NBC West Coast Division President Don Ohlmeyer said
Friday that "he was hopeful of a four-game sweep in the
World Series," according to Stephen Battaglio of the
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Ohlmeyer: "The faster it's over, the
better it is." NBC paid $400M for the rights to televise
postseason baseball through 2000. Both Ohlmeyer and NBC
President Warren Littlefield said the MLB playoffs "have
been a major disruption in launching" NBC's primetime
schedule (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 10/20). A sweep would have
allowed NBC to air its regular Thursday night programming,
including "Seinfeld" and "ER." Ohlmeyer, asked if he would
advise NBC to sell the rights to the '98 MLB playoffs: "I
would love it if somebody wanted it right now. If the A&E
Channel called, I'd take the call" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/18).
VIEWS FROM THE TOP: NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol,
on Ohlmeyer's comments: "Somebody at NBC says something
stupid about baseball every other year. Two years ago, it
was me when I said we'd never bid for broadcast rights.
Friday, it was Don Ohlmeyer's turn to say something truly
stupid." Acting MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, on Ohlmeyer's
comments: "It was unfortunate. I've always been pleased
with our relationship with NBC and I was stunned by the
comments. I've talked to Don Ohlmeyer and he certainly
apologized. But I think I was more surprised and
disappointed than angry" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/20). Ebersol: "I
think Don was just frustrated that at this point in the
season he's losing television's biggest night -- Thursday
night -- to baseball" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/20).
REAX: In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy: "How sorry is this?
Baseball has sold its soul to television and TV doesn't even
care" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/20). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes
that baseball "doesn't deserve NBC's respect." Mushnick:
"Baseball is the only sport that's publicly ridiculed by its
network partners. Baseball doesn't embarrass easily -- the
mark of those who just don't get it" (N.Y. POST, 10/20). In
Akron, Terry Pluto: "You can bet if an NBC bigwig made a
crack like that about the NBA Finals, basketball czar David
Stern would never let him forget it. He'd make NBC pay.
But baseball commissioner Bud Selig is a nice man, who
speaks softly and carries a toothpick" (AKRON BEACON
JOURNAL, 10/19). In N.Y., Jon Heyman: "Isn't NBC supposed
to be baseball's partner? Nice partnership" (NEWSDAY,
10/19). Last October, Ohlmeyer said publicly he wished NBC
could "reduce" its "commitment to baseball" (THE DAILY).
EARLY TO BED: On ESPN's "The Sports Reporters," Mike
Lupica called on World Series games to start at 7:00pm ET
(ESPN, 10/19). NBC's Ebersol, on the 8:00pm ET start time:
"America is not a nation that watches sports during the
daytime. Rights fees demand prime-time ratings and prime-
time ads. The bottom line is that this is not a sport that
gets a lot of kids. ... [P]eople say that the Series should
be in the daytime. Well, who's going to be the one to put
them on in the daytime and take a beating for 10 years to
make up for 30 years of ills?" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/20).
