TV REPORTS PROBE VARIOUS EFFECTS OF LABOR STRIFE

     On PBS' "Nightly Business Report," Darren Gersh examined the
impact of the labor problems in baseball and hockey on
advertisers and merchandisers.  Joseph Foss, Orioles Vice Chair
of Finance, said that local advertisers are still signing up for
next year:  "But that's not saying that the strike doesn't linger
over every sale."  The NHL lockout, which could lead to a
cancellation of the season, is seriously affecting sales of NHL-
licensed merchandise.  According to sporting goods retailers,
sales of NHL merchandise is "far short of projections."  Ian
Gomar, VP of Marketing for Starter:  "There's a real concern
about retailers taking in hockey products for the fall of 1995 if
they're not convinced that the players are going to come back and
play."  Depite MLB's and NHL's woes, Gersh said that retailers
report sales of NBA and NFL merchandise have increased in "double
digit rates" and that baseball and hockey would have to get "much
worse before they do lasting damage to their businesses" ("NBR,"
12/15).  On ABC's "World News Tonight," Armen Keteyian looked at
how the MLB strike is affecting ticket sales and advertising for
'95-96.  Grey Advertising VP Jon Mandel:  "What they have done
now is shot themselves in the foot and caused advertisers to
really wonder if they should invest millions of dollars behind
this sport to market products" (ABC, 12/15).