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NETWORK NEWS: NBC DENIES REPORT ON LOUGANIS

     NBC Sports characterized a N.Y. POST report that gold
medalist Greg Louganis was passed over as an analyst on the
network's '96 Olympics as a "non-story."  NBC Sports spokesperson
Ed Markey said Louganis had never sought to be an on-air
commentator.  Markey:  "Greg never asked us about working as an
analyst on our Olympic coverage.  Cynthia Potter, who we feel is
the finest analyst in the diving business, was hired in January
1995, 16 months ago.  Also in January 1995, we agreed to hire
Greg Louganis."  Markey said Louganis will work for NBC in
Atlanta explaining diving and Olympic competition to groups of
sponsors and guests.  Markey:  "We're looking forward to having
him as part of the whole show" (Edward Moran, PHILADELPHIA DAILY
NEWS, 5/24).  Other reports quote Markey calling the POST's
report "complete nonsense" (Bob Wolfley, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-
SENTINEL, 5/24).  The N.Y. POST buried Markey's response in the
middle of a piece led by quotes from gay rights and AIDS advocacy
groups blasting NBC.  Meanwhile, in his column, Phil Mushnick
calls the notion that NBC would snub Louganis because of his HIV
infection "hard to believe," especially considering NBC's past
hiring of Magic Johnson and the fact Louganis is on NBC's
speakers bureau (N.Y. POST, 5/24).
     ABC "POSTPONES" ALL-NEWS CHANNEL:  Disney/ABC has
"indefinitely postponed" plans to launch a 24-hour all-news
channel.  Analyst Dennis McAlpine, of Josephthal Lyon & Ross:
"When they looked at the bottom line number, they said, 'One, we
don't have a product that's going to be that different.  Two, we
don't have a bargaining chip like we did with retransmission
consent, which was used to launch ESPN2.  Three, why are we doing
this?" ("Moneyline," CNN, 5/23).  ABC conceded that competition
for channel space "is too intense and too costly" (Elizabeth
Jensen, WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/24).  THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes
ABC "was apparently scared off" by News Corp.'s offer of $10-13
per subscriber for cable access (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/24).
Disney/ABC Cable Networks President Geraldine Laybourne will now
work on "an overhaul of the Disney Channel and the introduction
of an ESPN3 sports channel" (USA TODAY, 5/24).    FOX NEWS &
NOTES:  "NHL on Fox" Stanley Cup Playoff coverage is averaging a
2.5 rating and a 7 share, up 32% over '95 (Fox Sports)....Fox's
"In the Zone," the kids-oriented lead-in to its MLB coverage,
will include the following features:  "Away from the Plate" (an
off-the-field look at MLB people and places); "Cyberbase"
(Internet Q&A for players, trivia and games); "Inside Pitch"
(lessons from MLB players); and "In a Pickle" (bloopers and
highlights) (Fox Sports)....Liberty Media President Peter Barton
said the Liberty/Fox sports venture will offer franchises "enough
money" for rights to "dissuade them from setting up their own
distribution channels" (CABLE WORLD, 5/20 issue).
     CBS' LOSS IS ESPN'S GAIN:  In Boston, Jack Craig writes that
Len DeLuca's decision to move from CBS to a top programming
position at ESPN "portends two things:  His old network's future
is dark and ESPN's is very bright as it expands across oceans,
targeting even untapped markets such as China."  Noting DeLuca's
work to revive CBS Sports with college sports in the wake of
losing the NFL and MLB, Craig adds, "The case could be made that
DeLuca was almost irreplaceable" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/24).
     BIG PICTURE:  According to the Cable Advertising Bureau, the
four major broadcast networks dropped to their lowest primetime
viewing share ever in '95-96.  Basic cable viewership was up 16%
to a 17.8 rating and a 30 share, while the nets fell 5.5% to a
39.4/65 (INSIDE MEDIA ONLINE, 5/24).

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