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TIME WARNER LATEST TO BALK AT SPORTCHANNEL'S METS FEE

          In a "sudden blow to local Mets fans enjoying a pennant
     race for the first time in seven years, SportsChannel
     yesterday said it will black out 14 upcoming games" to more
     than 1 million homes in Time Warner Cable systems in New
     York City, according to Steve Zipay of NEWSDAY.  Time Warner 
     and SportsChannel "have been feuding for months over a fee
     Time Warner owes SportsChannel for an additional 25 Mets
     regular-season telecasts.  The negotiations broke down and
     the dispute became public yesterday."  Time Warner has
     "already televised 11 of the 25 extra games -- and sold some
     ad spots -- without paying SportsChannel the extra money." 
     Barry Rosenblum, president of Time Warner Cable New York
     City, said the increased fee translates to "about $3 a
     customer over the course of 12 months, but there are other
     issues that would run costs in the tens of millions." 
     Michael Bair, Exec VP/Rainbow Media, SportsChannel's parent,
     said, "We thought things were getting done, but Time Warner
     hasn't been negotiating in good faith" (NEWSDAY, 8/15). 
     SC's charge for the 25 games is $3.4M (N.Y. TIMES, 8/15).
          BIG PICTURE: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Scott Hettrick
     writes the "stalemate could soon lead to a larger problem
     for New York cable customers since" Rainbow Programming now
     owns MSG and the fact that Time Warner's Rosenblum said
     Rainbow is asking for "tens of millions of dollars" in
     additional fees for the renewal of rights to carry both
     networks (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/15).  In N.Y., Phil Mushnick
     wonders if these "latest disputes represent the anticipated
     -- a move by Cablevision to hike the cost of MSG and SC
     programming as a means of financing Cablevision's purchase
     of the Garden and all its parts?  Could be" (N.Y. POST,
     8/15). NEWSDAY's Zipay adds that the "biggest winner in the
     blackout" will be radio carrier WFAN (NEWSDAY, 8/15).

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