| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Tuesday, December 18, 2001
4:00pm ET | |
| • | NBC Increases Live Coverage Of Salt Lake City Hockey Competitions |
| • | Report Has WUSA Losing $40M; League Inks Broadcast Deal With Pax |
| • | World Cup Winners Will Receive Increased Monetary Prizes In '01 |
| • | Study Finds That Bulk Of Brewers Business Comes From Out Of Town |
| • | ESPN's Sunday Night NFL Game Nets Largest Cable Rating Of Year |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight's Events/Daily Stat/Channel Surfing |
NBC PROMISES UNPRECEDENTED OLYMPIC HOCKEY COVERAGE
NBC announced today that it will provide more live coverage of hockey events at the Winter Games in Salt Lake City than any team sport has ever received at any Olympics. Thirty of 32 men's hockey games in the Olympic tournament will be broadcast live, excluding the three consolation games. The lead announcing team will match play-by-play announcer Gary Thorne with analyst John Davidson and ice-level reporter Darren Pang (THE DAILY).
WUSA'S LOSSES TOTAL $40M; LEAGUE INKS TWO-YEAR PAX DEAL
ESPN's SportsTicker reported that WUSA "lost $40 million in its inaugural season in 2001." The $40M "equals the original investment by investor-operators John Hendricks, Amos Hostetter, Comcast Corporation, COX Communications, COX Enterprises, and Time Warner Cable" (ESPN's SportsTicker, 12/17).
Meanwhile, the AP reports that WUSA "signed a broadcasting deal with Paxson Communications, which will televise a full schedule of games in 2002 and 2003." PAX TV, which reaches 84 million households, "will broadcast 22 games live on Saturday afternoons" at 4:00pm ET beginning in April. TNT and CNN/SI broadcast a 22-game TV package, but "allowed the league to terminate a four-year agreement to enter the deal with PAX" (AP, 12/18).
WORLD CUP WINNINGS INCREASE BY 70% FROM '98 TOTALS
BLOOMBERG NEWS reports FIFA said that next year's World Cup winner will receive [US $7.6M] in prize money, "70 percent more than France got in 1998." Total prize money of [US $123M] "is 51 percent more than in 1998." FIFA President Sepp Blatter said, "This will be the most expensive World Cup ever" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 12/18).
VISITORS CONTRIBUTE LARGE PERCENTAGE OF BREWERS' BUSINESS
The Greater Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) announced that Miller Park's inaugural year resulted in an economic impact of $415M for the Greater Milwaukee area by visitors from outside the region who attended regular season games. A study commissioned by the Brewers found that 57% of attendees at Miller Park were from outside of Milwaukee, and that 17% of the 2.8 million people who attended games at Miller Park stayed overnight in Milwaukee for an average of two nights (THE DAILY).
MCDONALD'S TO SPOTLIGHT CREW IN OLYMPIC ADVERTISEMENTS
BRANDWEEK.com reports that global Olympic sponsor McDonald's will "laud the quality attributes of its employees – aka 'crew' – and its food in advertising leading up to the Games." The food franchise "will highlight the ideals it shares with the Olympics," and messaging "will focus on the 400 crew members from 50 countries McDonald's will send to Salt Lake City, not only to attend events but also to staff the on-site restaurant, where more than 1 million sandwiches are expected to be served to athletes and coaches" (BRANDWEEK.com, 12/18).
STEELERS-RAVENS DELIVERS CABLE'S BEST RATING OF YEAR
ESPN's Steelers-Ravens "Sunday Night Football" game was seen by an average of 7,826,000 million homes, making it the most-viewed program on cable television in '01. The number of household impressions is based on a 9.14 cable rating, which is the highest ESPN rating since '99 (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
German F-1 driver Michael Schumacher "has been voted sportsman of 2001 by the Reuters news agency." A panel of 40 journalists from 31 countries chose Schumacher, who "won his fourth Formula One world title this year" (BBC.com, 12/18).
Sports Illustrated's Frank Deford was on CBS' "The Early Show" this morning to discuss the new book, "Knockouts: Five Decades of Swimsuit Models." Deford, who has been involved in SI's annual swimsuit issue for the past 25 years, wrote the book's foreword ("The Early Show," CBS, 12/18).
Ping has announced that it has withdrawn from the '03 PGA Merchandise Show despite the fact it will attend the '02 show from January 24-27 in Orlando. Ping Chair & CEO John Solheim said the company will use the dollars previously earmarked for the show to enhance its customer service (GOLF WORLD BUSINESS, 12/17).
USA TODAY reports that Dave Matthews Band, Creed, the Foo Fighters and seven other bands to be named today will "entertain at the Olympic Medals Plaza during the Winter Games Feb. 8-24 in Salt Lake City" (USA TODAY, 12/18).
Burger King today announced the launch of its national Harlem Globetrotters Sweepstakes, which begins on December 24 and runs through February 2. The grand prize includes a five-night trip for four to Atlanta, where the winner will suit up with the Harlem Globetrotters team for a live on-court "performance" during the NABC Roundball Challenge on March 29. The sweepstakes was conceived by Globetrotters Owner Mannie Jackson and developed by Surge at Draft Worldwide (THE DAILY).
TONIGHT'S EVENTS
76ers C Dikemebe Mutombo, a native of the Congo, hosts a bowling event at the Playdrome Cherry Hill tonight to raise money to build a hospital in his homeland. Scheduled to appear are Eagles DE Hugh Douglas, CB Troy Vincent, LB Jeremiah Trotter and TE Chad Lewis, along with other Eagles and 76ers personnel. Tickets are $100 to bowl or $50 to attend and get autographs (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 12/16).
The NHL Rangers will host the first of two toy drives for the Rangers Cheering for Children Foundation from 3:00-5:00pm ET at O'Neil's Restaurant in Maspeth, NY. C Mark Messier and D Brian Leetch and other players will attend. The second drive will take place on Thursday afternoon in Manhattan (THE DAILY).
A sneak preview of "Ali" will be held in Newark "to benefit amateur boxing in the city." A celebrity reception will be held at 5:30pm ET, and the screening will begin at 8:00pm ET. Both events "will help launch the Commissioner's Organization Making Boxing Alternatives Today for Tomorrow, or COMBATT" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 12/2).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes it "may take at least two years before attendance at Disney's Florida and California theme parks returns to pre-Sept. 11 levels." Merrill Lynch analysts Jessica Reif Cohen and Andrew Slabin said, "Although not an apples-to-apples comparison, we believe the attendance trends into and out of the Gulf War and accompanying recession shed light on how Disney's theme park performance may unfold over the next year or so" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 12/18).
REUTERS reports that GE CEO Jeff Immelt "laid out an aggressive expansion strategy" for '02 and '03, saying growth from cost savings and acquisitions "would offset the drag of a weak economy and any potential slowdown in the global power market." Immelt said his plan for '02 "does not assume a rebound in the economy," but instead "expects the turnaround to start in 2003." Immelt noted that NBC "also would look for acquisitions in broadcasting and stations, though he does not see the segment in cable, satellites or studios" (REUTERS, 12/18).
The AP reports Newsday "is eliminating a third section on weekdays and offering more early retirement packages as part of an ongoing effort to cut costs." The reduction is "part of a cost-cutting program occurring throughout parent company, Tribune Co." Newsday, which has 3,000 employees, "expects about 50 staffers to accept the latest offer of retirement packages" (AP, 12/18).
TODAY'S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE's Dan Fitzpatrick reports on how the Steelers' newfound success can bring Pittsburgh national recognition.
The Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER's Adrienne Johnson profiles FSN's new show "ACC Sunday Night Hoops."
See The Daily Insider's Articles Of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
THE DAILY STAT: VHS BESTSELLERS & TOP SPORTS BOOKS
The following lists the best-selling VHS titles for the week ending December 9 (VIDEO BUSINESS, 12/18 issue):
| RK | | TITLE | WEEKS IN RELEASE |
| 1. | | PEARL HARBOR | 1 |
| 2. | | PLANET OF THE APES | 3 |
| 3. | | DR. SEUSS' THE GRINCH | 3 |
| 4. | | SWORDFISH | 6 |
| 5. | | JOHN CARPENTER'S GHOSTS OF MARS | 1 |
| 6. | | LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER | 4 |
| 7. | | AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS | 4 |
| 8. | | LEGALLY BLONDE | 5 |
| 9. | | MADE | 2 |
| 10. | | SHREK | 6 |
| |
The following presents the best-selling sports books for '01, based on USA TODAY's ranking of sales from January through December (USA TODAY, 12/18).
| RK | | TOP SPORTS BOOKS: '01 |
| 1. | | SEABISCUIT: AN AMERICAN LEGEND, Laura Hillenbrand |
| 2. | | TIGER WOODS: HOW I PLAY GOLF, Tiger Woods with the "Golf Digest" editors |
| 3. | | FOLEY IS GOOD: AND THE REAL WORLD IS FAKER THAN WRESTLING, Mick Foley |
| 4. | | IF THEY ONLY KNEW, Joanie Laurer (Chyna) with Michael Angeli |
| 5. | | DALE EARNHARDT (Triumph Books) |
| |
CHANNEL SURFING
ESPN will air the Jimmy V Classic, Alabama-Temple at 7:00pm ET, and Duke-Kentucky at 9:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air college football's New Orleans Bowl, North Texas-Colorado State, at 8:00pm ET.
TBS will air Clippers-Suns at 8:00pm ET.
ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Jim Brown at 8:00pm ET.
Warriors Fs Antawn Jamison and Danny Fortson will be on ESPN's "Unscripted."
Browns President Carmen Policy will be on FSN's "The Last Word."
Lions DE Robert Porcher and DT Shaun Rogers will be on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."
Steelers RB Jerome Bettis will be on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" at 11:30pm ET.
Turner basketball analyst Charles Barkley will be on NBC's "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno at 11:30pm ET. Lions WR Johnnie Morton also will be broadcast via satellite from Detroit.
HBO will air "Ali: A First Look" at 8:00pm ET.
E!'s "True Hollywood Story" will profile the TV show "Married…With Children" at 8:00pm ET.
A&E's "Biography" will air "Genovese: Portrait of a Crime Family" at 8:00pm ET.
NBC will air "People Magazine's 25 Most Intriguing People" at 10:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight's headline guests on the following talk shows:
| "The Late Show" | Kevin Spacey |
| "The Tonight Show" | Cokie Roberts |
| "The Late Late Show" | Brandon Quinton |
| "Late Night" | Gary Sinise |
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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