CTV and TSN are posturing for broadcasts of the Raptors and
Grizzlies in the NBA teams' inaugural seasons, but may face
similar broadcast restrictions as U.S. networks. NBA Television
Ventures' Matt Bostock says Canadian networks will "face a
similar restriction" as their U.S. counterparts of only eight
nat'l telecasts per broadcaster per team (Vancouver PROVINCE,
2/10)....In this morning's N.Y. POST, Phil Mushnick attacks the
proposed "Telecommunications Competition and Deregulation Act"
drafted by the Senate Republicans: "Instead of being furious
about how cable exploited the baseball and hockey stoppages to
steal millions of dollars from their constituents, the GOP's
preparing to hand these bullies a matching set of brass
knuckles." The bill would eliminate all cable-TV deregulation
within a year (N.Y. POST, 2/10)....Richard Sandomir analyzes
Fox's losses on its NFL contract in this morning's N.Y. TIMES:
"By its measurements, the football strategy has worked, by roping
in new VHF stations ... improving the value of its existing
stations, enhancing its affiliate network, and expanding the
network's reach from 93 percent to 98 percent of TV homes" (N.Y.
TIMES, 2/10).... WJR, the radio home of the Lions from 1934-88,
is making a bid to regain the team's radio rights from WWJ, whose
contract expired after last season (DETROIT NEWS, 2/9). ...The
Eagles, who will help produce their TV package next season,
"won't rule out" the possibility of owner Jeffery Lurie having
his own show (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 2/9). ...CNN's Nancy
Newman is the leading candidate to become the Raptors' TV host.
Newman worked at TSN before moving to CNN's "Sports Tonight."
Mark Jones, and John Saunders are on the team's short list for
play-by-play work (Rob Grant, TORONTO STAR, 2/10)....NASCAR's
newest racing series, "SuperTruck Series by Craftsman," on TNN
was the highest-rated sports program on cable last weekend
(NASCAR).
