TV MONITOR: Last night's 11:00pm ET editions of ESPN's
"SportsCenter" and FSN's "Primetime" (Fox Sports Net South)
led with Astros-Rockies, followed with Reds-Dodgers. CNN's
11:00pm ET edition of "Sports Tonight" did not air due to
coverage of the Atlanta shooting (THE DAILY).
SHOWDOWN A-COMIN': ABC paid "about" $1.5M for the TV
rights to the Tiger Woods-David Duval "Showdown at
Sherwood," which airs Monday night. In addition, ABC has
another $2.5M in "costs to pre-empt regular programming that
averages about a 5 rating" (USA TODAY, 7/30). ABC Sports
VP/Production John Filippelli "predicts a viewership of 2
1/2 to three times the size [of] a normal weekend golf
tournament" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/30). ABC Sports
Dir of PR Mark Mandel, on reports that the PGA Tour will not
allow Woods and Duval to wear mics during play: "We're still
planning on miking the players" (AP, 7/30).
BROADCAST NOTES: The Warriors have renewed their TV
rights agreement with Fox Sports Net Bay Area (FSNB), which
has held the rights since '91. FSNB will air a minimum of
30 games and a maximum of 35 games per season, including
first- and second-round playoff games (Warriors)....The
Thrashers have agreed to a multi-year deal with WQXI-AM to
be the team's flagship radio station. WLKQ-FM 102.3 will
also carry the games. However, the Thrashers' 46-game cable
schedule on Turner South is still in "litigation" due to a
dispute with Fox Sports Net South (ATL. CONSTITUTION, 7/30).
"ARLI$$": Guest appearances on HBO's next episode of
"Arli$$" (Sunday 9:30pm ET): NBC's Bob Costas, Orioles P
Scott Erickson and Mariners CF Ken Griffey Jr. The episode
will replay Tuesday (8/3) at 11:30pm ET, Wednesday (8/4) at
8:00pm ET and Friday (8/6) at 12:00am ET (THE DAILY).
