TNT's Knicks-Bulls game Tuesday night received a 7.2 rating
-- the second highest rated Round 2 NBA playoff game ever for the
network (THE DAILY)....News Corp. stock closed down 1/2 at 22 1/2
yesterday after earnings reports that showed profits down 69%
("NBR," PBS, 5/8).... Yesterday, America Online announced a deal
to open a service in Japan, showed "better-than-expected
earnings" for the 3rd quarter, and revealed marketing plans for
the summer. Still, the company's stock was down $7.25 to $62.75
(WASHINGTON POST, 5/9)....SportsChannel Ohio and the Cavaliers
have extended their contract for the next three years (GOULD
MEDIA)....The Sunshine Network announced a deal for exclusive
local cable rights for the RHI Orlando Jackals
(Sunshine)....Lifetime Television will continue its sponsorship
of Indy car driver Lyn St. James as she changes teams. Lifetime
debuts the first "vignette" of its "Behind the Wheel with Lyn St.
James" on May 10, and Lifetime's Web site will follow St. James
at the Indy 500 trials (Lifetime)....The NCAA debuted its Web
site at http://www.ncaa.org on April 29. Sprint, an NCAA
corporate partner, played "an integral role" in development (NCAA
News, 5/6 issue)....ESPN was not able to reach a deal with
college football analyst Craig James, despite offering a
"$500,000-plus annual offer," according to Rudy Martzke. James
appears headed to CBS to be analyst for college football and
other events (USA TODAY, 5/9).
