1782|MOD:DIST:91|NUC:DIST:95 1783|MOD:DIST:99|NUC:DIST:101 1784|MOD:DIST:103|NUC:DIST:105|MOD:DIST:107 1785|MOD:DIST:117|NUC:DIST:119 1786|MOD:DIST:124|NUC:DIST:126 1787|NUC:DIST:132 1788|NUC:DIST:136|MOD:DIST:138~140~142~144~146~148~150~152~154 1789|MOD:DIST:140|MOD:DIST:142|MOD:DIST:144|NUC:DIST:146 1790|MOD:DIST:142|NUC:DIST:144~146~148~150~152~154 1791|MOD:DIST:150|MOD:DESC:152|NUC:DIST:154 1792|MOD:DIST:160|NUC:DIST:162 1793|MOD:DIST:169|NUC:DIST:171 1794|NUC:DIST:179 1795|MOD:DIST:185|NUC:DIST:187 1796|NUC:DIST:191 1797|MOD:DIST:199|NUC:DIST:201 1798|NUC:DIST:205 1799|MOD:DIST:205|MOD:DESC:207|NUC:DIST:209 1800|NUC:DIST:220 1801|NUC:DIST:230|MOD:DIST:232~234 1802|MOD:DIST:240|MOD:DESC:242~244|NUC:DIST:246|MOD:DESC:250~252 1803|NUC:DIST:242 1804|MOD:DIST:260|NUC:DIST:262 1805|MOD:DIST:270|MOD:DIST:272|NUC:DIST:274 1806|MOD:DIST:280|NUC:DIST:282 1807|NUC:DIST:292 1808|MOD:DIST:298|NUC:DIST:300 1809|MOD:DIST:307|MOD:DIST:309|NUC:DIST:311 1810|NUC:DIST:315 1811|NUC:DIST:325 1812|NUC:DIST:331 1813|NUC:DIST:335~337~339~341~343~345|MOD:DESC:347~349~351~353~355~357 1814|NUC:DIST:355 1815|NUC:DIST:359 1816|MOD:DIST:359|NUC:DIST:361 1817|NUC:DIST:371 1818|NUC:DIST:376 1819|NUC:DIST:380 1820|MOD:DIST:386|NUC:DIST:388 1821|NUC:DIST:395 1822|NUC:DIST:411~413|MOD:DESC:417~419~421~423~425 1823|NUC:DIST:432 1824|MOD:DIST:438|NUC:DIST:440 1825|NUC:DIST:446 1826|MOD:DIST:454|MOD:DESC:456|NUC:DIST:458 1827|MOD:DIST:471|MOD:DIST:473|NUC:DIST:475|MOD:DIST:477~479~481~483 1828|MOD:DESC:481|NUC:DIST:483 1829|MOD:DIST:487|NUC:DIST:489 1830|NUC:DIST:495 1831|NUC:DIST:501 1832|NUC:DIST:505 1833|NUC:DIST:507 1834|MOD:DESC:511|NUC:DIST:513 1835|NUC:DIST:517 1836|NUC:DIST:525 1837|NUC:DIST:540 1838|MOD:DIST:540~542|NUC:DIST:544 1839|MOD:DIST:550|MOD:DIST:552|NUC:DIST:554 1840|MOD:DIST:564|NUC:DIST:566 1841|MOD:DIST:578|NUC:DIST:580 1842|MOD:DIST:585|MOD:DIST:587|NUC:DIST:589 1843|NUC:DESC:593 1844|NUC:DIST:597 1845|MOD:DIST:597~599|NUC:DIST:601 1846|MOD:DIST:605|MOD:DIST:609|NUC:DESC:611 1847|MOD:DIST:617|NUC:DIST:619 1848|MOD:DESC:629|NUC:DIST:633 1849|NUC:DIST:645 1850|MOD:DIST:649|MOD:DIST:651|MOD:DESC:653|NUC:DIST:655 1851|NUC:DIST:662 1852|MOD:DIST:670|MOD:DESC:672|MOD:DIST:674|NUC:DIST:676 1853|MOD:DESC:680~682~684|NUC:DIST:686~688 1854|MOD:DIST:692|MOD:DIST:694|NUC:DIST:696 1855|MOD:DIST:698|NUC:DIST:700|MOD:DIST:702 1856|NUC:DIST:710~712~714~716 1857|MOD:DIST:719|NUC:DIST:721 1858|NUC:DIST:725 1859|MOD:DIST:729|NUC:DIST:731 1860|NUC:DIST:742|MOD:DESC:744~746 1861|NUC:DIST:746 1862|MOD:DESC:752~754~756|NUC:DIST:758~760~762~764~766~768~770~772~774~776~778~780~782~784~786~788~790~792 1863|NUC:DIST:758 1864|NUC:DIST:762|MOD:DIST:766 1865|NUC:DIST:770 1866|NUC:DIST:774|MOD:DIST:778 1867|NUC:DIST:782 1868|NUC:DIST:788|MOD:DIST:792 1869|NUC:DIST:798 1870|NUC:DIST:812 1871|NUC:DIST:819~821|MOD:DESC:825~827~829~831~833~835~837~839~841~843~845 1872|NUC:DIST:833|MOD:DESC:837~839~841~843~845 1873|NUC:DIST:845 1874|MOD:DIST:857|NUC:DIST:859 1875|MOD:DIST:867|MOD:DESC:869|NUC:DIST:871 1876|NUC:DIST:875 1877|MOD:DIST:886|NUC:DIST:888 1878|MOD:DESC:906|NUC:DIST:908 1879|MOD:DIST:912|NUC:DIST:914 1880|NUC:DIST:930~932|MOD:DESC:936~938~940~942~944~946~948~950~952~954~956 1881|NUC:DIST:944|MOD:OTHER:948~950~952~954~956 1882|NUC:DIST:956 1883|NUC:DIST:964 1884|MOD:DIST:970|MOD:DESC:972~974|MOD:DIST:976|NUC:DIST:978 1885|NUC:DIST:972 1886|NUC:DIST:982 1887|NUC:DIST:997 1888|NUC:DIST:1005 1889|NUC:DIST:1033