ESPN "is in talks" about selling its local TV rights
to the Angels and the Mighty Ducks to Fox Sports, according
to sources of Langdon Brockinton of the SPORTSBUSINESS
JOURNAL, who writes, "Is ESPN abandoning plans to launch its
first regional sports cable network, ESPN West?" The Angels
and Ducks were seen as providing the core content of ESPN
West programming, but talks have taken place about selling
rights to both teams to Fox Sports West and Fox Sports West
2. An ESPN spokesperson told Brockinton that the net was
"still developing plans" for ESPN West, which is scheduled
to launch in October. A Fox Sports spokesperson declined
comment (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/13 issue).
THE FIELD: In St. Paul, Ray Richardson reviewed the
nightly sports highlight shows on ESPN, Fox Sports Net and
CNN/SI. Richardson wrote that "at times," FSN's anchors
"belong on 'Entertainment Tonight,'" displaying what Fox
execs refer to as "Fox Attitude," a "free-spirited approach
that doesn't forsake the score and pertinent information."
He added that CNN/SI "Sports Tonight" remains the "most
limited" of the shows, but that it has a "powerful lead-in
from CNN's strong news format" (PIONEER PRESS, 7/11).
