WABC-AM signed a three-year deal with MSG Network to
remain the official radio station of the Yankees through
2001. WABC will carry all 162 regular-season games, and
select spring training games (MSG). Industry sources put
the deal at $6-7M a year for the team (Steve Zipay, NEWSDAY,
10/25). In N.Y., Don Kaplan reported that Bloomberg
Newsradio was making "an alleged effort ... to make a
surprise move" on the rights. Kaplan reported that WABC
most recently got paid "about" $1M from team-rights holder
MSG, which keeps all ad revenue. Kaplan's sources said that
the new fee "is considerably less" than $1M (N.Y. POST,
10/24). Also in N.Y., David Hinckley noted that there "had
been reports WABC was asking for a slight per-season
increase," but Bloomberg "was willing to sell the airtime
for $200,000 a season" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/24).
MSG'S FAN BASE: WFAN-AM signed a five-year deal with
MSG Network to continue carrying Knicks and NHL Rangers
games. Sources said that MSG will pay WFAN between $800,000
and $1M per year for the rights, and MSG will keep ad
revenue (David Hinckley, N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/24).
