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Reports on the discovery of the value of one-team networks by team owners and multiple system operators that supplement their schedules with college and high school sports. Goals of multiple systems operators and large cable operators; Plan of multiple systems operators to launch networks even though they do not own any teams; Likelihood of launching a successful regional sports network.

Discusses issues related to cable television's (TV) broadcasting of sports as of October 2002. Increase in household ratings of sports TV; Plans for National Broadcasting Association's own channel, NBA TV; Details of deal between ESPN and the National Hockey League. INSETS: IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED...;WHERE'S THE PUCK?;TOP 25 DMAs FOR AVID FANS OF PRO SPORTS;SCARBOROUGH RESEARCH PROFILE OF AVID FANS

Features cable television networks in the U.S. vying for more cable-subscribing sports fans. Percentage of Action Sports Cable Network's production that is high definition; Two branded sports networks of Comcast SportsNet; Amount that Empire Sports Network pays per year to air the hockey games.

Focuses on developments related to the National Hockey League (NHL) as of December 13, 1999. Joint venture between television networks American Broadcasting Co. and ESPN to purchase the broadcast and cable television rights to the NHL; Television network Fox's failure to market the NHL; Factors limiting the ratings performance of television broadcasts of NHL games. INSET: Hockey's problem is hockey.

Examines whether cable operators in the U.S. can keep charging consumers for ball games. Issue on the limited ability for cable distributors to pay sports programming rights; Background on the deal AOL Time Warner and Walt Disney Co. signed with the National Basketball Association; Issue on bargaining for sports rights.

Reports on the sport packages of DirecTV Inc. Variations in the offerings of DirecTV; Access to out-of-market games.

Reports on significant increases in United States viewership for the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 2000 season. Benefit for broadcasting partners American Broadcasting Co. and ESPN and ESPN2; Highest-rated game in the Stanley Cup playoffs in 20 years; Increases in viewership in nonhockey markets and season/playoff numbers.

Discusses the issue raised by the price hike implemented by cable channel ESPN. Details of the increase; Implications of the price hike; Argument of ESPN regarding its price increase.

Reports on the deal between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and AOL Time Warner in the U.S. concerning a new analog network for basketball programming, as of June 2002. Views of NBA Commissioner David Stern on the deal; List of companies that own cable systems and an NBA team; Problems encountered in sports programming; Comments from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on the plan.

Reports the impact of a contract acquired by TNT to air the NBA All-Star Game on cable television. Advantage of the contract to both parties; Season average achieved by the network compared to the average it achieved in 2002; Rating achieved by ESPN after airing a number of NBA games.

Comments on the power of sports to increase people's demand for high definition television (HDTV). Views on the demand for programming that takes advantage of the HDTV sets; Information on the launch of ESPN HD and other related programs.

Deals with issues surrounding the 'National Football League (NFL) Sunday Ticket' television package by DirecTV as of September 16, 2002. Views of NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy on the show; Contract signed by DirecTV with the NFL; Proposed merger between DirecTV and EchoStar.

Focuses on the benefit of the National Football League broadcast to the ratings of ESPN cable television network as of September 16, 2002. Increase in the ratings of the network; Remarks from Mark Shapiro, ESN senior vice president and general manager for programming; Key factor in the rating increase.

Focuses on issues concerning the potential airing of the National Football League (NFL) games in cable television, following the end of the league's out-of-market deal with DirecTV in 2002. Information on several cable networks that are in negotiation with NFL; Ways of addressing the cable networks' concerns over the no-cable clauses in their contracts; Problems associated with the proposed merger between EchoStar and DirecTV.

Reports on the Major League Soccer (MLS) coverage of ESPN network in the U.S. in 2002. Average MLS rating; Comments from MLS executive Mark Noonan on the ratings; Result of the ESPN coverage of the World Cup.