(from the April 17 edition of the Bangor Daily News)
 
NO TV BIDDERS FOR UMAINE SPORTS
by Andrew Neff
Of the NEWS Staff
 
Five months ago, members of the University of Maine's bid selection
committee were disappointed when only one radio station submitted a bid for
the rights to UMaine sports.
 
Just when they thought things couldn't get any worse, the deadline for
television bids came and went without any bids being submitted by Maine TV
stations.
 
Don not adjust your set.  No bids were submitted by any TV stations, local
or statewide, for the rights to UMaine sports by the university's Feb. 13
deadline.
 
Officials at Bangor stations WLBZ (Channel 2), WABI (Ch. 5), WVII (Ch. 7)
and WBGR (Ch. 33); Portlands WCSH (Ch. 6) and WGME (Ch. 13) and Presque
Isle's WAGM (Ch. 8) confirmed they did not submit bids.
 
Maine Broadcasting System (WCSH-WLBZ) has televised and been involved with
UMaine sports the last eight years.
 
"I hated not to be able to put in a bid but we were not comfortable with
the terms they outlined in their request for a proposal," said WLBZ general
manager Judy Horan, who wouldn't get into specifics.  "If the University
chooses to come back to us with an alternative, we would certainly look at
it."
 
The UMaine bid committee may do just that.
 
"They met with us and Channel 5 April 1st and Channel 2 later that week and
said they'd get back to us," said WVII sales manager Mike Paquette.
 
WCSH program director Mike Marshall said he expected the committee to
re-invite bid proposals and allow stations to bid for any sport or
combination of sports.  He also said the contracts will likel be scaled
back from three-year to one-year terms.
 
"They're re-evaluating their approach and we may be hearing something from
them in the near future," said WABI program director Steve Hiltz.  "They
said they would consider alternatives and we're waiting to hear what their
ideas are."
 
UMaine bid committee officails could not be reached for comment.
 
Both Hitlz and Bernard Chase, WVII's president and general manager, said
scheduling program were the main reasons their stations submitted no bids.
 
Chase was hopeful the rights could be parceled out between the four stations.
 
"My feeling is the three stations ought to be able toe work something out
to give the University some coverage even if it mean each station getting a
few games," said Chase.  "Splitting it up would certainly be OK with me."