NBC's FTC petition challenging the sale of several TV
stations to SF Broadcasting -- a Fox partner -- will hold up the
sale of the Boston Celtics-owned WFXT to Fox for "two to three
months" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/29)....While WFXT claimed a $325,000
profit off buying the local rights to the Patriots-Colts on ESPN,
one Boston ad exec noted the station might want a "rebate" (Jim
Baker, BOSTON HERALD, 11/29). Of the 25.9 total rating for the
game, WFXT received a 15.7 and ESPN got a 10.2. The conclusion
by Jack Craig of the BOSTON GLOBE: "Given a major event, ESPN is
a powerful threat to conventional television" (BOSTON GLOBE,
11/29)....Turner Sports claims its NASCAR ratings topped ESPN and
The Nashville Network for the first time. TBS averaged a 3.3 (5
races), ESPN 3.2 (14 races), and TNN 3.0 (7 races) (Michael
Hiestand, USA TODAY, 11/29). Also, NASCAR announced its
Craftsman Supertruck series debut on Sunday, November 20, was
TNN's top rated show that day (NASCAR).... Viacom Chair Sumner
Redstone is profiled in the latest issue of FINANCIAL WORLD.
"Redstone believes that the secret for a media company in this
fast-changing environment is not to bet on any single delivery
system, but rather to be the provider of the entertainment" (FW,
12/6 issue).
