WILL MLB BE BACK IN THE RATINGS GAME WITH ALL-STAR SHOWING?

          USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke notes that with three players
     aiming for Roger Maris' home run record, regular season
     ratings on ESPN and Fox "are at least even with -- or up
     from -- last year."  NBC projects an audience of 35 million
     for tonight's game, which would be an increase of 3-5
     million over last year.  NBC Producer David Neal: "There's a
     buzz about this game that's bringing non-hard-core fans to
     the set.  It's best for us to get out of the way and let the
     moment be the moment" (USA TODAY, 7/7).  After scoring its
     best ratings in three years with the '94 All-Star Game, the
     event has "slipped" each year.  The '94 game, which preceded
     the players' strike, earned a 15.7 rating.  Since '94, the
     game has earned a 13.9, 13.2 & 11.8 (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/7). 
          NBC'S TELECAST: Bob Costas and Joe Morgan will call the
     game, with Jim Grey and Keith Olbermann serving as roving
     reporters.  Olbermann and Hannah Storm will do the pre-game
     show.  Broadcast equipment will include 20 cameras, 18
     videotape machines, three super slo-mo replay machines, two
     lasers, one telestrator, one radar gun and three base mikes
     (Jeff Weingrad, N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/7).  
          NOTES: MLB unveiled its official All-Star Game Web site
     at www.mlballstargame.com.  The site, developed with
     SportsLine USA, which serves as co-host, offers audio and
     video highlights, player profiles and behind-the-scenes
     audio and video features (MLB)....Tomorrow night, Fox Sports
     Net will air a special "MLB Town Hall Meeting," with "Goin'
     Deep" host Joe Buck moderating a discussion between MLB
     President & COO Paul Beeston, syndicated columnist George
     Will, Mariners SS Alex Rodriguez, MLB consultant Frank
     Robinson and USA Today's Hal Bodley (Fox Sports Net).