71.   Twenty-nine companies back the Toshiba-Time Warner format, while only a handful back the Sony-Philips version.

72.   U S West, which was kept in the dark about the negotiations, threatened Friday to sue Qwest if the company backed out of its contract.

73.   The spokesman said the Ohio-based company backed out of the deal in early May, saying it did not have enough stock to supply to Hino.

74.   The company also backs professional tennis tournaments in China and the international volleyball grand prix.

75.   The company backed down.

76.   The company backed down in the face of lengthy legal hassles.