Fox's and NBC's rejection of MLB's proposal to triple
their TV rights fees (see THE DAILY, 6/27) "was not
unexpected," according to USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke, who
writes that the move by the networks "doesn't mean Fox and
NBC will lose their baseball deals." NBC and Fox "are
losing money or breaking even" on their current deals with
MLB, which means MLB "more reasonably can expect a rights
increase short of double the current deals." Martzke adds
that ABC "almost surely won't bid for the network deal,"
while CBS Sports President Sean McManus is "under orders not
to lose money on any deals" (USA TODAY, 6/28). MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig, on opening up the bidding auction:
"Would you rather have four bidders or one?" (HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER, 6/28). CBS MarketWatch's David Wilkerson wrote
that MLB "apparently found out this week ... that the sports
leagues aren't entitled to constantly escalating rights fees
after all" (CBS MarketWatch, 6/27). CNNfn's Beverly Schuch
reported, "NBC and Fox [are] not so eager to pay the huge
bucks for ['MLB'] at the end of this season. The two
networks have passed on a initial offer that would have
tripled what they currently pay" ("Biz Buzz," CNNfn, 6/27).
