TV RIGHTS: In Boston, Howard Manly reports that Fox
"apparently has offered at least" $20M a year for cable and
over-the-air rights to Red Sox games for the next ten years
(BOSTON GLOBE, 10/14)....In Indianapolis, Bill Koenig looks
at the '99 IRL TV package, which the league "had hoped to
wrap up" in August. Koenig: "The longer the negotiations
drag on, the harder it could be to schedule telecast slots."
ABC currently has first option on all IRL races "but has
already passed on several events." This year's IRL races
were broadcast on ABC, CBS and TNN (SPEEDNET, 10/14).
ISLES STRANDED: Fox Sports NY will not carry tonight's
Isles-Lightning game, which is in conflict with the Devils-
Penguins. This is the second time this season that FSNY "has
chosen not to produce" an Isles game. No decision has been
made on Saturday's game, which also conflicts with the
Devils (N.Y. TIMES, 10/14). In N.Y., Joe Lapointe writes of
Cablevision's decision, adding, "Cablevision, not the
viewer, decides what the viewer watched. Certainly such
shabby treatment is what Islander management deserves, but
it is an abuse of the fans and is ominous for the future of
local sports on television" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/14).