HAS BSKYB MADE A HUGE PRE-EMPTIVE BID TO WIN PREMIER RIGHTS?

          BSkyB has offered almost $1.6B to England's "top soccer
     clubs to secure the exclusive" TV rights to the Premier
     League in a three year deal beginning in 2001, according to
     Harverson & Harding of the FINANCIAL TIMES.  The company
     "has made the informal bid" even though its current four-
     year $1.2B deal with the league still has 18 months
     remaining.  The deal would increase BSkyB's annual payments
     to the league's 20 clubs by "roughly" 70% "in the hope the
     League will not put the rights out to tender" (FINANCIAL
     TIMES, 10/29).  In a statement this morning, BSkyB denied
     the Financial Times report.  A BSkyB spokesperson:
     "Negotiations with the Premier League have not started on
     the next Premier League contract" (Sportlive, 10/29).