Rupert Murdoch told Canada's FINANCIAL POST that News Corp.
has decided against bidding for the worldwide TV rights to the
2000 Sydney Summer Games, because it is "too complicated."
However, he remains "very interested" in the U.S. TV rights
(FINANCIAL POST, 5/31)....ESPN has announced an agreement with
the Atlantic 10 to provide ESPN with national cable exclusivity
to the conference's men's basketball telecasts. ESPN will air a
Saturday afternoon game-of-the-week, select interconference games
and the A-10 championship; ESPN2 will air a Monday night game-of-
the-week, three tournament quarterfinals and the women's
championship game (ESPN)....Bob Gordon, GM of Boston's Channel
68, denied reports that his station was not interested in bidding
on the Red Sox when WSBK's contract expires at the end of this
year (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/31)....Cox Enterprises, owner of Tampa's
WSUN-AM, has entered into a partnership with rival WFNS-AM to
jointly carry Lightning games next season. Lightning
spokesperson Gerry Helper: "Anything that increases the reach
and availability of our games in the marketplace is something we
welcome (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 5/31)....Sports Media Inc., publisher of
Pro Sports Team Yearbooks, has announced the renewal of its Bulls
contract, the addition of the S.F. Giants, and marketing
agreements with AmEx and Midwest Air (Sports Media)....CBS
affiliates hold their annual meeting this week in L.A., with
Ralph Gabbard, Chair of the CBS Affiliates Advisory Board, airing
comments critical of CBS Chair Laurence Tisch in advance of the
sessions (N.Y. POST, 5/31).
