ESPN has "been pitching advertisers on a global deal" that
would include commercial time on all its properties, including
ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio, SportsZone, and their
magazines....Sources say the UPN network is interested in
televising sports. Among properties the network has examined
include ice skating, basketball and boxing (INSIDE MEDIA, 8/14
issue)....Ratings for the AVP on NBC on Sunday, August 11 were a
3.7 rating and 9 share. On Saturday, the AVP earned a 2.9/8
share. Visa has joined the AVP as a promo partner on their NBC
telecasts. Visa received commercial units and conducts a center
court skills challenge for children (AVP)....SportsSouth regional
sports network will celebrate its sixth anniversary in two weeks.
With 5.6 million subscribers, it has moved past MSG Network,
which is in 5.4 million homes, to become the No. 1 RSN in the
country (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 8/14)....TNT has hired former SI
and Washington Post TV critic Norman Chad as a "humorist" for
their "Pro Football Tonight." Turner Sports VP Greg Hughes:
"He'll be like our version of Andy Rooney" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
8/14)....CBS Sports named former Giants defensive back Mike
Maylock as a college football analyst. He will work with Sean
McDonough (CBS Sports)....Raycom Media will purchase Aflac Inc.'s
broadcast division of seven network affiliated TV stations in
"small-to-medium sized markets." The cost is $484M. With three
recent purchases, Raycom Media will control 27 TV stations (WALL
STREET JOURNAL, 8/14)....Microsoft, in partnership with the
Celtics and Boston's Mayor's office, is donating Microsoft
software to Boston Public schools through the launch of their
Internet Explore 3.0 web browser (Celtics).
