U.S. SENATE ANTITRUST SUBCOMMITTEE AIMS TO QUESTION MURDOCH

          The U.S. Senate's Antitrust Subcommittee "is planning
     to move forward with a hearing April 1 that will take a look
     at concentration in the cable business, including Rupert
     Murdoch's deal to control the Dodgers," according to
     Christopher Stern of VARIETY.  U.S. Senate staffers said
     Murdoch's potential ownership of the Dodgers, as well as of
     FSW and L.A.-based KTTV, "raises issues that they would like
     to examine at the hearing."  While Senate staffers
     reportedly "would like to book an appearance" by Murdoch,
     News Corp.'s Washington lobbyist Peggy Binzel said that an
     invitation to testify "had not been issued" (VARIETY, 3/10). 
          DODGERS SALE OK? The AP cites two anonymous members of
     MLB's Exec Council who "predicted" that the Dodgers sale to
     News Corp. "will be approved next week" (Ronald Blum, AP,
     3/9).  D'Backs Managing General Partner Jerry Colangelo also
     said that he expects the deal "to be approved at next week's
     owners meeting" (L.A. TIMES, 3/10).  But Giants Owner Peter
     Magowan said, "There are reasons why Murdoch people could be
     good for [MLB], and there are a number of concerns.  This is
     not a slam dunk" (USA TODAY, 3/10)