AT&T WANTS ITS PIECE OF OUT-OF-MARKET NFL GAMES

          AT&T said that it will "spearhead a drive by cablers"
     to buy exclusive rights to out-of-market NFL games when the
     contract comes up for renewal in 2002, according to John
     Dempsey of DAILY VARIETY.  AT&T broadband President Dan
     Somers, speaking at the Western Cable Show, "alluded to the
     severe competitive disadvantage suffered by cable because of
     the exclusive arrangement the NFL has struck with DirecTV
     for the out-of-market games."  Somers: "We want to be
     players in both regional and national sports because sports
     drives lots of incremental revenue."  Somers noted that
     cable has "already signed up" out-of-market games of the NBA
     and NHL and is "in negotiations" with MLB.  Somers "touted
     the expanded channel capacity of Viewer's Choice," which
     allows cable systems to "accommodate as many as a dozen
     games at one time" (DAILY VARIETY, 12/17).