ESPN2 is launching in more than 2 million households
throughout the fourth quarter of '95, bringing their total to
more than 27 million by the end of the year (ESPN)....The Sports
Network site on the World Wide Web now includes the Sportsbook
area targeted to the gaming enthusiast and casual fan. It is
informational only and does not provide any access to actual
wagering (The Sports Network)....Ratings from the weekend: NBC's
primary game, Steelers-Bengals, drew a 13.4 overnight, down 20%
from last year. Cowboys-Raiders led Fox to a 16.6 doubleheader
average, up 16% (Rudy Martzke, USA TODAY, 11/21)....Nobuyuki
Idei, President and COO of Sony Corp., said they have no interest
in acquiring an American network even if foreign-ownership rules
are modified by deregulation (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/21)....
Microsoft Corp. announced it has signed 525,000 subscribers to
the Microsoft Network since it was introduced with the Windows
'95 operating system (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 11/21). ....Raycom,
Inc. has reached a deal with Lin Television to represent the
national ad sales and station distribution for Lin's package of
Rangers baseball. Raycom will distribute the Rangers package
regionally to markets throughout the Southwest and will represent
national advertising sales for the regional telecasts. The
package is 150 games (Raycom).
