MLB's national TV package "became as uncertain as its labor
situation Thursday when ABC and NBC decided to quit the sport
after this season," according to Ronald Blum of the ASSOCIATED
PRESS. The two networks "decided to pull out of the joint
venture" when Bud Selig "refused to make a decision on renewing
it for 1996." TBN's three-year pact will now expire after this
year's World Series. If revenue for the first two seasons had
hit $330M, it would have renewed automatically (AP/ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 6/23).
CONFIRMATIONS AND REAX: ABC and NBC's withdrawal has
not been officially announced by MLB, "but was confirmed by
an owner on baseball's television committee who spoke on the
condition that he not be identified" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL,
6/23). Rich Levin, MLB's Exec Dir of PR, also confirmed the
story last night (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/23). An official
statement from the league is expected today, but before the
story broke, TBN President Ken Schanzer said it "wouldn't
come as a surprise." Schanzer: "ABC and NBC made clear
over the past several weeks what their position was. I'm
saddened by it. It would be the end of a terrific
enterprise" (AP/Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/23).
FROM THE NETS: NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol said
neither network would bid on MLB's broadcast rights "through
this century." Ebersol: "We have done everything to be
good partners, and we've been treated like scum. We're
outta here ... and we won't be back." More Ebersol, on the
possibility of MLB signing with Fox: "(Baseball) probably
thinks that like CBS, it has another sucker in Fox to pay
big rights fees. But for $1 million to $1.5 million a club
-- or $28 million to $40 million more than Fox -- they're
trading the promotion from the number one and two networks
for a pushcart." ABC Sports President Dennis Swanson: "The
baseball network was working. The (July 11th) All-Star Game
has a record $18 million in ad sales, and if TBN had its
full two years, it clearly would have exceeded its required
goal of $330 million" (Rudy Martzke, USA TODAY, 6/23).