ALL EARS: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Bruce Orwall
reports that Walt Disney Co. reported a 41% drop in second-
quarter fiscal earnings from a year earlier, citing
"slowdowns" in its consumer-products and home-video segments
(WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/28). In N.Y., Jon Elsen writes that
Disney's video sales and merchandising earnings "came in
lower than expected," while broadcasting business profits
"rose" 9% as ESPN "prospered," along with its radio network
and stations (N.Y. POST, 4/28). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's
Carl DiOrio writes that Disney's broadcasting unit,
including ABC and ESPN, saw an operating income of $261M and
an 8% revenue climb to $1.71B (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/28).
MORE NOTES: ME-based American Skiing rose 11%, or 5/16,
to 3 1/16 following expectations for third-quarter resort
earnings "comparable with year-earlier results." The rise
comes after ASE hit a 52-week low of 2 3/8 on Monday (WALL
STREET JOURNAL, 4/28)....CA-based Internet Sports Network
has completed more than $9M in private placements from
institutions including BPI Mutual Funds, AGF and Dynamic
Mutual. Some funds were used to close ISN's recent deal
with SportsMark Promotions. The rest will go toward
business development for the online sports fantasy, contest,
merchandise and promotion site (ISN).
