Due to "pressure" from ABC, the Int'l Skating
Federation (ISF) "once again has suspended sanctions for
some open events that were to include Olympic-eligible and
ineligible skaters," according to Philip Hersh of the
CHICAGO TRIBUNE. The Challenge of Champions on November 6
will be the first event affected, meaning that eligible
skaters such as Nicole Bobek, who is scheduled to compete,
"would lose eligibility by skating in the event." Michelle
Kwan, who is scheduled to skate in the World Professional
Championships on December 11, would also be affected by the
ISF's latest ruling. ABC recently signed a 10-year, $100M
deal with the USFSA and a five-year, $60M deal with the
Int'l Skating Union (ISU) and the network "expected those
deals would include exclusivity for competitions involving
eligible skaters" such as Bobek and Kwan. It "felt it no
longer was getting its money's worth" when those skaters
were allowed to compete in open events on Fox, NBC and
Turner Sports. Hersh added that though the ISU "endorsed
the opens to provide stars enough moneymaking opportunities
so they would stay eligible," it "failed to consider the
impact" of the opens on its Grand Prix series for eligible-
only skaters and on ABC (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/27).
