The aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe a confidential congressional briefing, said other benefits given to some attendees at the Anaheim IRS conference included vouchers for free drinks and some tickets to attend Angels baseball games.

NPR: House Panel: Report Finds $50M For IRS Conferences

Its scheme was to start with a regional sports network in Los Angeles, where Disney's baseball team, the Anaheim Angels, and its hockey team, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, were to form the core of the programming.

ECONOMIST: Sports networks

Disney, which also owns a local baseball team, the California Angels, based at Anaheim, in the same urban area, is launching a new sports channel, challenging Mr Murdoch's Fox Sports channel to serve up more exciting fare.

ECONOMIST: The Murdoch pitch | The