MEDIA NOTES

     KNIGHT-RIDDER's Nelson & Raissman write that a Turner-NBC
merger would create a "sports giant" -- with the broadcast and
cable rights to the NBA under one roof, as well as NBC
properties:  the AFC, golf, The Baseball Network and Notre Dame
football (MIAMI HERALD, 12/16)....Warren Buffett bought a 4.9%
stake in Gannett, causing Gannett stock to immediately jump 8.2%.
The move coincided with Gannett's naming of David Mazzarella of
the new Editor of USA TODAY (WALL STREET JOURNAL,
12/16)....Executives at ESPN, ABC and NBC said it is too early to
speculate on what will be done if the MLB season opens with
replacement players (Mike Jensen, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/16).