ESPN CLOSE TO TV DEAL WITH TCU FOR FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL

          ESPN has reached a "tentative agreement" with TCU that
     "guarantees" the school's football and basketball programs
     national TV exposure for the next five years, according to
     Jennifer Floyd of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM.  TCU AD Eric
     Hyman: "We've agreed in concept to a number of different
     points. The conference owns your home rights TV-wise, so
     therefore we have to wait and see what the WAC television
     contract is."  WAC officials have been in contract talks
     with Fox Sports Net for a conference-wide deal.  Hyman said
     that the ESPN Regional deal would also put the "two sides in
     a marketing partnership" (Fort Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 4/21).