Preliminary overnight ratings show that Sunday's Bulls-
Knicks game on NBC outdrew CBS' NCAA men's basketball
selection show. The Bulls-Knicks pulled in a 9.7, compared
to a 7.9 "NBA on NBC" rating last year, while the selection
show scored a 5.7, the same as last year (USA TODAY, 3/11).
...AOL is reportedly listening to credential presentations
from agencies "in what could be a prelude" to a review of
its $100M ad account, currently at TBWA Chiat/Day, New York
(AD AGE ONLINE, 3/11)....Telecasts of the '97 PBA Senior
Tour will be co-produced by the PBA and The Marquee Group
and presented on ESPN2, beginning in July (Marquee Group).
...The National Association of Broadcasters and three DBS
companies "tentatively agreed to end a longstanding dispute"
over DBS customers who illegally receive network programs
from distant cities. The "thawing relations could help pave
the way for broader accords later" (WALL STREET JOURNAL,
3/11)....New L.A. sports radio station XTRA Sports 1150 AM
has agreed to a four-year, million-dollar-plus broadcast
package deal with UCLA to become the official home of UCLA
football and basketball (XTRA Sports)....In S.F., Susan
Slusser writes the twice-weekly "Joe Smith Show" on KNBR-AM
in San Francisco "is purchased airtime, though KNBR program
manager Bob Agnew disputes that Smith himself bought the
time." Agnew: "It's part of the package we have with Nike.
We're working with Joe to develop his radio personality and
give him media exposure" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/8).
