BIG EAST CONFERENCE CONTRACTS OUT ITS TV BUSINESS TO ESPN

     The Big East is expected to announce a deal this week under
which ESPN would take over production of the conference's
basketball and football games -- and, along with ESPN2, show more
games.  Big East Associate Commissioner Tom McElroy:  "We're
going to get out of the television business.  It's time."
McElroy has handled all production, station clearance,
advertising and promotion of Big East events since 1985.  The
deal is expected to begin next fall under Creative Sports, a
subsidiary of ESPN.  Under the contract, ESPN in 1996 would have
first claim to Big East football and basketball not televised by
CBS (Jack Craig, BOSTON GLOBE, 12/17).