It "appears" that Disney "is planning to start another
Southern California regional sports network, in one form or
another," according to Larry Stewart of the L.A. TIMES.
Stewart reports that "it is expected to be announced today
that Fox Sports West [FSW] and Disney have settled the
lawsuits that resulted from the creation of Fox Sports West
2 [FSW2] in January." Stewart's sources say that Fox
offered Disney "big bucks to lock up the Angels and Ducks
for a long period of time -- 10 years or so," but Disney
declined, and then both parties "agreed to call off legal
action." As part of the deal, the Ducks will have one more
season on FSW2 and the Angels will have two more seasons on
FSW. But after that, both teams "will be free to go to ESPN
LA or whatever Disney calls" its proposed RSN. Stewart also
notes "talk that Disney may put its night-time regional
sports on an existing channel" (L.A. TIMES, 8/22).
AROUND AND AROUND: Stewart adds that the Ducks and
Angels "would not seem to be enough to start" a RSN, so
Disney CEO Michael Eisner "has been trying to persuade"
Clippers Owner Donald Sterling to sell. Stewart concludes
that this "makes it a little more understandable" why Rupert
Murdoch is trying to buy the Dodgers, as well as eyeing
minority interests in the Kings and Lakers. Stewart:
"Murdoch is lining up the arsenal -- and then some -- he
would need to take on Disney" (L.A. TIMES, 8/22).
CLASSIC ESPN? The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Battaglio &
Collier is reporting that a deal for ESPN to acquire Classic
Sports Network may be announced "as soon as next week," at a
price of $175M, "a hefty sum for a 2-year-old channel with
11 million subscribers." Both parties declined to comment
on the report (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/22).
