The Texans "have reached a four-year agreement" with
KTRK-ABC to "produce a series of special programs on the
team beginning this fall and to air its preseason games in
2002 and 2003," according to David Barron of the HOUSTON
CHRONICLE. While terms were not disclosed, Texans VP Jamey
Rootes said that the transaction, "which includes a two-year
option for 2004 and 2005, [also] includes the payment of an
undisclosed rights fee" by KTRK to the Texans. Rootes: "The
first criteria we related to anybody (in bidding for the
rights) was that they had to meet a certain financial
threshold for us to take a serious look at them." Rootes
added that KTRK "will take the lead in production matters
with input from the team and will work with the Texans on
advertising sales." Barron writes that the first program
produced under the new deal, "The Making of a Franchise,"
will air on Saturday. KTRK will also develop a series of
"Texans-related promotions," starting with an "NFL 101
Workshop for Women" next month (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/17).
