CTV Sports Net "is about to sign" a cable TV deal with
the Blue Jays in what William Houston of the Toronto GLOBE &
MAIL calls a "surprise development." The new sports
channel, slated to launch in October, "is expected to carry"
about 10 Blue Jays games regionally in Ontario beginning
next season. TSN, which currently has the team's cable
rights, has the option to match any offer "but is expected
to pass" (William Houston, Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 7/24).
CTV NOTES: CTV will carry 20 regular-season NBA games
and 10 playoff games nationally this season. CTV has a deal
for 20 regional Grizzlies games and "would like a similar
deal" with the Raptors (Rob Longley, TORONTO SUN, 7/24).
...CTV Sports Net's new three-year deal with the Senators
will begin October 22 with the net's broadcast of the Blues-
Senators game. The channel will air 20 Senators games this
season, to be broadcast regionally (CTV Sports Net).
TSN AT BAT: TSN said it "intends to break into
programming" as Mark McGwire nears the single-season HR mark
"to show every at-bat" of the Cardinals' 1B. TSN
VP/Programming & Production Keith Pelley: "We have the go-
ahead from [MLB] to cut in whenever we want, no matter who
is carrying the broadcast" (TORONTO SUN, 7/24).
