From http://www.usatoday.com
News Corp. takes $909M hit; Madden on move?
By Rudy Martzke, USA TODAY
News Corp., the parent company of Fox Television, announced Tuesday that it recorded a one-time charge of $909 million at the end of the second quarter of its 2002 fiscal year to cover projected losses from its rights contracts with NASCAR, the NFL and major league baseball.
The move, another indication of a softening market for professional sports TV deals, could prompt Fox to allow star NFL analyst John Madden to leave the network and become part of what would be a new Monday Night Football announcing team for ABC.
News Corp. broke down its charge from the Fox Sports contracts as:
a.. $387 million on its $4.4 billion deal with the NFL that has four of eight years remaining.
b.. $297 million on its $1.6 billion NASCAR contract that is about to enter the second of eight years.
c.. $225 million on its $2.5 billion MLB deal that will be entering the second of six years.
Though Fox announced this as a one-time write-down, the network could incur additional losses if the economy does not improve.
"While ratings for both regular- and postseason baseball and football remained strong, the anemic advertising market unfortunately prevented us from reaching our revenue or profit forecasts," News Corp. chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch said in a statement accompanying the company's second-quarter financial report.
"A revised outlook has prompted a re-evaluation of our long-term U.S. sports contracts resulting in a large one-time charge."
Another part of the company's report stated: "The severe downturn in sports-related advertising during the second half of calendar 2001, the lack of any sustained advertising rebound subsequent to Sept. 11th and the reduction of forecasted long-term advertising growth rates" resulted in the charge.
Madden, paid $8 million a season, has another year remaining on his contract. But a scenario exists in which he could be allowed out for the 2002 season to join the ABC team, which will televise next season's Super Bowl.
If ABC can land Madden, he would be paired with Al Michaels. Dennis Miller and Dan Fouts figure to be out, although Fouts deserves a better fate.
Far-fetched?
Madden twice has considered moving to ABC. By letting Madden out of his contract, Fox would save $6 million-$7 million, not an insignificant amount. ABC likely would pay Madden the $5 million salary it considered offering him four years ago.
"It would be hard to let John Madden go if a year remains on his contract," TV consultant Neal Pilson, former president of CBS Sports, said Tuesday.
"However, Pat Summerall has left. And if Fox plans to let John go at the end of his contract, why not make the change now, especially if you don't have the Super Bowl next year?
"If all this is true, it would be a huge addition to Monday Night Football. John is the best commentator. Period."
Summerall, Madden's partner at CBS and Fox for 21 years, called his last game with Madden on Feb. 3 at the Super Bowl. He has been offered a slate of Dallas Cowboys games by Fox next season.
Madden was not available for comment. His agent, Sandy Montag, said, "John is under contract to Fox for another year. Other than that we don't have any comments." Fox declined to comment.
ABC Sports vice president Mark Mandel said, "We have not had any conversations with John Madden and his representatives."
But that doesn't mean there won't eventually be any talks between ABC and Madden's IMG agents, Montag and Barry Frank.
While Fox officials sincerely appreciate the credibility Madden has brought the network for eight years, the network lost about $150 million this season on its $550 million-a-year NFL rights fee. ABC lost more than $200 million.
At some time in this offseason, Madden's representatives will meet with Fox Sports chairman David Hill and Fox Sports president Ed Goren to determine the extent of Fox's interest in keeping Madden for the next four years.
Depending on those talks, ABC might be allowed to demonstrate its interest in Madden. ABC might not choose to step up, but with some in the NFL office not enamored with the prospect of Miller helping to broadcast the Super Bowl, ABC figures to finally make a serious move at Madden if the negotiating door is opened.
Fox then would turn its attention to finding a different partner for Joe Buck, the likely play-by-play successor to Summerall. Cris Collinsworth and Troy Aikman could be among those considered.
'NFL Today' to add Marino, Esiason
Although the announcement has been delayed until next week, CBS now figures to add Dan Marino and Boomer Esiason to its latest version of the NFL Today studio.
Marino and Esiason, both to be paid in the $800,000 range, would join host Jim Nantz and new regular analyst Deion Sanders on the main set. Holdover Mike Ditka's role would be reduced.
"I think it's a good possibility I'm going to be working with them (CBS)," Marino said Tuesday from his home in Miami. "It's not done yet. Marvin (agent Marvin Demoff) is in Hawaii. I've known Jim Nantz a lot of years."
Marino would replace Randy Cross, who returns to game telecasts, and Jerry Glanville, who has not been retained by CBS.
Marino figures to remain with HBO's Inside the NFL, where he has been paid $500,000-$600,000 a year.
"I really like the HBO people," Marino said. "I'm looking to do both shows."
Said HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg: "Dan's our man. He will stay at HBO."
Esiason makes about $200,000 for Westwood One/CBS Radio Monday night football broadcasts.
CBS Sports president Sean McManus, who was on vacation and unavailable for comment, has had an unofficial five-year plan for NFL Today to be in position to challenge Fox's vaunted pregame squad of James Brown, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Collinsworth.
A lineup of Nantz, Pro Football Hall of Fame prospects Sanders and Marino, along with Esiason, who blew away CBS officials with his audition, gives NFL Today its strongest shot at Fox NFL Sunday.
News Corp. takes $909M hit; Madden on move?
By Rudy Martzke, USA TODAY
News Corp., the parent company of Fox Television, announced Tuesday that it recorded a one-time charge of $909 million at the end of the second quarter of its 2002 fiscal year to cover projected losses from its rights contracts with NASCAR, the NFL and major league baseball.
The move, another indication of a softening market for professional sports TV deals, could prompt Fox to allow star NFL analyst John Madden to leave the network and become part of what would be a new Monday Night Football announcing team for ABC.
News Corp. broke down its charge from the Fox Sports contracts as:
a.. $387 million on its $4.4 billion deal with the NFL that has four of eight years remaining.
b.. $297 million on its $1.6 billion NASCAR contract that is about to enter the second of eight years.
c.. $225 million on its $2.5 billion MLB deal that will be entering the second of six years.
Though Fox announced this as a one-time write-down, the network could incur additional losses if the economy does not improve.
"While ratings for both regular- and postseason baseball and football remained strong, the anemic advertising market unfortunately prevented us from reaching our revenue or profit forecasts," News Corp. chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch said in a statement accompanying the company's second-quarter financial report.
"A revised outlook has prompted a re-evaluation of our long-term U.S. sports contracts resulting in a large one-time charge."
Another part of the company's report stated: "The severe downturn in sports-related advertising during the second half of calendar 2001, the lack of any sustained advertising rebound subsequent to Sept. 11th and the reduction of forecasted long-term advertising growth rates" resulted in the charge.
Madden, paid $8 million a season, has another year remaining on his contract. But a scenario exists in which he could be allowed out for the 2002 season to join the ABC team, which will televise next season's Super Bowl.
If ABC can land Madden, he would be paired with Al Michaels. Dennis Miller and Dan Fouts figure to be out, although Fouts deserves a better fate.
Far-fetched?
Madden twice has considered moving to ABC. By letting Madden out of his contract, Fox would save $6 million-$7 million, not an insignificant amount. ABC likely would pay Madden the $5 million salary it considered offering him four years ago.
"It would be hard to let John Madden go if a year remains on his contract," TV consultant Neal Pilson, former president of CBS Sports, said Tuesday.
"However, Pat Summerall has left. And if Fox plans to let John go at the end of his contract, why not make the change now, especially if you don't have the Super Bowl next year?
"If all this is true, it would be a huge addition to Monday Night Football. John is the best commentator. Period."
Summerall, Madden's partner at CBS and Fox for 21 years, called his last game with Madden on Feb. 3 at the Super Bowl. He has been offered a slate of Dallas Cowboys games by Fox next season.
Madden was not available for comment. His agent, Sandy Montag, said, "John is under contract to Fox for another year. Other than that we don't have any comments." Fox declined to comment.
ABC Sports vice president Mark Mandel said, "We have not had any conversations with John Madden and his representatives."
But that doesn't mean there won't eventually be any talks between ABC and Madden's IMG agents, Montag and Barry Frank.
While Fox officials sincerely appreciate the credibility Madden has brought the network for eight years, the network lost about $150 million this season on its $550 million-a-year NFL rights fee. ABC lost more than $200 million.
At some time in this offseason, Madden's representatives will meet with Fox Sports chairman David Hill and Fox Sports president Ed Goren to determine the extent of Fox's interest in keeping Madden for the next four years.
Depending on those talks, ABC might be allowed to demonstrate its interest in Madden. ABC might not choose to step up, but with some in the NFL office not enamored with the prospect of Miller helping to broadcast the Super Bowl, ABC figures to finally make a serious move at Madden if the negotiating door is opened.
Fox then would turn its attention to finding a different partner for Joe Buck, the likely play-by-play successor to Summerall. Cris Collinsworth and Troy Aikman could be among those considered.
'NFL Today' to add Marino, Esiason
Although the announcement has been delayed until next week, CBS now figures to add Dan Marino and Boomer Esiason to its latest version of the NFL Today studio.
Marino and Esiason, both to be paid in the $800,000 range, would join host Jim Nantz and new regular analyst Deion Sanders on the main set. Holdover Mike Ditka's role would be reduced.
"I think it's a good possibility I'm going to be working with them (CBS)," Marino said Tuesday from his home in Miami. "It's not done yet. Marvin (agent Marvin Demoff) is in Hawaii. I've known Jim Nantz a lot of years."
Marino would replace Randy Cross, who returns to game telecasts, and Jerry Glanville, who has not been retained by CBS.
Marino figures to remain with HBO's Inside the NFL, where he has been paid $500,000-$600,000 a year.
"I really like the HBO people," Marino said. "I'm looking to do both shows."
Said HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg: "Dan's our man. He will stay at HBO."
Esiason makes about $200,000 for Westwood One/CBS Radio Monday night football broadcasts.
CBS Sports president Sean McManus, who was on vacation and unavailable for comment, has had an unofficial five-year plan for NFL Today to be in position to challenge Fox's vaunted pregame squad of James Brown, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Collinsworth.
A lineup of Nantz, Pro Football Hall of Fame prospects Sanders and Marino, along with Esiason, who blew away CBS officials with his audition, gives NFL Today its strongest shot at Fox NFL Sunday.
thanks for the info . And yes , it sure sounds like a good idea to have Madden on MNF ! I can just see Dennis Miller with his high-brow humor and Madden just looking at him with a blank stare ! 
