New Blue Jays Owner Ted Rogers and President Paul
Godfrey are looking to get "out of" a five-year, C$8M radio
rights deal the team signed with Headline Sports in June,
according to Marty York of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. While
Rogers and Godfrey "try to get out of the deal," Headline
execs are "furious with them" and have hired attorneys to
"address the matter." Sources said that since taking
control of the team, Rogers and Godfrey have asked Headline
in "several meetings to tear up the deal and either accept a
shorter radio contract or nothing at all." York adds that
the radio deal is still subject to MLB approval, and sources
in the Blue Jays' front office "suspect it could be killed
at that level" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/17). Headline
Senior VP Rob Malcolmson "confirmed yesterday that the Jays
are seeking to reopen negotiations" on the deal, which Chris
Zelkovich of the TORONTO STAR puts at C$9M. Sources said
that the radio rights dispute "does not involve money, but
Rogers' desire to keep all Blue Jays broadcasting within"
his Rogers Communications (TORONTO STAR, 10/17).
AFL TO TORONTO? Also in Toronto, Frank Zicarelli writes
that a news conference is scheduled for this morning to
announce that Rogers Communications will bring the AFL's New
England Sea Wolves to Toronto. Sources believe Rogers
Communications "is trying to endear itself to the NFL" by
operating the AFL's Toronto team (TORONTO SUN, 10/17).
