TV MONITOR: Last night's 11:00pm ET edition of ESPN's
"SportsCenter" led with an update on the condition of Astros
Manager Larry Dierker, followed by highlights of the Mets-
Reds. "FSN Primetime" (Fox Sports South) and CNN/SI's
"Sports Tonight" both led their broadcasts with Dierker,
followed by the Royals-Orioles (THE DAILY).
OTHER NOTES: Spanish PPV satellite TV channel Via
Digital has signed a five-year, $410M contract to televise
all of Barcelona soccer club's home games through 2003. The
FINANCIAL TIMES' Harverson & Burns write that the deal
"could spark a revolution" by putting "pressure" on other
top clubs to sign similar PPV deals (FINANCIAL TIMES, 6/15).
...Fox Sports "claims" its contract with Marcus Cable
systems -- which was bought by Paul Allen's Charter Cable --
protected the rate charged for Dodgers games in the event of
a merger, but Charter sources said that "they weren't aware
of any such clause." A Charter spokesperson said that
"acquired systems come under the terms and conditions of the
buyer" (BROADCASTING & CABLE, 6/11 issue)....Oxygen's new TV
network for women will air a "sports block" during the
weekends beginning at 4:00pm. An Oxygen exec said that the
show will feature "sports you don't see on big networks"
(HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 6/15)....In Boston, Jim Baker writes
that ESPN's Charley Steiner "tells friends that he's through
calling fights because boxing is 'too crooked'" (BOSTON
HERALD, 6/15).....WBNS-AM and WWCD-FM were awarded broadcast
rights to Blue Jackets games for five years beginning in
2000. In Columbus, Tim Feran called the deal "unusual" in
that the two stations have separate ownership, but each will
air the same broadcast (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 6/13).
