SUPER MARIO: GABELLI GROUP INCREASES STAKE IN ASCENT

          Robotti & Co. mutual fund manager Mario Gabelli has
     increased his stake in Ascent Entertainment from 10% to 11%
     after spending "nearly" $4M to buy more than 300,000 shares
     of the company in recent weeks, according to Stephen Keating
     of the DENVER POST.  Gabelli's move "raises questions about
     whether Ascent will face increased pressure to pursue the
     sale" of its sports assets -- the Nuggets, Avalanche and
     Pepsi Center.  The "bulk" of Gabelli's stock purchases came
     after December 1, the day that Donald Sturm's deal to buy
     the assets collapsed.  Janco Partners analyst Stacy Forbes:
     "The stock has been beaten up a bit.  I think it's a buying
     opportunity."  Shares of Ascent closed Monday at $12, up
     $.13 (DENVER POST, 12/21).  Gabelli's group's most recent
     purchase included 47,000 shares bought from December 6-16 at
     prices ranging from $12.25-12.89 per share (REUTERS, 12/20).