UNITED BASEBALL LEAGUE SEARCHES FOR TV OUTLETS

     While the proposed United Baseball League (UBL) is looking
for broadcast networks interested in carrying its games, UBL Co-
Founder Robert Mrazek says local TV "is more important to our
financial base than national."  The UBL has "not projected how
much broadcast revenue it would need to be viable."  Mrazek says
TV contracts for the UBL will be performance-based, making them
"largely risk-free" to the networks.  If ad sales exceed a set
level, the UBL and net will share the revenue, and the UBL will
partially reimburse the net if sales fall short.  Mrazek said by
the time the UBL starts, six broadcast nets could be "potential
entities looking for programming," as well as telephone
companies.  The league will also explore cable contracts and
broadcasting rights in countries outside the U.S.  However, "the
networks are not showing great interest" in the league at this
point.  CBS Sports President David Kenin says he has talked to
people "informally" but noted:  "I don't really know if there is
a real league."  A Fox spokesperson said no one has talked to the
UBL.  Local stations are also "wary." Jacksonville ABC affiliate
WJKS-TV's GM Jim Matthews says "most affiliates can't afford the
pre-emptions and can't afford the strains on the network
relationship" (Jon LaFayette, ELECTRONIC MEDIA, 11/7 issue).