The IRL's debut Indy 200 on Saturday recorded a 3.0
overnight Nielsen rating. Both ABC and the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway "were pleased with the numbers," according to Bill
Koenig of INDIANAPOLIS STAR NEWS. David Downs, Senior VP/ABC
Sports, said the network sold all of its ad slots and "we have to
be pleased with this rating" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR/NEWS,
1/30)....Jody Shapiro, VP of Home Team Sports, is profiled in the
current issue of WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL. John Lombardo
notes, "even though HTS's ratings and subscriber base have
increased, this is a critical time for the network." Its 3-year,
$30M Orioles deal expires in '97, along with deals for the
Bullets and Capitals. Losing "even one of the teams could mean
big problems for HTS" (WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/26
issue)....SI Online and The Augusta Chronicle announced a
partnership to bring coverage of the '96 Masters to the Web. The
site can be accessed through Masters96.com and at SI Online at
http:// pathfinder.com/SI (SI)....In a Nielsen survey of select
markets conducted after the NHL All-Star Game on Fox, fans of the
NHL stated they like the new Fox electronic puck in nearly a 2-
to-1 margin. NHL Senior VP & COO Stephen Solomon called the
"positive reaction from existing fans a bonus" (NHL)....Disney's
new animated show, "The Mighty Ducks," will be featured on ABC's
new Saturday morning Fall schedule. It will run at 9:00am EST
(N.Y. POST, 1/30).
