SOCCER: France launched its first cable and satellite
sports news channel, with a second to follow next month.
Digital platform Television Par Satellite unveiled
Infosport, while Canal Satellite will launch L'Equipe TV.
Infosport, with a budget $8.3M, is "expected to break even
within three years" (DAILY VARIETY, 7/16)....TV GUIDE gives
kudos to ESPN World Cup analyst Julie Foudy, calling her
"the most valuable American player" in the Cup. Foudy
"bested more experienced broadcasters with her enthusiasm
[and] knowledge of the sport. ... [and] should find TV ready
and waiting when she's finished on the field" (TV GUIDE,
7/18)....In Canada, TSN's World Cup final earned 1.549
million viewers, making it the third-highest rated show in
TSN history (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 7/16).
NOTES: Following Disney's decision not to pursue ESPN
West, Fox Sports officials "are confident a deal can be
reached" with Las Vegas' Prime Cable to carry Fox Sports
West 2 in that area. Fox Sports West 2 spokesperson Steve
Webster: "There is a definite need for Fox Sports West 2 in
Vegas" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 7/15)....In N.Y., sportsradio WFAN-AM
ranked 18th in the Arbitron ratings with a 2.6 average
listener rating, up from a 2.2 last quarter. Ratings
represent the percentage of total N.Y. radio listeners tuned
to a station in an average weekday quarter-hour (N.Y. DAILY
NEWS, 7/16)...."NFL Films Presents," which moves from
syndication to ESPN this year, will debut on ESPN2 on August
11, and on ESPN on August 17. The series will air five
times a week on ESPN and ESPN2 (ESPN)....The A's extended
the contract of radio announcer Bill King through the 2001
season. King is in his 18th season with the club (A's).
