TSN VP Jim Thompson said there is "absolutely no truth" in
the report that TSN is not interested in televising Expos games.
He did say that TSN has yet to reach an agreement with the Expos
for '95, but that the fault was with the Expos. He also "denied
the team's claim that there was no deal because TSN couldn't sell
advertising for Expos games." Thompson: "We reached a tentative
agreement six weeks ago. It wasn't signed at that time because
of the uncertainty over the strike. When the strike ended, we
went back to the Expos and they were asking for far more money
than we had agreed to." Thompson said he will be in Montreal
today to talk with Expos President Claude Brochu and Expos VP
Richard Morency about a deal. More Thompson: "For the past 10
years, we have been the only telecaster offering English-language
coverage of the Expos, and we hope to continue." In Montreal,
Pat Hickey notes with the trades the Expos made this week, the
value of the Expos' TV rights has decreased (Montreal GAZETTE,
4/7). Two conference calls between TSN and the Expos were held
yesterday where it is believed TSN up their offer "marginally"
(TORONTO STAR, 4/7).
