Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!maytag!looking!clarinews From: clarinews@clarinet.com (JEFF HASEN, UPI Sports Writer) Newsgroups: clari.sports.misc Subject: Broadcast Column: Sportscast Keywords: misc sports Message-ID: <1Rsportscast_a7@clarinet.com> Date: 31 Jan 90 20:45:06 GMT Lines: 64 Approved: clarinews@clarinet.com Location: california ACategory: sports Slugword: sportscast Priority: major Format: regular X-Supersedes: ANPA: Wc: 697; Id: s1692; Sel: sc--s; Adate: 1-31-1240pps; Ver: sked; Ref: adv02 Codes: ysz.rca. Note: Advance for Friday LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- Those crazies with insatiable appetites for sports news can now gorge themselves on Mizlou's fun-and-games version of CNN's ``Headline News.'' Through updated 30-minute slices around the clock, the Sports News Network premise is programming on demand -- giving fans scores and highlights when and how often they supposedly want them. ``The service is designed for sports fans looking to have sports news at their fingertips,'' said Jon Steinlauf, SNN executive vice-president. ``The mandate we see is to take sports fans all over the world to cover the top stories. If you spend 30 minutes with our service, you'll be fully informed.'' Cable viewers already have ``SportsCenter'' three times daily on ESPN and similar half-hour shows twice nightly on CNN's primary network. Both networks also have shown a willingness to break into regular programming for live remote or studio reports. ESPN also updates scores at the top and bottom of each hour every weeknight and all day on weekends. SNN promises to lead each half hour with four to five minutes of headlines, then offer analysis or head to a stadium or news conference following a break. The balance of the 30 minutes will be filled with highlights, features and scores. ``Each half hour will be different,'' Steinlauf said. ``There will be new talent behind the desk and we'll change the interviews.'' Terry Chick, a former CNN sports anchor, has the most prominent role -- working prime time shifts with a variety of partners. Among others hired are former ABC Sports Olympic anchor Becky Dixon, ex-ESPN staffer Karie Ross and Kevin Christopher of TBS Sports. Analysts signed are Mickey Mantle for baseball, Larry Csonka for NFL, Vic Braden for tennis and Harvey Pack for horse racing. ``We want the service to appeal to the knowledgable sports fan,'' Steinlauf said. ``We can't have mispronunciations of names.'' ``Headline News'' launched Dec. 31, 1981, with 800,000 cable homes. It reaches 40 million American households today, is seen in U.S. hotel rooms and in 75 countries via an international feed. SNN said it had 5 million homes -- predominately in the Northeast and Midwest -- on line for its debut Thursday. Much of the rest of the country remained without it. ``We feel it will generate a lot of momentum based on its quality and the sports fan's ability to receive it,'' Steinlauf said. ``We think the big cities will be in the fold first. Hopefully it will be well-distributed some time in 1990. These things take time. We're not going to set the world on fire in 1990. ``The format, if presented right, has the potential to be a leading service in basic cable, alongside the majors. We're in it for the long-term. We feel it will be appreciated and become part of the mainstream.'' Switching channels: Anyone scorched by Hector Camacho's dance-athon with Ray Mancini last year will ignore Saturday night's pay-per-view event pitting the self-proclaimed ``Macho Man'' against Vinny Pazienza. Mancini is a ringside analyst. Promoters bill it as ``Put up or shut up.'' The tip is ``Pass up. ...'' Former NBC anchor Bill Macatee, out of work since ``USA Today on TV'' was canceled last year, has signed to host the USA Network's golf coverage. Macatee's first assignment is the cable network's early-round telecasts of the AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach, Calif. ... Interesting that CBS made mention of the competition before Sunday's Super Bowl. Will McDonough reported that San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana got inspiration by cranking ABC's ``Monday Night Football'' opening theme on a tape player. ... Anne Montgomery, an anchor-reporter on KSTP in Phoenix since 1987, will join ESPN in late February as a late-night ``SportsCenter'' anchor. _A_d_v_a_n_c_e_ _f_o_r_ _F_r_i_d_a_y