Former Time Warner Sports President SETH ABRAHAM was
officially named Exec VP & COO for MSG yesterday. Abraham
will be responsible for several areas of the company,
including Radio City Entertainment; MSG Sports Properties;
MSG Networks; Corporate Marketing; and Special Event, Group
and Suite Sales. Abraham will begin at MSG in mid-October
and report to MSG President & CEO DAVE CHECKETTS (MSG).
Abraham, on his new post: "Part of the attractiveness of
going ... is to really be in the show." Abraham said he
"never really hesitated" when Checketts approached him about
the job a month ago. The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Michele
Greppi writes at HBO, "there was no comment on speculation"
that HBO Sports VP & Exec Producer ROSS GREENBURG will
succeed Abraham. Greppi: "Nor was there a definitive
response to questions at [MSG] about whether [MSG Exec VP]
JOSEPH COHEN, whose duties ... seem on the surface to
duplicate much of Abraham's responsibilities, will report to
Abraham" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/12). NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay
writes in his new post, Abraham "might have to help broker a
deal with YankeeNets for a new Yankees TV contract" with MSG
Network. Abraham previously worked with YankeeNets Chair
HARVEY SCHILLER and knows Yankees Owner GEORGE STEINBRENNER
from his time at MLB in the '70s. Zipay: "Sure seems like a
shrewd hire by Cablevision." Abraham: "I haven't been asked
for input and I don't want to moonlight. Right now, I'm in
the bleachers" (NEWSDAY, 9/12). DAILY VARIETY's John
Dempsey writes that Abraham "won't have anything to do
initially" with the Yankees TV deal "because he's staying on
at HBO for another month to negotiate a new contract with
boxer Roy Jones Jr. and to arrange the next two pay TV
prizefights of Prince Naseem Hamed" (DAILY VARIETY, 9/12).
STILL TAKING IT TO COURT? In N.Y., Bob Raissman wonders
about MSG's next move after YankeeNets' new $1.4B offer for
Yankees TV rights over the next ten years (see THE DAILY,
9/11): "The bet here is the Garden goes to court and
contests the offer. I have not seen the Yankees' offer, but
it just seems MSG brass has not come this far to simply
accept or reject it" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/12).
