The case concerning's Viacom's suit against the Red Sox
and Bruins, its partners in NESN, over rights fees
inequities and compensation if NESN goes from premium pay
status to basic cable, goes to an arbitration hearing this
week. In Boston, Jim Baker wrote that the outcome, "in
addition to addressing Viacom's dissatisfaction," may set
the stage for more moves, including Fox Sports New England
becoming a more aggressive bidder for local rights (BOSTON
HERALD, 6/14)....The NHL Kings signed a new three-year radio
deal with CBS-owned KRLA-AM, making it the team's new
flagship. KRLA will carry all Kings games beginning this
season, and the deal marks the end of the Kings' eight-year
relationship with San Diego-based XTRA (Kings)....N.Y.'s
WCBS-TV sports anchor Warner Wolf "found himself at a loss
for words" yesterday "when his dentures popped out on live
TV." Wolf eventually replaced the bridge and finished his
report: "I've been on the air for 38 years and that's the
worst thing that's ever happened to me" (N.Y. POST, 6/16).
