IT'S MEGA TV DEAL WEEK: ABC/ESPN TO SHOW WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

          ABC/ESPN will announce today that they have reached a
     deal with the FIFA/Women's World Cup Organizing Committee to 
     televise all 32 matches of the '99 event, covering a total
     of 64 hours of the event.  ABC will broadcast the opening
     and final game, and a possible semifinal match on July 4. 
     ESPN and ESPN2 will telecast the remaining 29 matches.  Of
     the 32 games, 27 will be broadcast live (Women's World Cup).
          BIG EXPOSURE: USA TODAY's Jerry Langdon reports that
     ABC/ESPN will handle production costs for the games,
     "estimated" at $3-4M.  He adds that the '99 Women's World
     Cup committee is reportedly "close" to sponsorship deals
     with ISL, FIFA's marketing arm (USA TODAY, 1/15).