Industry analysts say that Turner South's (TS) first
six to 12 months "will be crucial in determining whether
it's a hit or miss with cable carriers, advertisers and
viewers," according to Mollenkamp & Ordonez of the WALL
STREET JOURNAL, who examine the new RSN in its Southeast
edition. Turner officials "concede" that TS, set to debut
October 1, faces "uncertainty" after its four-month legal
battle with Fox Sports Net South (FSNS), as the court battle
"slowed" TS's efforts to sign up cable carriers, and Turner
officials "decline to say how many companies have committed
to carry the network so far." TS and FSNS are now
"scrambling to woo the cable companies, some of which may
not carry both networks since they cover the same
Southeastern markets." Of FSNS's 200 cable operator
contracts, 150 are up for renewal in December. Some
industry officials believe that TS "will succeed even if
it's slow in signing cable carriers and advertisers."
PaineWebber media analyst Christopher Dixon: "If we get an
indication that they are able to reach 30% of their market
[out of 6.5 million homes], that's got to be considered a
hugely positive launch" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/22).