This Just In
Staff -- Multichannel News, 2/4/2002
DIY, Charter Sign Digital Carriage Deal
Knoxville, Tenn.— Scripps Networks has reached a multiyear carriage agreement with Charter Communications Inc. that will place Do It Yourself Network in 2 million of the MSO's digital homes by the end of 2003.
The agreement will put the service in such large Charter markets as St. Louis; Los Angeles; Fort Worth, Texas; and Madison, Wisc.
A spokeswoman for DIY, now in nearly 10 million homes, said the deal expands an extant digital pact between Charter and the network.
The spokeswoman said DIY has set carriage contracts with seven of the top 10 MSOs, as well as satellite providers EchoStar Communications Corp. and DirecTV Inc.
YES, DirecTV Near Deal
New York— In what would mark its first distribution deal, the Yankees Sports & Entertainment Network has reached a tentative agreement with direct-broadcast satellite service DirecTV Inc., according to sources.
DirecTV will most likely place the fledgling sports service, offering 130 New York Yankees baseball games in 2002, as part of its Total Choice package. Sources close to the situation said a deal could be announced as soon as this week.
Neither party would comment on the matter.
NASCAR Ad-Sales Pace Brisk at Turner/NBC
New York— Ad sales for the National Association for Stock Car Racing may have been sluggish in 2001, but they seemed to be off to a speedy start this year.
Turner Broadcasting Sales Inc. officials said last week that Turner Network Television's coverage, being pitched in conjunction with NBC's inventory, was 75 percent sold last week.
Clients sponsoring NBC's Feb. 17 Daytona 500 race coverage include Circuit City, DuPont, Pennzoil, Pepsi and Wal-Mart. That race's strong sales also are driving third- and fourth-quarter deals as well, Turner officials said.
WWF To Raise Price For PPV Events
Stamford, Conn. —World Wrestling Federation Entertainment will raise the price of its monthly pay-per-view events by $5, beginning with its April 21 event.
The increase to $34.95 will begin with the April 21 event, said sources close to the situation. But the price for the WWFE's March 17 Wrestlemania X-8, will retail at $39.95, the same as last year.
