TNT NFL RATINGS STAY STRONG -- ARE THE BUCS AMERICA'S TEAM?

          TNT's Sunday Dolphins-Bucs game earned a 10.9 national
     rating on TNT, its "third-highest rating in eight seasons of
     broadcasting NFL games," according to Lisa Magenheimer of
     the TAMPA TRIBUNE.  The 17 share was TNT's "second-highest
     mark ever" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 9/24).  USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke
     reports that TNT's NFL numbers are up 17% over last year. 
     Fox, after a 22% drop in Sunday's overnight markets, "is
     about to join ABC and NBC in the debit area in season
     ratings."  ABC's Steelers-Jaguars game earned a 15.0 on
     Monday, but "MNF" is at "an all-time low for a nonstrike
     year in the 28 seasons of the series."  ABC's overall 15.2 
     has dropped 12% from '96's 17.2 (USA TODAY, 9/24).