ESPN "is in talks to acquire" Big Fights Inc., which
holds "an enormous collection of historic boxing footage,"
according to Jon Elsen of the N.Y. POST. ESPN is "likely to
pay" $100M to acquire Big Fights, and a deal is expected "in
the next several weeks." Big Fights, headed by Mike Tyson's
former business manager William Cayton, has a library of
some 18,000 fight films, including bouts of Joe Louis, Jack
Dempsey and Sugar Ray Robinson, in addition to footage of
Olympics, MSG events and other "classic pool matches."
Elsen adds that ESPN will use the fight library "primarily"
for its Classic Sports Network (N.Y. POST, 4/27).
LOCAL VOCALS: In K.C., Jeffrey Flanagan reported that
with ESPN expected to raise cable rates 20% annually during
the next eight years, local cable companies are "bracing
themselves for the worst." Overland Park TCI GM Dennis
Jadlot: "We can't consider not carrying it. ESPN is so
popular we are bound to carry it on a basic level." But
American Cablevision VP/Public Affairs Carol Rothwell said
the rate increases will "make every cable company think
about programming alternatives. The ideal situation would
be to make it (ESPN) a separate option" (K.C. STAR, 4/26).
SHEER STRENGTH: On "Moneyline," CNN's Susan Lisovicz
reported on the troubles of Walt Disney Co.'s ABC TV
network, noting declining ratings and its fourth-place
finish in the February sweeps. But Lisovicz said that
Disney "is skillfully expanding the brand appeal of ESPN."
Ladenberg, Thallman Managing Dir Porter Bibb: "ESPN is
probably the crown jewel of the ABC/Cap Cities universe. It
is rapidly becoming the dominant force in sports media and
entertainment" ("Moneyline," CNN, 4/24).
