BASEBALL HELD HOSTAGE -- PART II: TBN'S SURVIVAL WATCH

     Phillies President Bill Giles told USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke
that he's "confident" the regular players will be back on the
field by the time The Baseball Network is scheduled to have its
first telecast -- the July 11th All-Star Game.  But Martzke notes
that the TBN "will fall short" of the two-year goal of $330M in
ad sales.  Giles:  "There will be a decision by [MLB] in August
on the future of The Baseball Network.  All of us on the TV board
want to continue the venture.  But there are rumors on the street
about interest from Fox and CBS, although we've not heard from
them."  If the owners decide to reopen the TV deal, ABC and NBC
would have an "exclusive 60-day negotiating period" to construct
deals.  But Martzke notes the "lure of Fox's or CBS's money might
be too strong" (USA TODAY, 2/23).