CTV SPORTSNET SET FOR LAUNCH: INITIAL REACH IS FIVE MILLION

          CTV SportsNet (CTVS), which launches October 9, will
     initially reach five million homes, according to Rob Longley
     of the TORONTO SUN.  CTVS had originally "hoped to reach
     three million homes at launch time."  Longley writes that
     the size of CTVS's distribution "is grim news for TSN, which
     had hoped it would continue to offer the best value to
     advertisers," but CTVS's sales department "is armed with
     numbers attractive to advertisers."  One industry insider:
     "It's not the kind of news TSN wanted to hear, especially
     since the company is for sale.  The moment Sportsnet hits
     the air, TSN's value will be diminished significantly"
     (TORONTO SUN, 9/23).  In Toronto, William Houston reports
     that CTVS's five million homes is "not far behind" the 7.2
     million reached by TSN.  CTVS has been slotted for Shaw
     Cable's first tier of programming, while Rogers Cable,
     Canada's largest cable compant, is giving CTVS basic
     designation (William Houston, Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 9/23).