In the wake of yesterday's USA Today report that baseball
was ready to announce a four-year TV rights deal with Fox and CBS
for a combined $880M, officials from all parties involved refused
to confirm or comment on the talks. CBS Sports President David
Kenin released the following statement: "CBS has made no deal to
broadcast major league baseball. We are pleased to have the
opportunity to be involved in baseball again. As of now, no
formal negotiations have begun with Major League Baseball or its
representatives" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/18). Phillies President
Bill Giles, a member of MLB's TV Committee: "We're not even
close to making a deal with anybody" (AP/FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM,
10/18). Acting MLB Commissioner Bud Selig: "It's extremely
premature, and I want to underscore the extremely. Although
we've been talking to a lot of people, no deal has been finalized
on cable, over-the-air or anything else" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/18). In
L.A., Larry Stewart writes the report is "probably premature,"
but that the numbers are in the range being sought by Barry Frank
of IMG, baseball's chief TV negotiator (L.A. TIMES, 10/18).
Q'S, FEW A'S: In New York, Richard Sandomir writes, "Part
of the interest is past performance and the ratings for marquee
events ... Another part rests on faith that the future can't be
worse than the past" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/18). Michael Hiestand asks
whether CBS will copy TBN's regional format during regular-season
Thursday night games and if springtime sports competition will
cause Fox to have an irregular Saturday schedule (USA TODAY,
10/18). NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay notes some details remain, such as
exclusivity on Saturday and Thursday, with sources saying Fox
will "battle" for the exclusive afternoon window on Saturday
(NEWSDAY, 10/18). In Boston, Jack Craig reports Fox "would ban
competition from local TV, likely shifting games not on Fox from
daytime to night" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/18).
EASY AS ABC? Phil Mushnick of the N.Y. POST and Milton Kent
of the Baltimore SUN both report that sources believe Frank
leaked the story to USA Today as a way of getting ABC to make a
bid. Mushnick: "Frank's reputation in negotiating rights fees
and talent contracts with networks is less than angelic" (N.Y.
POST, 10/18). Kent notes the gap between the reported $880M
figure and the $1B MLB got from CBS in '90 would explain why the
owners want to see ABC in the mix (Baltimore SUN, 10/18). The
WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that some on MLB's TV Committee would
prefer ABC over third-place CBS (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/18).
One source familiar with negotiations tells the N.Y. DAILY NEWS
that CBS buyer Westinghouse is being "cautious" and slowing the
process, and that "it would be a mistake to count ABC out of the
running" (Bob Raissman, N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/18). CABLE
WARS: USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand reports that Turner will bid
on 5-7 postseason games, probably paying about $5M per game.
Turner Sports President Harvey Schiller: "We're very interested
in a partnership with Major League Baseball" (USA TODAY, 10/18).
ESPN "reportedly has the inside track" for the cable rights to
the playoffs, according to Prentis Rogers in Atlanta. Neither
ESPN nor Turner officials would comment on MLB's reported asking
price (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 10/18). AP reports Turner is
offering $75M for the early-round playoff games (Leonard Shapiro,
WASHINGTON POST, 10/18). Giles said to add Liberty Sports' Prime
(Jayson Stark, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/18). THE BIGGER
PICTURE: ESPN's Peter Gammons: "Getting the television deal
done without a basic agreement will probably just hard-line the
owners' approach even more. They've said they're not going to
lock out and they don't believe the players will strike, so what
they're going to do is they're just going to drive it on down
until February" ("SportsCenter," 10/17). MLBPA General Counsel
Gene Orza doubted the numbers in the USA Today story, but said if
they were true, "it will be difficult (for owners) to complain
about a loss of dollars in their central fund" (Jayson Stark,
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/18).
