MSG is "forcing" WFAN-AM into a new deal which grants
the network permission to broadcast Knicks and Rangers
games, according to sources of CRAIN'S N.Y. BUSINESS. As
part of a new deal, WFAN will continue to air the games, but
will no longer pay MSG a licensing fee and then sell the
"valuable" ad time, as MSG will pay the airtime fee and sell
advertising via its own sales staff. The change "might
hurt" WFAN's status as the "top revenue-producing radio
station in the country," but the relationship "could still
be a profitable one." The deal "could be finalized" in the
next week or two (CRAIN'S N.Y. BUSINESS, 2/15 issue).
J-E-T-S, JETS! JETS! JETS! DAILY VARIETY's Josef
Adalian reports that WCBS has "snagged" the Jets' preseason
broadcast rights from WPIX-WB, "firming up" the station's
flagship association with the team. The deal is "estimated"
to be in the high-six figures, and WCBS will air "as many
as" three Jets games in August and early September. Adalian
writes that CBS will now have an "unmatched promo platform"
from which it can "hype the regular season Jets games"
already appearing on the station (DAILY VARIETY, 2/17).
DONE DEAL: Tim McCarver was officially named as a TV
analyst for Yankees broadcasts on WNYW-Fox (THE DAILY).
