ESPN's telecast of Cal Ripken's record-breaking 2131st
consecutive game played drew a "whopping" 7.5 cable rating, the
highest mark for an ESPN baseball game.  ESPN's Mike Soltys:
"Our initial expectations weren't quite that high. ... [But]
Ripken's streak had crossed over the sports line and got to be a
wider story.  That's where the audience kicked in" (Prentis
Rogers, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 9/8).  In Baltimore, Milton Kent
notes that WJZ-Channel 13 got a 30.1 local rating and HTS did a
14.2/20 in the Baltimore area.  Between 9:30 and 9:45, nearly 80%
of all Baltimore TV homes were tuned to coverage of the game
(Baltimore SUN, 9/8).  The previous high ratings for non-NFL ESPN
telecasts were Georgetown-St. John's basketball in February '85
(8.0) and  last year's Florida State-Miami football game (7.7).
The 9:30-9:45 portion of the program (when the game was made
official) drew an 11.3, and the 11:30-12:30 postgame show drew a
7.3.  ESPN's 7.5 rating includes over-the-air coverage on
Baltimore's WJZ and DC's WFTY.  Without those areas, it was 7.0
rating in the cable-only universe (ESPN).    SILENCE IS GOLDEN:
In Philadelphia, Mike Bruton writes, "For baseball junkies it was
nirvana, and ESPN, the network charged with recording this piece
of history, was up to the task" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/8).  In
Washington, Leonard Shapiro notes both Chris Berman and Buck
Martinez "allowed ESPN's pictures to do the talking, the perfect
approach to one of the greatest moments in sports history"
(WASHINGTON POST, 9/8).  NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol said
ESPN did an "incredible, classy and effective job.  It was TV
sports for the ages" (USA TODAY, 9/8).  In Orlando, Jerry Greene
writes, "I'm told Berman first suggested turning off his mike and
played a large role in the final decision.  You're more than just
a pretty face, Chris" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/8).  In Houston,
Carlton Thompson writes, "Berman forever will be known for his
clever wit and nicknames.  But when the moment dictates, he can
be serious and compassionate.  He proved that Wednesday night by
saying nothing" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/8).
     ANOTHER LANDMARK:  ESPN celebrated its 16th anniversary by
announcing that it is the first cable network to hit 70%
penetration of U.S. homes.  That 70% represents 66,805,000 homes
(ESPN).  The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Frederick Klein writes, "For
my money, the most important date in the modern world of
Sportsbiz was Sept. 7, 1979" -- ESPN's first day of cablecasting
(WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/8).

     America Online announced that it has exceeded 3.5 million
subscribers, making it the largest online service.  CompuServe
currently claims about 3.4 million subscribers, and Prodigy more
than 2 million.  Delphi/MCI and The Microsoft Network have less
than 500,000 each (AD AGE ONLINE, 9/8)....CompuServe is
sponsoring CompuServe Day at the Ballpark for the Indians'
September 9 game at Jacobs Field.  The promotion includes a
CompuServe display, distribution of free software and membership
kits and prizes for fans (CompuServe)....Despite SportsChannel
Florida's acquisition of U/Miami football rights, TCI and
Continental Cablevision "say they have no plans to bring back the
channel."  Barry Jackson writes that SportsChannel "probably
needs to acquire one of the local pro teams to get back on every
cable system in South Florida."  SportsChannel is expected to
pursue the Marlins and Panthers, whose contracts are up next
year, but getting the Lightning or Devil Rays would boost
SportsChannel upstate where the Sunshine Network "dominates"
(MIAMI HERALD, 9/8)....Still no word on Astros radio rights.
Incumbent KPRC-AM is "intent on keeping the games," but KILT-AM
is making a "big push."  KTRH-AM is the "surprise contender"
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/8)....The Center for Media Education and
the United Church of Christ will protest the proposed sale of CBS
to Westinghouse with the FCC (WASHINGTON POST, 9/8)....Merger
talks between US West and Cablevision have reportedly broken off
(NEWSDAY, 9/7). ....MSG Network is expected to announce Monday
the signing of Kenny Albert, the 27-year-old son of Marv Albert,
to handle Rangers games and other assignments.  Albert, who has
been doing Capitals play-by-play on HTS, will be replaced by Al
Koken.  The Capitals also announced that radio voice Ron Weber
will continue for two more years and then be replaced when the
team moves to a new arena (WASHINGTON POST, 9/8). ....In L.A.,
Larry Stewart reports that, for now, NFL ratings in the area are
up over last year, when they actually had teams.  Ratings for '95
Week 1 topped last year, 29.8 to 25.3 (L.A. TIMES, 9/8).

     The following NFL games failed to sellout for this weekend
and will be blacked out in their home markets.
     NOTE:  The Lions-Vikings game was to have been blacked out
in the Twin Cities, but TCF Bank and Channel 29 teamed up to buy
the remaining 7,000 tickets.  In past years, a fund established
by General Mills had bought up remaining tickets for any game
within 10% of a sellout, but that fund dried up last year.  Five
other Vikings home games this year remain non-sellouts
(Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/8).  San Diego's opener also sold
out just before the deadline.
     GAME                       LOCAL TIME           NETWORK
     Tampa Bay at Cleveland        1:00                Fox
     Pittsburgh at Houston        12:00                NBC
     Jacksonville at Cincinnati    4:00                NBC
     Philadelphia at Arizona       7:00                TNT