Longtime TBS Sports Sales Exec VP Mark Mariani has resigned
"to pursue other opportunities," according to INSIDE MEDIA.
Sources speculate there may have been a "personality conflict"
between Mariani and Steve Heyer, President of Turner Broadcasting
Sales. Mariani had been with the company for the last 10 years
(INSIDE MEDIA, 3/19). ...."NBA on NBC" telecasts are averaging a
5.6 rating and a 14 share, up 4% over last season (NBC). In New
York, Richard Sandomir notes the impact of Michael Jordan on
NBC's and Turner's NBA telecasts. NBC's five Bulls broadcasts
have averaged a 6.6 rating, with non-Bulls games averaging a 4.6
(N.Y. TIMES, 3/22)....Washington's WUSA-TV has hired Cincinnati
sportscaster Ken Broo to anchor its weeknight sports segments.
Broo has handled play-by-play for the Bengals (WASHINGTON POST,
3/21)....CBS Radio announced yesterday that it would replace Hank
Stram and Jack Buck on "Monday Night Football" broadcasts with
Matt Millen and Howard David (CBS Radio)....In Tampa, Lightning
rights-holder WTOG-TV has refused to carry the team's possible
playoff matchups because of commitments to UPN. However, the
Sunshine Network has recruited WTTA-TV to step in if the team
makes the playoffs and also will add two of the team's road games
in April (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 3/22).
