ANHEUSER-BUSCH CLOSE TO CUTTING DEAL WITH CBS FOR NAGANO

     Sources say Anheuser-Busch is "on the verge" of signing a
deal with CBS to secure category-exclusivity for the network's
coverage of the Nagano Winter Games, according to Reynolds &
Brockinton of INSIDE MEDIA.  Several weeks ago A-B reached a deal
with CBS to purchase half of CBS' beer marketer time, and now A-B
has decided to acquire the other half.  Reynolds & Brockinton
note, "What remains unclear, however, is how much money the
brewery is spending to get category-exclusivity for the '98
Games."  A- paid $10M for the '94 Winter Games, obtaining
category exclusivity by default as no other beer companies opted
to advertise.  Both A-B and CBS declined to comment (INSIDE
MEDIA, 8/14 issue).