ADDING FUEL TO FIRE: FSN SOUTH FILES SUIT AGAINST TURNER

          The "gloves are off between" Fox Sports Net South
     (FSNS) and Turner South, the regional TV network scheduled
     to launch in the fall, according to Prentis Rogers of the
     ATLANTA CONSTITUTION.  FSNS filed a complaint in Fulton
     County (GA) State Court yesterday against TBS and its parent
     company Time Warner seeking to keep Turner South from
     televising Braves, Hawks and Thrashers games.  FSNS states
     its purchase of SportSouth in '96 for around $65M included
     TV rights to the Braves and Hawks through 2007 and 2008,
     respectively, and included a non-compete agreement for 12
     years. In a statement, TBS President Bill Burke said, "We
     have complied with all of our contractual obligations to
     Fox" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/16).  The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's
     Scott Hettrick writes that the "suit was not a surprise." 
     FSNS claims that the new Turner South "is in direct
     competition" with it and asked the court to "enjoin TBS from
     launching Turner South" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 6/16).