Fox Sports Pittsburgh "has filed a federal lawsuit to
block ESPN Regional Television Inc. from promoting itself on
regional games broadcast by Fox," according to an AP report.
U.S. District Judge Donald Lee ordered ESPN to respond to
Fox's suit by next Tuesday, and he said he would issue his
decision before December 20. Fox Sports contends that it
signed an agreement with Creative Sports in '96 where the
company "promised not to promote another channel or another
channel's programs on Fox's broadcasts." But a year after
the contract was signed, Creative changed its name to ESPN
Regional TV (AP/PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 12/12).
CHINA DOLL: News Corp. "is back in favor in China,
quietly insinuating itself into the nation's growing
television industry," according to Fara Warner of the WALL
STREET JOURNAL. A satellite-TV venture, Phoenix, partly
owned by News Corp., "is making gains in China." John Wong
of Boston Consulting Group Int'l said Phoenix has put News
Corp. "in a position in China that any international
broadcaster would love" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/12).
STAR SPORTS: News Corp.'s Asian joint-venture with
ESPN, ESPN Star Sports "is preparing to launch a region-wide
brand-building exercise as part of its new marketing
communications initiative." The account has been awarded to
various units of the Bates Group (AD AGE, 12/12).
BABE IN BOYLAND: Pamela Lee "will bring a new flavor to
the Fox weekend sports menu next season" after yesterday's
sale of "V.I.P.," a new syndicated show that she headlines.
The Fox stations "will look to stitch Lee's show, about an
agency of bodyguards, into its strongly male-skewed sports
lineup" (Steve Brennan, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 12/12).
