Missed on Hallmark? Sold on eBay.(Through The Wire)(Hallmark Channel)(Internet auction)

Weird things crop up all the time on the Internet auction site eBay. The Wire has wondered before just who would post such ephemera as transcripts from the annual Television Critics Association meetings with stars.

We're even more curious as to who would buy such things.

But the trend continues, and has now taken a more alarming bend. Some of the cyber-vendors are posting press kits for sale, including the VHS or DVD copies of the programs the kits are meant to promote.

Where's lack Valenti when you need him?

Networks--like Motion Picture Association of America chief Valenti's movie studios--are concerned about the trend, because they anticipate an aftermarket for their original fare when they release the DVDs, on their own schedule, after the cable window.

Recent press screeners offered for sale last week included episodes of Lifetime's Intimate Portrait series featuring Vanna White; Hallmark Channel's Life on Liberty Street, which was offered for sale just one day after it debuted on the basic network; and episodes of State of Play on BBC America.

Allison Green, publicist for BBC America, said that net was aware of the auction. "Obviously, it's something we don't condone," she said. "We send out press materials to a range of media contacts in good faith."

Pam Slay, vice president of publicity for Hallmark Channel, notified of the Liberty auction by a reporter, was dismayed how fast her net's film cropped up on eBay. "Who knew that finishing our originals so close to their air date would be a good thing?" she quipped.

"We don't want a digital copy of anything out there," she added, saying Hallmark plans a commercial release of that same DVD in the future.

Howling For a Dick Wolf Net

At last Wednesday's unveiling of the new NBC Universal setup, chairman and CEO Bob Wright was extolling its original and library content.

"Don't forget The Dick Wolf Crime Channel," Wright joked, looking at the Law & Order lord, who'd just signed a new pact to extend his three extant franchises on NBC and add a fourth this fall.

Well, what about it, Dick? "I don't know about the Dick Wolf Channel, but with Law & Order and other product from the Universal library, we certainly could put out a 24-hour channel without repeats," Wolf said after the press conference.

Any such channel, presumably, would have to air sans original Law & Order installments: Turner Network Television holds cable rights to the drama through 2012.

While encore installments of L&O: Criminal Intent and L&O: Special Victims Unit are bolstering USA Network's ratings, would Wolf consider producing an original series for the cable network or others in NBC Universal's stable?

Wolf's more pragmatic than to jump at that bait.

"We don't look to produce something specific for Sci Fi, USA, Bravo or NBC," he patiently explained. "Certainly, at certain price points the show won't work for some networks, but it is our goal to get and keep shows on the air."

'Two Dozen Cram For Charity Cash

Well, Trio has found the answer: It takes 26 cable executives to stuff a DeLorean.

The arts network displayed the classically failed car in its booth at the National Show and vowed to donate $200 for every conventioneer who agreed to cram in.

Given this was for charity, the definition of "in" was quite liberal. The net even counted those caressing the stainless steel skin.

Among those piling into and onto the car were Dennis Mangers, senior vice president of the California Cable Telecommunications Association, and Steve Villano, president and CEO of Cable Positive, which benefited from the stunt.

The booth event ended up earning $5,200 for Cable Positive, the industry's anti-AIDS initiative.

The car is not just a trade show decoration. As noted in a previous Wire, it has aftermarket value. Trio's going to offer up the snappy wheels as the prize in a national consumer sweepstakes.