SportsTicker has teamed up with the CISL to provide complete
league standings, final scores, and a complete nightly roundup on
the wire service (SportsTicker).... SportsLine USA launched the
first generation of its service last week with "Baseball Live!,"
which "allows registered members to visit virtual ballparks
around the country and watch games in progress" (SportsLine
USA)....Viewership for Friday night Arena Football games on The
Deuce "has more than doubled to 73,878 households, up from 1994's
ESPN2 average of 29,202" (AFL)....On TNT's Wednesday night
coverage of the NBA Draft, Ernie Johnson, Jr., will replace Bob
Neal as host, and Rick Pitino will replace Doug Collins as on-set
analyst, joining Hubie Brown. Dick Versace will comment on
possible trades from TNT's "War Room." Craig Sager, Reggie
Theus, and Kevin Kiley will report, as well. ... NBC says all of
its NBA announcers will be back next season and that they aren't
interested in former Knicks coach Pat Riley (MIAMI HERALD,
6/25)....Veteran announcer Gary Bender and former Rams WR Jack
Snow have been named the radio broadcast team for the St. Louis
Rams (AP/ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/25)...."The group that
manages John Labatt Ltd.'s broadcast assets is 'firming up' an
offer for the properties," and the head of Labatt's Canadian
brewing arm says a deal for about C$600M in broadcast and
entertainment assets "appears close" (Marina Strauss, TORONTO
GLOBE & MAIL, 6/24)....In an article on cable's strategy for the
"networks' off-season," David Poltrack, CBS Exec VP of Research,
says in the most recent national ratings week the audience for
the four broadcast nets was down 10% from a comparable period in
'94, due in part to "the early end" of the NBA playoffs (Bill
Carter, N.Y. TIMES, 6/26).
