Ted Turner, responding to news Rupert Murdoch wants to
launch an all-news network to compete with CNN: "We're going to
squash Rupert like a bug" (DAILY VARIETY, 11/30). ....NewSport
announced a series of distribution gains, totalling over
1,500,000 new homes, that will push the number of households able
to watch the channel to near 9,000,000 (NewSport)....ACTV and
Prime Sports West plan to individualize and air 130 Prime Sports
events for '95-96. ACTV said their regional network has reached
its target of 1,000 subscribers on schedule. Their telecasts
allowed viewers to call up stats, activate instant replays and
other features (GOULD MEDIA)....The Baltimore SUN's Milton Kent
calls the contracting of Spike Lee for an HBO "Real Sports"
profile on John Thompson a "curious move," since both are
"visible" Nike backers. Kent notes HBO "cast a rather skeptical
eye on [Nike] in its last show" (Baltimore SUN,
11/30)....Following up on SI's story on Ben Wright, USA TODAY's
Rudy Martzke writes CBS should have taken stronger steps after
the initial story in May and that the issue could have "been
concluded by July" (USA TODAY, 11/30). Michael Hiestand recalls
CBS' action in regards to Augusta National's complaints about
Gary McCord and writes, "Maybe CBS will just wait to see what
golf officials want them to do [with Wright]" (USA TODAY, 11/29).
