GE and Time Warner resume talks this week as Time Warner
tries to secure NBC as a programming outlet and GE considers
selling all or part of its share in the network.  This morning's
WALL STREET JOURNAL reports other suitors are considering bids
for NBC, including Harcourt General and Turner Broadcasting.
Harcourt is completing a sale of its insurance unit to GE for
$400M; TBS is considered "unlikely" to purchase NBC because Time
Warner is one of its major shareholders (Roberts & Jensen, WALL
STREET JOURNAL, 9/12).

      While Fox received a lot of publicity for its high NFL
ratings in large markets, the returns from smaller markets, which
make up 45% of the nation, "were a leveler."  Fox's overall
rating fell 25% and trailed last year on CBS.  "This proves that
Fox has holes in its reach, with small UHF stations as
affiliates" (Jack Craig, BOSTON GLOBE, 9/11). ...TNT has sold
nearly 65% of the ad time for the upcoming NBA season, but
virtually all of its ad time for the NFL.  TNT is not alone with
its "rapid NFL sales pace.  It's a sellers' market, and
commercial inventory is moving faster than it has in years."  All
1st Half Super Bowl 30-second spots have been sold, with the
going price at $1.025M (INSIDE MEDIA, 9/7-20 issue).