The FCC has told NBC, CBS, and ABC that "for one year
they may pre-empt educational children's shows for live
sports events as long as the shows are rescheduled." Two
network execs told the AP that "they welcomed" the FCC's
action, "particularly with so many sporting events lined up
for the fall" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 7/14)....USA TODAY's Rudy
Martzke reports that ABC inked a new 10-year, $169M deal for
football coverage of the Pac-10. The deal will "boost the
current deal" to $15.25M annually through 2000 and hit $18M
annually from 2001-06. ABC also has a new deal with the Big
Ten for "at least" $18M a year through 2000, an increase of
almost 80% from the current $10M fee. ABC's Mark Mandel
could not comment on any "pending deals." Martzke adds that
ABC "doesn't figure to make profits on its Big Ten and Pac-
10 deals ... but they effectively keep CBS from becoming an
equal player" in college football (USA TODAY, 7/14)....MSNBC
announced a "major upgrade" to its Sports site at msnbc.com,
with new features and a new look, including sport-by-sport
sub-sections and a constant score update (MSNBC)....In the
Bay Area, the new all-sports radio station, "The Ticket,"
goes on-air next week from KTCT-AM (S.F. EXAMINER,
7/11)....From the Allen & Co. Sun Valley conference, Jon
Elsen reported that media moguls, including Microsoft's Bill
Gates and AOL's Steve Case, attended a conference entitled,
"The Technology and Media Panel: Digital Barbarians at the
Gate." Elsen: "Those who attended the panel said many there
find it hard to believe that advertisers are going to make
much money on the 'Net anytime soon" (N.Y. POST, 7/12).
