Media writers continued to preview CNN/SI, the all-sports
network set to launch December 12. In Philadelphia, Mike Bruton
looks at CNN/SI under the header, "CNN/SI Insists It Won't Be
Like Those Other Guys." CNN/SI Managing Editor Steve Robinson:
"What this all adds up to is we'll be doing something very
different. We're not going to be a wheel. We're not going to
have too rigid a program grid. We're going to let the news of
the day dictate our programming" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/15).
In Kansas City, Randy Covitz sees a "dilemma" for over 100
writers, editor and reporters from SI to CNN/SI. Covitz: "Which
medium does a Sports Illustrated writer offer his or her best
material -- the magazine, which has a Monday deadline, or the TV
network, which can broadcast stories immediately?" Robinson sees
no problem "serving two masters," adding "when the magazine has a
major investigative piece that holds for the magazine deadline,
we'll be able to follow up on it much better than anyone else
because we'll be able right on top of it" (K.C. STAR, 11/14).
NETWORK NEWS & NOTES: Phil Mushnick, on outgoing CBS Sports
President David Kenin: "The only blemish on Kenin's CBS record --
the Ben Wright episode -- can be chalked up to his trusting
nature. Kenin took the word of CBS's smug and entrenched golf
crew that Wright was the victim of a complete fabrication, which
was not the case. Kenin quietly suffered the public slings and
arrows of his blind faith in less-than-forthright, veteran
employees" (N.Y. POST, 11/15). ....In New York, Richard Sandomir
looks at NBC and Fox's displeasure of Nielsen's NFL ratings.
Nielsen spokesperson Jack Loftus: "I doubt NBC is complaining
about their Olympic ratings, which came from the same sample. Is
ABC complaining about their NFL ratings? No, although they are
down 3 percent, they're concerned about their college football's
sharp overnight-to-national drops" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/15).
