IN DROPPING WOMEN'S NETWORK, TURNER TO FOCUS ON CNN/SI

          Turner Broadcasting announced on Friday that it had
     canceled plans to launch a women's network with Advance
     Publications, and said in a statement that TBS feels "it
     best to concentrate on the development of the other two
     networks we are preparing for launch, Turner South and
     Boomerang, while also furthering the distribution of our
     younger networks, [Turner Classic Movies], CNN/SI, and
     CNNfn."  The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Scott Hettrick cited
     figures from Paul Kagan Associates showing that CNN/SI has
     "lost nearly" $57M in the last two years and "is projected
     to lose another" $30.4M this year and $28.2M in 2000.  The
     net "has only" 15 million subscribers and 50 million is
     "considered a minimum by serious advertisers."  Meanwhile,
     the launch of Turner South is "in jeopardy if a pending
     lawsuit by Fox Sports Net South prevents" the net from
     carrying Thrashers, Braves and Hawks games.  The two sides
     "are expected to meet again in the court matter before the
     end of the month" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/16).