In Arizona, Mark Armijo wrote on speculation that
NASCAR may want to negotiate its own TV deals, rather than
have track operators make them. Armijo: "Even if NASCAR's
study concludes all parties would be financially better off
by allowing it sole authority to sell the entire TV rights
package, the sanctioning body still will have to convince
racetrack owners to go along with it. And that might be
difficult considering much of a racetrack's annual revenue
stems from rights fees" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/12)....CTV
SportsNet VP & Managing Dir Doug Beeforth, on one reason for
the network's "extensive" soccer coverage: "The sports fans
who are most vocal are those of soccer, rugby and figure
skating. We've been inundated by E-mails from soccer fans"
(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/14)....Disney is "offering a
preview" of its new Go portal site at http://www.go.com
starting today (N.Y. TIMES, 12/13)....ESPN.com registered
users will be able to take part in the beta testing of
"Enhanced TV," a new Internet technology that includes a
stats data base, during tonight's 49ers-Lions "MNF" game
(ESPN.com)....Cowboys radio play-by-play voice Brad Sham
agreed to a two-year contract that will run through the 2001
season. The new deal "coincides" with KVIL's remaining
contract with the team" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12/14).
