If fans knew how much money their team brought in, the reasoning goes, they might also complain that the owners weren't spending more to sign big-name stars.

Still, the networks scrambled to sign minority producers and stars to contracts, offering at least the possibility of a more equitable future.

Paramount has let it be known that it would no longer pay to sign top stars like Tom Cruise, who can command $8 million or more per film.

At the time he expressed his delight at joining his home-town club and criticised McMenemy's policy of signing ageing stars.

The Mets, one of his favorite teams, have recently signed stars like Pedro Martínez and Carlos Beltran.

The league is also looking to sign foreign stars like Jorge Campos, the flamboyant Mexican goalkeeper.

These changes including moving some television tapings to Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, and signing both main-event performers and young stars from around the world.

He is also developing new artists, signing stars who are unhappy at other labels and finding more ways to use the Motown brand name.

It has neither hired as many new executives nor spent as lavishly to sign new stars as Sony has for Columbia Pictures.

In large part, the decrease came from Disney's unwillingness to sign big stars to expensive contracts or to cast more than one big star in a movie.