TNT earned a final 7.3 rating for its nine-game NFL
schedule this season, equaling its rating for the '96 season
(THE DAILY)....John Salley will replace Julius Erving as a
studio analyst for the "NBA on NBC" (Rudy Martzke, USA
TODAY, 10/30)....In N.Y., Scott Williams writes that "it's
believed that there are no ground rules," in Marv Albert's
upcoming interviews on "20/20" and "Larry King Live." But
Albert may "take a cautious route with his answers" due to a
possible civil suit (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/30).
BOX IT UP: In Baltimore, Milton Kent cites a recent
national survey of 1,000 adults, conducted by Eisner &
Associates, that showed that 54% said they "noticed and
liked" a game box that shows the score and game situation on
TV screens during games; 76% of those who identified
themselves as sports fans said they liked the box. But 31%
did say that that the presence of the box causes them to
switch channels more often (Baltimore SUN, 10/30).
NOTES: NY-based Photo File released its first-ever
World Series team composite and team photos in Spanish
(Photo File)....The new magazine Jim Thome's Cleveland Pro
Sports For Kids, which is part-owned by Indians 1B Jim
Thome, will debut in December. The magazine will go to high
schools and youth organizations in a nine-county area in
Northeast Ohio (CRAIN'S CLEVELAND, 10/27)....In LA, Mike
Penner reviews the relaunch and makeover of Sport magazine,
calling it "one part 'Slam,' one part 'Blitz,' one part 'SI
For Kids,'" which leaves "one slender lifeline left for its
longtime readers to clutch" (L.A. TIMES, 10/30).
GENERAL: In an agreement with Airshow Inc.,
SportsTicker will be offered to Airshow's corporate jet
customers in flight through the Airshow Network, an air-to-
ground communications link providing passengers with
headlines on news, weather, sports information, financial
market reports and customized stock quotes (Airshow Inc.).
