More than 79% of sports fans polled in an ESPN-sponsored
survey said "they would be interested in seeing an all-sports-
news network from ESPN." ESPN reports that the findings of the
sports information study by Marshall Cohen Associates and
Horowitz Associates last February on behalf of the network
support the decision to launch ESPNEWS. Selected numbers from
the survey: 68% were interested in more sports information
programming from ESPN/ESPN2; given the choice between adding more
info to ESPN/ESPN2 or adding a new channel, 67% preferred a new
channel; 72% said ESPNEWS would add value to their cable package;
43% said ESPNEWS viewing time would be in addition to what they
normally watch on TV (ESPN). ESPN President Steve Bornstein is
interviewed in the current issue of BROADCASTING & CABLE. He
predicted ESPNEWS would "definitely" be in 50 million homes; he
acknowledged that there are "probably a half-dozen or so sports
niches" that ESPN could fill, but he added (jokingly) that they
had no plans to launch ESPN4, 5, or 6 this year (Rich Brown,
BROADCASTING & CABLE, 7/15 issue). ESPNET'S RIVAL: The
competition for subscribers between SportsLine USA and ESPNET
SportsZone is examined by the Fort Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL.
Despite SportsZone's backing from Paul Allen and its 40,000
subscribers (SportsLine has 12,000), the SUN-SENTINEL's Leibowitz
writes the rivalry is "shaping up more like Avis vs. Hertz than
David vs. Goliath" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN SENTINEL, 7/15).
WRIGHT TOSSES CURVE AT TURNER-TIME WARNER: NBC President
Robert Wright "threw an unexpected curve" at the proposed Turner-
Time Warner merger yesterday when he said that Time Warner might
support Fox's all-news cable channel, a competitor for CNN.
Wright's statement could "cause trouble" for the merger with the
FTC (David Lieberman, USA TODAY, 7/16). One Time Warner exec
called it "bullying from Bob Wright" (INSIDE MEDIA, 7/16). But
NEWSDAY reports Fox News confirmed talks with Time Warner about
carriage, and possible part ownership (Elizabeth Sanger, NEWSDAY,
7/16).
CBS READY TO MOVE INTO CABLE? The latest BROADCASTING &
CABLE also reports that sources say CBS "is pushing to acquire
all or part of Gaylord Entertainment," as they look to develop a
new cable network (Steve McClellan, B&C, 7/16).
