NBC and TBS, "shut out" of the NFL's recent TV deals,
"might decide to combine their considerable resources and
start their own pro football league," according to Rogers &
Pasquarelli of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. In a statement
released yesterday, TBS said it was "speaking to" NBC "about
the possibility" of starting a new league. The early
"working title" is the "Fan Appreciation League." NFL
VP/Communications Greg Aiello said the NFL had "no comment
and no reaction." However, Patriots Owner Robert Kraft and
Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen, both members of the NFL's
broadcast committee, reacted to the news, with Kraft saying
"[W]hen CBS got shut out [on the NFL contract], it talked
about the same thing and nothing ever happened." Bowlen:
"You never say never, but there are a lot of bones out there
of leagues that attempted to compete with the NFL" (ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 1/30). The two are considering a league that
would play Sunday afternoons in the fall, "competing
directly with the NFL," according to Pope & Shapiro of the
WALL STREET JOURNAL. Pope & Shapiro write that an
NBC/Turner "alliance would have an edge in its programming
and vast distribution network" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/30).
SOUR GRAPES OR REAL ALTERNATIVE? USA TODAY's Rudy
Martzke reports that the league would consist of 10-12 teams
and begin play in '99. Players "would come from" the CFL, a
"few NFL stars, taxi-squaders and late training-camp cuts."
TV "possibilities" include NBC with a Sunday doubleheader
and TNT "having one, or possibly two" prime-time games a
week, while cities "could include" N.Y., Chicago, L.A.,
Atlanta, Boston and "possibly" teams in other markets with
NBC O&Os, such as DC and Miami (USA TODAY, 1/30).
FEASIBILITY STUDIES: The Marquee Group's Mike Trager
projects that NBC could achieve a 2-3 rating for the league,
which "likely would take a ratings point away" from NFL
broadcasts, equating to a 10% drop. That drop would affect
CBS' "ability to make a profit" because it would base its ad
rates on a 10 rating. Trager: "The issue is, can they sell
the ad inventory in the (year's) fourth quarter, when
there's already so much pro football inventory?" (Rudy
Martzke, USA TODAY, 1/30). In S.F., Glenn Dickey said that
for a new league, the old AFL "must be the model." Dickey
said he would be "surprised if a new league doesn't start
within the next couple of years" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/30).
