TV MONITOR: Last night's 11:00pm ET edition of FSN
"Primetime" (Fox Sports Net South) led with Braves-Yankees,
followed by the return of Astros manager Larry Dierker. The
11:00pm ET edition of CNN/SI's "Sports Tonight" led with
Braves-Yankees, followed by Phillies-Red Sox. The 11:00pm
ET edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with British Open
highlights and followed with Braves-Yankees (THE DAILY).
THIS IS OLD SCHOOL: In K.C., Jeffrey Flanagan noted
ESPN Classic's promotion of a "Kansas City Mini-Marathon"
set for July 25 featuring old footage of K.C.-based teams
and wrote that ESPN Classic "isn't even available to the
masses of Time Warner Cable subscribers" in K.C. ESPN
Classic spokesperson Amy Swanson: "We were hoping that with
the promotion and with a little newspaper play, that enough
people might call Time Warner to get it available." Time
Warner spokesperson Carol Rothwell said that the net will be
available later this month, and Time Warner "intends to have
ESPN Classic available on July 25 to all Time Warner
subscribers, at least for the day" (K.C. STAR, 7/15).
Meanwhile, in New Haven, CT, Steve Wilson writes, "It's a
shame not everyone gets ESPN Classic on their cable system.
Most viewers with access ... would probably agree that ESPN
Classic lives up to its name" (NEW HAVEN REGISTER, 7/16).
IN CANADA: In Toronto, William Houston reports that CTV
SportsNet canceled its NHL pregame show "Hockeycentral."
Analyst Nick Kypreos "will be released," Greg Millen "has
already departed" for "Hockey Night In Canada" and Greg
Dreger "will be reassigned" (GLOBE & MAIL, 7/16). Also in
Toronto, Chris Zelkovich reports that CTV SportsNet has
added USA Today baseball writer Rod Beaton "to its
SportsCenter lineup of commentators" (TORONTO STAR, 7/16).
NOTE: In L.A., Tom Hoffarth reports that ABC's Barbara
Walters "has wrestled for the first network TV interview
with" Alexandra Stevenson and her mother Samantha. The two
will appear on "20/20" next Friday (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 7/16).
