ESPN, Inc. signed charter ESPNEWS carriage agreements with
affiliates and the new network will launch Friday with more than
1.5 million subscribers, including those served by Marcus Cable
and Adelphia Communications (ESPN).
BUT WHO GETS IT? In Philadelphia, Bill Fleischman profiles
the debut of the three new sports channel, ESPNEWS, Fox Sports
Net, and CNN/SI. All three channels "will be difficult to find
on cable systems in the Philadelphia area, at least for a while."
Both Garden State Cable and Suburban Cable, with a combined 1.1
million subscribers, won't carry ESPNEWS or CNN/SI. CNN/SI will
be in the homes of about 1 million C-band subscribers, with
Disney Channel Home Satellite Service and HBO Direct. Fox Sports
Net won't be available for its November 1 launch in Philadelphia,
San Francisco or Chicago (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/30).
ANOTHER LAUNCH: Fox Sports Americas, the Latin America and
U.S. 24-hour Spanish-language cable sports network, launches
Friday. It has signed AT&T, Chevrolet, Mennen and Sears as
charter U.S. advertisers (Fox).
