NETWORK NOTES: TNT ENDS YEAR AS TOP-RATED CABLE NET

          "Buoyed by strong performances from its original movies
     and its coverage of the NBA and NFL," TNT for the first time
     ever will finish the year as cable's highest-rated network
     in prime time, according to Richard Huff of the N.Y. DAILY
     NEWS.  TNT bumped last year's No. 1, USA Network, to No. 2
     by averaging 1.4 million households during prime time this
     year, a jump of 5% over '95 (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/13).
          ABC/ESPN: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir, noting recent
     personnel changes at ABC Sports, including Brent Musburger
     replaced by ESPN's Mike Tirico on ABC's golf coverage,
     writes "there is no doubt that ABC is tapping ESPN to
     improve ABC.   ABC Sports Chair Steve Bornstein said there
     would be little change to "Monday Night Football" in terms
     of production, except for the possible addition of a
     continuous clock/scoreboard (N.Y. TIMES, 12/13).