Christmas tchotchkeys seemed light this year. (A harbinger of the year ahead? We certainly hope not.) The most talked-about gift was a video iPod from several Rainbow networks. Some of our brethren in the trade press sent theirs back. We lack their high morals (and we’re not re-gifting it, either). Disney sent a perfect gift for parents of teenage girls: the coveted and under stocked "That’s So Raven" mix stick. YES sent a gorgeous Tiffany baseball (no way the word tchotchkey has ever been uttered at Tiffany’s). ESPN sent a "SportsCenter" board game and a Bill Simmons book on the Sawx (don’t they know we’re O’s fans down here?). NBCU sent a package of Universal DVDs (gotta love corporate synergy). Sensing our leather lust, The Golf Channel sent a handsome leather-clad cup and Court TV a seriously entertaining travel portfolio. Nat Geo’s huge Atlas last year was coupled this year with a beautiful coffee-table book. G4 sent a comfy camouflage blanket, while S-A impressed with a pocket wine guide and accompanying wine opener. Outdoor Channel sent a large box of holiday food in an oversized sleigh. We got an eye-pleasing desk calendar from Sci Fi and an appropriately goofy one for the wall from Cartoon. Among the most touching gestures were Paul Schneider’s snowflake ornament in honor of former CED publisher Roger Brown, and a donation by The Golf Channel to charity.

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Tuesday–September 22

NFL Ratings Down

NFL ratings may be down, but that doesn’t necessarily spell doom and gloom for the league and its broadcast partners. Its Week 1 ratings fell 7.5% YOY, down 3% from 2018 and 4% from 2017. However, analysts

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