WILL FATE OF "AIR FORCE ONE" PLAY ROLE IN LYONS' FUTURE?

          "Air Force One," produced by Ascent Entertainment
     subsidiary Beacon Communications, is company Chair Charlie
     Lyons' "bid to be a player in Hollywood and possibly change
     the fortunes" of his Denver-based company, according to
     Stephen Keating of the DENVER POST.  Keating: "A box-office
     smash could help push Ascent toward profitability after
     posting losses of $57 million in the past two years."   "Air
     Force One" is Ascent's "first shot at making a blockbuster
     summer movie," and the film could be a "huge hit, the
     equivalent of a Stanley Cup."  But if not, "the pressure on
     Lyons will mount."   Keating added that the "movie, the
     Pepsi Center and Ascent's recent split from parent company
     Comsat Corp., are all converging to push Lyons to center
     stage in Denver and Hollywood.  It's his moment to make or
     break" (DENVER POST, 7/27).  "Air Force One" grossed an
     estimated $37.1M in its first weekend (USA TODAY, 7/28).