Columnist Tim Graham: KFBT to emphasize sports

Tim Graham

Thursday, May 7, 1998 | 9:36 a.m.

TIM GRAHAM is a Las Vegas Sun sportswriter. His media column usually appears Wednesdays. He can be reached on the Internet at tim@lasvegassun.com

The foundation is in place for Southern Nevada's first local sports station.

UNLV's football and basketball telecasts have shifted to KFBT Channel 33, providing the evolving station with the ultimate in local sports programming.

KFBT, which will be known as "Gold 33," intends to offer a menu weighted toward sports. Other local sports programming includes the Las Vegas Stars and Thunder and possibly preps. National packages include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Cardinals preseason and Pac-10 football and basketball.

KFBT and the Rebels' old TV home, KUPN Channel 21, are operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. The move marks the first time in more than a decade the Rebels will air locally on a station other than KUPN.

"We know how dedicated Sinclair Broadcast Group is, and they've assured us we're going to be their No. 1 program and the cornerstone of Gold 33," UNLV broadcast manager Tony Cordasco said.

With the shift in stations comes augmented Rebel coverage. Pregame shows could increase from five minutes to a half-hour. Overnight replays also will be offered.

"We also like the fact they are going to rebroadcast our games at a time when a lot of Vegas fans, because this is a 24-hour town, can watch them when it best fits their schedule," Cordasco said.

Fans also should expect the football and basketball coaches' shows to eventually move to KFBT, but not for a while. KLAS Channel 8 holds the rights to both shows through the 1998-99 season with a mutual option for 1999-2000.

Radio broadcasts will continue to air on KXNT 840-AM.

ESPN's Prime rate

More than a few cable TV subscribers have felt like hostages when it comes to paying their monthly bills. Some desperately need the service but reluctantly write the check no matter how high the fee.

Now the cable companies -- including Las Vegas' Prime Cable -- are being held hostage, and no rescue appears on the horizon. The result could mean higher rates getting passed on to the consumer.

To help defray its $600 million NFL rights acquisition, ESPN recently raised its charges to cable systems by 20 percent, which equaled about $1 per subscriber for most carriers.

"I think, like everybody in the industry, the rate increases for sports programming have gotten completely out of hand," Prime Cable vice president of marketing Mary Alice Bauchman said. "Something is going to have to happen."

A Wall Street Journal report on Monday indicated "some cable companies are considering setting up two programming tiers" that would allow their subscribers to bypass ESPN's rate increase by not receiving it.

But if other cable companies have agreements like Prime Cable's, that is an improbability. ESPN, to protect its advertising revenue, insists its viewers cannot pay a premium rate to watch.

"It would require a legal battle," Bauchman said. "I'm sure most contracts are like ours. We're required to hold ESPN on our preferred package."

Federal legislation to limit rising sports network fees has been discussed. The Wall Street Journal stated ESPN "wants the option to increase its fees by as much as 20 percent annually through 2006."