BROADCASTING & CABLE reports that the NFL "likes the
idea of creating a new low-powered radio service for
delivering the play-by-play and other coverage to fans at
sporting events." The league has used such a service at six
Super Bowls, and in comments filed with the FCC, said it
would "like to see a permanent service established" (B&C,
7/27 issue)....NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay writes on the three
Sunday night MLB telecasts which ESPN has proposed moving to
ESPN2, so as not to interfere with its new NFL package.
Zipay reports that MLB "is leaning toward pulling the rights
from ESPN ... and offering them to local stations." But
Zipay advises MLB, "Don't go to war on principle and ego.
If these were postseason games, yes, dig in. But they
aren't and ESPN2 isn't chopped liver" (NEWSDAY, 7/28).
NIELSEN ADDS MARKETS: Nielsen has extended its local
electronic ratings service to Norfolk, VA, and Oklahoma
City, in '99, for a total of 46 markets. Four additional
markets are on schedule for metered service in '98 -- Las
Vegas, Raleigh, NC, Providence, RI, and Birmingham, AL
(Nielsen). DAILY VARIETY's John Dempsey reports that
Nielsen's "aggressive roll-out of meters" is part of a $300M
outlay by the company over the next four years "on business
development to improve the service" (DAILY VARIETY, 7/28).
