FRANCHISE NOTES

          The NHL Panthers will be placing an AHL affiliate in
     Louisville, to be called the Louisville Panthers and will
     begin play next year (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 12/18).
     ...Norton Herrick, Owner of the RHI Miami Jackals, said that
     if "an agreement is reached," the team would move to
     Sunrise, FL, to play in the National Car Rental Center (SUN-
     SENTINEL, 12/18)....IHL Long Beach Ice Dogs Owner Barry Kemp
     dismissed "rumors" of the team moving to the Great Western
     Forum in L.A. (Long Beach PRESS-TELEGRAM, 12/18)....
     Britain's third-largest cable operator, NTL, has bought 6.3%
     of English Premier League team Newcastle.  Cameron Hall
     Developments, the team's main shareholder, will sell its
     remaining 50.8% stake to NTL should it "launch a takeover"
     (DAILY VARIETY, 12/18)....The Hawks have donated "up to"
     $80,000 in uniforms, equipment and services to Atlanta's
     Parks and Rec Dept.  The gift allows the city to begin its
     basketball program in early January (CONSTITUTION, 12/18).