The NHL's partnership with IBM led CBC's "Hockey Night in
Canada" to scuttle plans for a playoff-based Web site. The
problem, according to CBC's Tom Curzon, was not the NHL, but
rather CBC partner Microsoft, which withdrew upon learning of the
NHL's IBM ties (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/25).... ESPN and ESPN2 begin
their coverage of the U.S. Olympic trials this Saturday
(ESPN)....In Atlanta, Charles Haddad examines the transition of
TNT to a channel aimed at younger viewers. Haddad notes live
sports programming has become TNT's "most popular offering"
(ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 4/25). ....The Dodgers launch their
official Web site, "Dodgers On-Line," at Dodger Stadium today.
The site was designed by the team in conjunction with Only
Multimedia Network. In addition to standard team Web site fare
(info, press releases, scoreboard, etc.), the Dodgers mirror the
international feel of their ballclub with areas in five
languages: Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and
English. Address: http://www.dodgers.com (Dodgers)....
Indianapolis station WNDY-TV, owned by the same people who run
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, namely IMS and IRL President
Tony George, will only report on the Indy 500 over the next
month, ignoring CART's rival U.S. 500 to be held in MI on the
same day. WNDY Sports Dir Vince Welch: "To us, that's the only
race going on that day. That was not an edict, it was just a
choice we made." Other local stations will cover both
(INDIANAPOLIS NEWS-STAR, 4/25).... Westinghouse Chair & CEO
Michael Jordan said he expects CBS to be "solidly on track"
financially by the time of the '98 Nagano Winter Games (HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER, 4/25).
