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)
