TV MONITOR: Last night's 11:00pm ET 30-minute edition
of CNN/SI's "Sports Tonight" and the 11:00pm ET 60-minute
edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" both led with A's-Yankees,
followed by Mariners-White Sox. For "Sports Tonight," the
first non-MLB report, at 5:55 into the broadcast, was the
first round of the Buick Open, and the first report on the
LPGA's du Maurier Classic was at 21:21. For "SportsCenter,"
the first non-MLB report, at 11:28, was the Buick Open, and
the first report on the du Maurier Classic was at 28:58.
Last night's 12:00am ET 60-minute edition of FSN's "National
Sports Report" led with A's-Yankees, followed by Blue Jays-
Royals. For "NSR," the first non-MLB report, at 6:29, was
Alvin Gentry being named the Clippers coach. The first
Buick Open report on "NSR" was at 14:03, and the first
report on the du Maurier Classic was at 16:14 (THE DAILY).
IN DEMAND: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Brett Sporich
writes that PPV "stalwart" In Demand has chosen int'l
women's tennis to launch its U.S. sports branding campaign,
as it will produce and distribute 50 hours of Sanex WTA Tour
programming over an 18-day period nationwide beginning
October 4. In Demand execs believe that the Tour "offers a
soft launch" into a national campaign that will use the tag,
"You Rule." The daily rate for the PPV events is $9.95, or
$29.95 for the whole package (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/11).
NOTES: In Toronto, William Houston writes that TSN will
apply to the CRTC later this month for a license to operate
a women's network. If the application is accepted, TSN
would launch the Women's Sports Network in September 2001.
Houston: "On the face of it, the bid looks like a winner.
But it's worth noting there is no women's sports network in
the United States (GLOBE & MAIL, 8/11)....In Houston, David
Barron writes that NBC will "focus on the furor" over
Speedo's new FastSkin bodysuits during its coverage of the
U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. The suits were "banned" by
USA Swimming for the Olympic Trials and "then re-instated
after manufacturers protested" (HOU. CHRONICLE, 8/11)....In
CA, Evan Tuchinsky wonders if there is a "supersaturation
point" for Tiger Woods, and asks, "Can TV show him too
much?" CBS' golf broadcast team, which will produce next
week's PGA Championship for itself and TNT said, "Not
really." Tuchinsky: "Whether he is ahead by 12 strokes,
down by 1 or in danger of missing the cut, Woods merits
attention. He might not be the story of every tournament,
but he always is a story (PRESS-ENTERPRISE, 8/11)....USA
TODAY's Rudy Martzke writes that the NFL "has tried for a
decade to sack gambling references" on football pregame
shows. But starting September 3, "there will be point
spread picks" on PAX network's 70 million HHs. Sports
handicapper and eSportsEdge "organizer" Wayne Root "claims
the point spread won't be mentioned on picks on NFL games,"
however, by picking the final scores, "gamblers will know
which team the analysts favor against the spread." Root
"has lined up" NFL HOFers John Riggins and Randy White for
eSportsEdge's Sunday show at 12:00pm ET. Meanwhile, Martzke
notes that Jeanne Zelasko "will host a show" and Chris Myers
and Steve Lyons "will be paired on another show" as the Fox
Sports Radio Network launches August 28 (USA TODAY, 8/11).
