TV MONITOR: Last night's 10:00pm ET 60-minute edition of
FSN's "National Sports Report" led with Angels-Blue Jays,
followed by Yankees-Rangers. The first non-MLB report, at
7:08, was a preview of the PGA Championship. "NSR" had 7:35
of total PGA Championship coverage. Last night's 11:00pm ET
60-minute edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with Rockies-
Mets, followed by Padres-Braves. The first non-MLB report,
at 11:46, was an update on the indictment against Broncos LB
Bill Romanowski for illegally obtaining a diet drug.
"SportsCenter" had 10:05 of total PGA Championship coverage.
Last night's 11:00pm ET 30-minute edition of CNN/SI's "Sports
Tonight" was pre-empted on CNN by coverage of the Democratic
National Convention (THE DAILY).
CHRIS-CRAFT, RUPERT'S TAKING A BATH: The HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER's Littleton & Doman note while News Corp.'s planned
acquisition of Chris-Craft Industries has "cast doubts" on
the future of UPN, News Corp Chair Rupert Murdoch raised the
possibility yesterday of "becoming a partner" with Viacom in
the future of UPN. Speaking on a conference call with Wall
Street analysts Wednesday, Murdoch said, "We are not urging
CBS to close UPN at all. We'd like to see it develop -- and
maybe with us as a partner. ... A partnership between the two
of us is not impossible, but this is not a critical question
(for News Corp.)" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/17).
NOTES: In Orlando, Mike Bianchi, on The Golf Channel
drawing criticism for showing tape-delayed coverage of Tiger
Woods' first round at the Buick Open last week, instead of
ongoing live action: "The most amazing part of this story ...
is that The Golf Channel really and truly had to issue an
apology for its decision. ... The Golf Channel was just doing
what it is supposed to do: Attract as many viewers and sell
as many Buick Regals as possible. In the media business, as
in any business, you give the customers what they want" (O.
SENTINEL, 8/17)....Comcast SportsNet has been nominated for
15 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards, including Best Sportscast for
"SportsNITE" and Best Talk Show/One Time Only Special for the
network's interview with Pete Rose (Comcast).
