Still no deal in the negotiations over the proposed Turner
Broadcasting-Time Warner merger. The N.Y. POST reports a "stand-
off" with TCI Chair John Malone that could kill the deal (Greg
Clarkin, N.Y. POST, 9/12). The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that
the sides are "getting closer" (Shapiro & Sharpe, WALL STREET
JOURNAL, 9/12). And the N.Y. TIMES reports that Ted Turner wants
a deal done by Friday (N.Y. TIMES, 9/12). Should the deal
disintegrate, ELECTRONIC MEDIA reports that TCI could step in and
acquire TBS with either News Corp. or GE (ELECTRONIC MEDIA,
9/11). ....America Online will introduce Digital City Washington
later this month, the service's first regionally-targeted
offering (WASHINGTON POST, 9/12)....VARIETY reports on the
strength of the cable industry on Wall Street, with several
smaller networks emerging as possible takeover targets: Gaylord
Entertainment, the Family Channel and BET (VARIETY, 9/17
issue)....GOLFWEEK's Dave Shedloski reports The Golf Channel has
made adjustments to its rate schedule "to give cable operators
greater marketing freedom." TGC COO Gary Stevenson: "They now
have the flexibility to offer us on a basic, tier or a la carte
basis. Before it was a la carte or premium, and operators are
finding it's not a tier/ premium environment" (GOLFWEEK, 9/9)....
The November 14 Pro Basketball issue from ESPN magazines closes
on September 22. Full-color, full-page ads go for $17,500, with
b&w for $12,800 (INSIDE MEDIA, 9/19 issue).
