European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 22, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                No More nil on lbs for next 4 years it s Abc and Fox by John Nelson new York a the nil on lbs is Over and football sundays won t look the same on the old to set next year. The nil completed its television package for the next four years on monday awarding the acc to Abc despite receiving a higher bid from lbs which lost the pfc to Fox on Friday. A a it a a terrible disappointment. Sad Ness. And it comes As something of a sur prise a lbs sports president Neal Pilson said. The announcement came two Days after the nil confirmed it had awarded the pfc which had belonged to lbs to Rupert Murdoch a Maverick Fox television network. Fox bid an astounding $1.58 billion for four years of pfc games out bidding lbs by about $100 million per year. Lbs then immediately put in a bid of $250 million a year for the acc out bidding Abc by about $30 million per year a we did no to worry about that a Abc sports president Dick Ebersol said. A on thursday we made a gentleman a agreement on the  Ebersol said he was never told what lbs bid nor did the nil Ever ask him to up his bid. Both Ebersol and the nil said the Vole by the broadcast committee was unanimous. In addition to the acc games Abc also will get two super bowls in 1996 and �?T98. On saturday the nil made the formal announcement about Fox which also got the 1997 super bowl Abc retains rights to monday Light games gets the pro bowl Back from esp and will televise the 1995 super bowl. Neither the nil nor the networks would confirm Dollar figures however a source close to the negotiations speaking on condition of anonymity said the total package was Worth about 20 percent More than the old four year Deal which amounted to $3.62 billion. That would put it in the area of $4.3 billion. In addition to the $1.58 billion bid by Fox Abc will pay an estimated $880 million for the acc up from the a $752. Million it paid last time around. Abc Wilt pay about $950 million for monday nights up from the $925 million it paid the past four years. And the esp and int deals remain at about $450 million apiece lbs paid $1.06 billion for four years of pfc games in the contract that expires at the end of this season. A obviously we Are delighted a Ebersol said. A and in a particularly pleased about it because 1 can say Abc not Only will televise the Aba but the the nil the next summer olympics and major league baseball As  in a letter to affiliates Pilson said he wrote Quot if history is any guide the sports television Industry is cyclical. The Competition is intense and major events change hands with some degree of frequency. A obviously we would have preferred to stay with nil football but that decision has been made. We look ahead to rebuilding our broadcast schedule with a Strong base of events that we currently  he closed he said by saying a we must go on from  originally All three networks expected bids to be lower than they were m last negotiations especially since they estimated combined losses of about $300 million Over the life of the contract. All that changed when Fox entered the Pic Ture. A so we regrouped very quickly a Ebersol said. A we saw the nil on tuesday a the stars and stripes ports december 22,1993 Page 32 week ago and said we were there to close. I think they were surprised that we came Over with that attitude. They asked us if we could delay until thursday and would we come Back then with a comprehensive  Ebersol said Abc returned to the nil with a four year proposal on thursday. A we left with a Dollar figure on the table that was considerably higher than we paid in the past a Ebersol said. A we Felt at that time we had a gentleman a agreement.�?�. The agreement held up and lbs which has televised nil games since 1956, was Oufou the equation. A Fox will create a state of the Art sports division and broadcasting Center dedicated completely to the nil a the nil announced monday. Giants March to 6th straight win by Dave Goldberg new Orleans a the new York giants arc finishing the season the Way the new Orleans saints started it. Phil Simms threw two touchdown passes and Dave Meggett clinched the game with a fourth Quarter 75-Yard punt return As the giants beat the saints 24-14 monday night continuing their March to a Jan. 2 showdown with Dallas for the pfc East Crown. It was the sixth straight win for the giants 11-3 and the seventh toss in the Iasi nine games for the saints who a. 0 see Page 26 for nil standings started the season 5-0. They Are now 7-7 and struggling with four other teams for three wild card playoff spots. A we were Able to run pass do what we wanted a said Rodney Hampton who gained 65 Yards in 19 carries for new York. A whenever you can do that you re clicking and that a what happened out there Quot it was a methodical Victory for the giants who controlled the Ball for 36 14 to 23 46 for new Orleans. Simms who completed 10 of his first 12 passes and finished 15 of 23 for 166 Yards threw first half to passes of 9 Yards to Mark Jackson and 17 Yards to Howard Cross. Then the giants had the Ball most the third Quarter and Meg Geltz a return put the game ? said coach Dan Reeves said giants guard William Roberts Quot i was thinking shoot there it is a a the giants held new Orleans to 11 Rushing Yards and shut Down the saints when it counted except for one 80-Yard first half drive that included a fake Field goal and Brad musters 1-Yard touchdown run. A we just played a very Good football team tonight Quot said saints coach Jim Mora Quot they re talented Well coached and took it to  Mora was irate at fans who Chee Rcd when saints quarterback Wade Wilson a a Dave a punt return was a huge play the giants Rodney Hampton 27 straight arms new Orleans defender Keith Taylor in first half action monday night. Was knocked out of the game in the third Quarter with a sprained left knee calling them a sick sick sick mentally ill a the fans also put bags Over their Heads the Symbol of futility before Mora arrived in 1986 and made them a yearly contender. Wilson was ii of 17 for 148 Yards and Mike Buck finished up throwing a meaningless 5-Yard to pass to Dalton Hilliard with 1 41 left. The Victory put new York a game ahead of Dallas in the pfc East race and ensured they will play the cowboys for no worse than the division title and pfc Home Field at the Meadowlands in two weeks. The giants could Clinch the division next week if they win in Phoenix and the cowboys lose to Washington. The saints Are tied with Chicago and Minnesota at 7-7, a game behind Detroit and Green Bay with Atlanta and Philadelphia still alive at 6-8. One of the Central teams will win the division so new Orleans will be competing with five others for three spots As it goes into its final two games at Philadelphia and at Home to Cincinnati. It s frustrating but i still believe we re a Good team a said wide receiver Quinn Early. A i still believe we have a shot at something this year Quot but some giants wondered a they did no to really pose a big threat like we thought they would and like they have in the past a said Lawrence Taylor. A i done to know whal to say. They re not playing like they did six or seven weeks ago. 1 Don t know what the problem is but its not my  behind a Block by Jessie Armstead put it away with his 75-Yard run Down the left sideline in the fourth Quarter. It  fourth punt return for a touchdown in his five year career. Mumm tm685dlqc 504