PROGRAMMING NOTES: NHL PLAYOFFS KICK OFF THIS WEEK

     CBC's Hockey Night in Canada "took it on the nose" with the
NHL playoff schedule, "although no one is complaining in public,"
according to David Shoalts of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL.  Instead
of having Canada's top ratings draws, the Canadiens and Maple
Leafs, available on opposite nights, both start their series
tomorrow.  According to HNIC Exec Producer John Shannon, the
problem is "building conflicts," not the demands of Fox (GLOBE &
MAIL, 4/15).  ESPN and ESPN2 released their playoff schedules,
prior to the setting of the match-ups.  ESPN will carry up to 38
playoff games total (including 12 possible Conference Final games
and 4 Stanley Cup Final games) and ESPN2 up to 23 (ESPN).
     LOOKING AHEAD:  NBC released its MLB All-Star and playoff
schedule.  Full coverage of the ALCS begins on October 8 (NBC
Sports).  Fox will carry the exclusive live broadcast of World
Bowl '96 from Europe on June 23 (Fox).