TV MONITOR: Last night's 11:00pm ET edition of CNN/SI's
"Sports Tonight" led with authorities returning former
Panthers WR Rae Carruth to Charlotte, followed by Dolphins
RB Cecil Collins being charged with burglary. The first NBA
story, at 4:26 into the broadcast, was Lakers-Hawks. The
first NHL story was Coyotes-Flyers, at 24:08. FSN's 11:00pm
ET edition of "Primetime" led with Lakers-Hawks, followed by
Bucks-Heat. The first non-NBA story, at 4:35, was Carruth.
The first NHL story was Coyotes-Flyers, at 16:22. ESPN's
11:00pm ET edition of "SportsCenter" led with Lakers-Hawks,
followed by Bucks-Heat. The first non-NBA story, at 5:47,
was the Grizzlies firing coach Brian Hill. The first NHL
story was Coyotes-Flyers, at 12:36 (THE DAILY).
RAPTORS TV: In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich cites sources
as saying that "there are signs of movement" on lifting the
NBA-imposed blackout rule that keeps those living more than
120 kilometeres from the Air Canada Centre from receiving
Raptors games on CTV and TSN. Zelkovich: "Dismal ratings
are behind the possible change in strategy." But Zelkovich
adds the blackout rule "applies league-wide and the NBA is
worried about making exceptions" (TORONTO STAR, 12/17).
LIVIN' LA VIDA QUOKKA: Quokka Sports reached a
distribution agreement with Yahoo! in Europe that makes
Quokka's digital sports programming available in multiple
languages across local Yahoo! sports pages. As part of the
deal, Yahoo! sports pages carrying the Quokka content will
be co-branded with Quokka's logo and the content will be
adapted for each local market. Also, Quokka's coverage of
the America's Cup 2000 and the FIM Motorcycling World
Championship will be packaged for European Yahoo! users
(Quokka). Shares of Quokka were up 18% yesterday to close
at 16 1/2, and during the day, Quokka traded as high as 18
3/4, the company's all-time high. Shares were up another
4.5% in early trading this morning to 17 1/4 (THE DAILY).
NOTES: Turner Sports President Mark Lazarus, on TBS
moving its NBA games from Wednesday to Monday nights
starting in January: "We think there's a sports void on
Monday night. 'Monday Night Football' captures 13 to 14
rating points every week. Why not put in a product that
will capture that?" (BROADCASTING & CABLE, 12/13 issue).
....Columbus-based Internet start-up OneArena will launch in
January a Web portal targeting high school and youth
organized amateur sports participants. OneArena was founded
by 25-year-old Brooke Warehime, who received a $100,000
private investment (BUSINESS FIRST OF COLUMBUS, 12/13).
