NHL'S PPV TO HIT CANADA; LEAGUE READY FOR ABC PROMOTION

          The NHL and Bell ExpressVu have joined to offer the
     NHL's Centre Ice PPV package to Canada next week, according
     to William Houston of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL.  Sources say
     that the deal "will provide the Canadian" PPV subscriber
     with an average of 30 NHL games a week for "about" US$140
     for the season.  ExpressVu "is expected to carry at least"
     six sports packages on its 30-channel PPV menu, including
     NHL, NBA, U.S. college football and basketball, MLS and
     horse racing.  Viewer's Choice and the Star Choice are also
     in talks with the NHL, but are not expected to reach a deal
     until later this season (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 9/17).
          EXPECTING MORE BANG FROM ABC THAN FOX: Houston also
     writes that NHL VP/Broadcasting Glenn Adamo feels that
     ABC/ESPN will "be a superior carrier to Fox" because ABC
     "will promote" the league more on other sports telecasts.
     Adamo: "I think Fox did a very good job on the production
     side in the last year, but we had zero promotion of the
     product" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 9/17).