THE DEUCE SURPASSES 60 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS; HERE'S HOOTIE

          ESPN2 announced that it is now in more than 60 million
     households.  ESPN2 launched in October '93 and topped the 60
     million mark within five years (60 months), which according
     to Nielsen Media Research, is faster than any cable net
     ever.  ESPN2, which now reaches 60.4 million homes, topped
     TNT (63 months), The Learning Channel (72), CNBC (91) and
     the 16 others that top 60 million.  According to Nielsen,
     ESPN2 was No. 1 among all broadcast and cable nets in terms
     of males, ages 18 to 49 and 25 to 54, viewers-per-household. 
     In addition, Mediamark Research found that ESPN2 viewers had
     the highest median income ($53,541) of any cable net (ESPN).
          IT'LL BE A HOOT: Hootie and the Blowfish will perform
     at ESPN's Bristol, CT, studios this Sunday to kick off
     ESPN's '98 NFL broadcasts.  Lead singer Darius Rucker will
     interview Dolphins QB Dan Marino (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/1).