While there is still no official word on an MLB TV deal with
FOX/CBS/ESPN or some other combination, USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke
follows up on his Tuesday report. According to Martzke, CBS is
now "balking at paying the same" $110M/year fee as Fox for half
the network package. To compensate, MLB is reportedly exploring
the idea of extending the deal from four to five years, "still
resulting in about" a $1B network contract. That would give Fox
a third World Series in a five-year deal and justify Fox paying
more than CBS. When asked about the changes, MLB TV negotiator
Barry Frank had "no comment." But Frank did say that he still
expects to complete deals by next week (USA TODAY, 10/19).
THE FOX SIDE: The deal has Fox paying $110M/year for 18-26
Saturday afternoon games annually and half the postseason for
four years. Fox also offered to buy the other half of the
postseason package, for about $90M, which would bring the network
total to $200M/year. But Fox has added a "favored nation" clause
-- that its price would diminish if a second network would not
meet its offers for half or all of the package (USA TODAY,
10/19).
STICKING POINT? Martzke notes that CBS "hasn't bought
reports that ABC is interested in bidding for the second half of
the package." So CBS is interested in paying about $80M/year for
half the postseason and the last 13 Thursday night regular-season
games each year. According to Martzke, that would be about $15M
more a year than ABC offered. One way MLB may get CBS to up its
bid is by offering them an interleague game of the week for the
network to broadcast on those Thursday nights. "But interleague
play faces too many hurdles for early passage" (USA TODAY,
10/19).
CABLE SIDE: While ESPN is already paying $43M/year for '96-
97, MLB wants ESPN and a second cable network -- Turner, Prime or
USA -- to pay $20M/year for as many as 5 Division Series games
each. Martzke notes, "That's $200 million over five years, a
price that won't have any takers." USA's Dan Schoenberg denied
interest. But Turner Sports President Harvey Schiller expressed
strong interest: "Given the opportunity, we're a real player"
(USA TODAY, 10/19).
WORLD SERIES NOTES: MLB notes that through its global arm,
MLB International, it will televise the World Series to 169
countries and territories around the world. Fans in Europe can
watch the Series on NBC SuperChannel affiliates, while ESPN Int'l
will handle distribution to Latin America, the Middle East,
Africa and Asia (MLB Int'l)....Coinciding with the opening day of
the Series, USA Network will televise a 6 1/2 hour baseball movie
marathon beginning at 1:00pm EDT, featuring "Talent of the Game,"
"Major League," and "Field of Dreams." Announcers Tim McCarver
and Ralph Kiner will host (USA Network)....To commemorate the
start of the Series, News Corp./MCI Online Ventures, in
conjunction with the Baseball Hall of Fame has launched a new Web
site. "The Fall Classic," providing a nostalgic look at
baseball, can be accessed at http://www.delphi.com or through a
link at http://www.internetMCI.com (News Corp/MCI).
