TV: CBS will debut its "First Down" computerized marker
on the Steelers-Lions Thanksgiving day game (USA TODAY,
11/24)....CPBL Founder Paul McCann, on the league's time-buy
package with Pax TV: "The core of our mission is to sell
advertising. I consider ourselves more of an advertising
property than a basketball property" (N.Y. POST, 11/24).
...In N.Y., Bill Carter looked at the state of network TV,
noting that viewer totals on the six broadcast networks are
down 9%, or 5.75 million viewers, from last year. Carter
noted that "not coincidentally," cable channels are up about
10%. A "disproportionate amount of the network falloff is
taking place at NBC" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/22).
NOTES: SportsTicker will launch situational NFL player
statistical logs for passers, rushers and receivers on its
9600 baud network (SportsTicker)....ESPN Magazine GM John
Skipper, Editor John Papanek, ESPN Exec Editor John Walsh
and other ESPN staff met with a group of "about 30 or so
subscribers" of the magazine at ESPN Zone in Baltimore to
get reader feedback (Baltimore SUN, 11/24)....AMFM Radio
Networks and Host Communications agreed to a two-year
venture with Churchill Downs Inc. for exclusive radio
broadcast rights to the Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs).
