ESPN thinks its branded-everything, Sanyo-made cell phone, Mobile ESPN, will cater to every home run, dunk and statistic fans crave--even when taking out the garbage.

TV networks have finally put on their out-of-the-box thinking caps--moving from advertising-only businesses into a cable-like, subscription fee model. It will not be an easy transition--especially for its traditional aftermarket businesses.

There's always the unexplainable to consider in television. Now NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" can be added to the list.

This is the arresting programming we all need: Another generic back-library-based cable channel full of exhaustively rerun shows such as "The A Team," "Miami Vice" and "Knight Rider," and crime-based movies. Someone should be questioned.

It's amazing CNN can get away with removing one of its prime-time anchors with this simple refrain: "We had no show to offer him." Perhaps the network means something else. Nobody likes to say it these days, but unfortunately, the highly regarded CNN newsman Aaron Brown, host of "NewsNight," seems to have been fired

With the explosion of new technologies for TV content primarily targeted for distribution on traditional TV screens, it's no wonder protection and piracy are high on the list of concerns for major industry leaders and programming forums.

Out of the TV baseball playoffs and into the storm of the November sweeps and the rest of the season, comes the real game for TV programmers. The real meeting place looks to be on Thursday night.

Tough-minded Congress officials are making it tough on TV stations concerning the switch to digital from analog signals. The price tag now could be huge--especially for mandatory advertising messages to consumers.

With all the complaints U.S. customers have made against cable company fees over the last couple of decades, the chance to finally have some real competition for cable in local communities would seem to be an easy decision for them to make. But Verizon Communications' FiOS (fiber-optic television service) has been receiving fuzzy reception from hundreds of city officials.

Two recurring themes for network programming executives: They'd rather stay out of the way when it comes to TV producers' visions; and when you're down in the dumps, you can always take chances. The latter is obviously the song NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly plays in his head.