Disney aims $400 million body check an News Corp. seeking NHL rights

Article Abstract:

Walt Disney Co. offered the National Hockey League about $400 million for five-year exclusive broadcast rights on ABC and ESPN. The offer is roughly double the combined annual rate now paid the league by ESPN and News Corp.'s Fox Sports. ESPN is expected to shoulder much of the bid's expense rather than ABC, because it could pass along many of the costs to cable operators as part of a general rate increase or by imposing a seperate surcharge. Fox can still counterbid for the NHL package. The deal is another example of how professional leagues are capitalizing on the competition among networks for sports programming.

Comment:

Disney offered NHL $400 million for broadcasting rights

Diversified Companies, Licensing/Sales Agreements, Walt Disney Co.

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EchoStar to buy satellite-TV assets of News Corp. and MCI for $1 billion

Article Abstract:

In a stock deal valued at over $1 billion EchoStar Communications Corp. will acquire a satellite license for the whole U.S., two new satellites not yet launched, and a direct-broadcast operations center in Arizona. Currently the fourth largest direct-broadcast satellite TV company in the U.S., EchoStar will pay News Corp. and MCI WorldCom Inc. with Class A common stock, giving News Corp. about a 30% stake and MCI about a 7% stake. Once given regulatory approvals, EchoStar will be able to become much more competitive, particularly with cable TV.

Asset sales & divestitures, Acquisitions & mergers, Radio & TV communications equipment, Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing, Satellite Communications Eqp, Mergers, acquisitions and divestments, Abstract, WCOM, EchoStar Communications Corp., Direct broadcast satellite television, Satellite television, The News Corporation Ltd., Satellite communications systems, MCI Inc.

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Time Warner unit gets cable rights to 'Seinfeld' show

Article Abstract:

The TBS cable network has been granted the exclusive rights to show "Seinfeld" reruns between 2002 and 2006. TBS paid Columbia TriStar a record price of $1 million per episode for the rights. The deal is one of the most lucrative rerun agreements in the history of cable television. TBS is owned by Time Warner Inc. Columbia-TriStar TV Distribution is expected to receive one minute of advertising time in each of the 180 episodes to resell as part of the agreement.

Comment:

TBS cable network granted exclusive rights to show "Seinfeld" reruns between 2002 and 2006

Media Planning/Goals, New Media, Motion Picture and Video Distribution, Television Program Syndication, Television syndication, TBS, Columbia TriStar

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