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Closing Bell

Closing Bell, August 7, 2002

The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Wednesday, August 7, 2002
4:00pm ET

New Ticket Initiatives For N.Y. Teams To Help Season Holders Peddle Seats

ESPN, ABC Sports Unveil Broadcast Schedules For '02-03 NHL Season

World Cup Activity Helps adidas Report Larger-Than-Expected Q2 Profits

MLB, White Sox Expected To Reveal Logo for '03 All-Star Game Tonight

Bowden Officially Able To Use "Let's Roll" As Slogan To Motivate Players

Articles Of Interest/In Other News/Tonight's Events/Daily Stat/Channel Surfing


KNICKS, RANGERS TO ANNOUNCE INITIATIVES WITH TICKETMASTER

By Andy Jasner, Assistant Editor, The Sports Business Daily

The Knicks and NHL Rangers will announce tomorrow a series of new initiatives with Ticketmaster, which are designed to assist season-ticket holders and enhance the value of their ticket packages.  The initiatives, which take effect immediately, include a new, flexible payment plan where season subscribers can pay their accounts over a six-month period, consisting of six, equal monthly charges; ticket forwarding, which allows season subscribers to forward their tickets to another person electronically, via e-mail or an online site – that person would then be able to download the tickets through Ticketmaster's ticketFast print at home technology; and an MSG Marketplace, which is an online forum for season-ticket holders to exchange, upgrade or sell their unused tickets or donate the tickets to charity.  MSG President of Sports Team Operations Steve Mills told THE DAILY: "We did a lot of research with our season-ticket holders and held a tremendous number of focus groups on how to better service them.  A couple of points kept coming up, especially if there was a better way to pay for tickets. … In our market, tickets are used heavily as a business entertainment tool, and we asked people, 'How can we make it easier?"  Please see tomorrow's issue of THE DAILY for more on this story.


ICE CAPADES: ESPN, ABC FINALIZE NHL BROADCAST SCHEDULES

The NHL announced its '02-03 regular-season TV schedule today, and the following highlights ESPN and ABC's coverage:

ESPN's 21-game schedule will feature 14 Thursday night telecasts.  In addition, a new Sunday afternoon window will premiere February 16th.  ESPN2, meanwhile, will feature a 50-game schedule.  In February and March, the ESPN networks will combine to create three consecutive Sunday doubleheaders, beginning on ESPN at 3:00pm ET and moving to ESPN2 at 6:00pm ET.

ABC Sports will feature fifteen regular-season games during five weeks of regional coverage beginning Saturday, January 11, at 1:00pm ET.  The Flyers will make four appearances, the Penguins will make three, and the Bruins and Blues will make two each.  The Blackhawks, Stars, Devils and Coyotes will each appear once.  The following details team appearances on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 for the '02-03 NHL season (THE DAILY).

TEAM
ESPN
ABC
ESPN2
TOTAL
Colorado
8
5
10
23
Detroit
6
5
12
23
Philadelphia
6
4
7
17
N.Y. Rangers
5
5
6
16
Chicago
6
1
8
15
Dallas
5
1
8
14
St. Louis
7
2
3
12
Boston
7
2
2
11
San Jose
2
0
9
11
Pittsburgh
5
3
1
9
Phoenix
2
1
5
8
Los Angeles
2
0
5
7
Anaheim
2
0
4
6
Carolina
2
0
2
4
N.Y. Islanders
3
0
1
4
Toronto
0
0
4
4
Calgary
0
0
3
3
Ottawa
0
0
3
3
Washington
1
0
2
3
New Jersey
0
1
1
2
Atlanta
0
0
1
1
Florida
0
0
1
1
Minnesota
1
0
0
1
Montreal
0
0
1
1
Nashville
0
0
1
1
Buffalo
0
0
0
0
Columbus
0
0
0
0
Edmonton
0
0
0
0
Tampa Bay
0
0
0
0
Vancouver
0
0
0
0


ADIDAS' Q2 PROFITS BOOSTED BY WORLD CUP SUCCESS

The FINANCIAL TIMES reports that "rising sales on the back of the soccer World Cup" helped adidas to a "larger-than-expected" increase in Q2 profits, helping its shares gain 7% this afternoon.  Net profit came in at $24M, up 4% from the same period last year, against expectations of a decline.  adidas "had invested heavily in World Cup marketing, sponsoring 10 of the 32 teams" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 8/7).


LOGO FOR THE '03 MLB ALL-STAR GAME TO BE UNVEILED TONIGHT

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE reported that the White Sox and MLB tonight will unveil the official logo for the 74th All-Star Game, which will be held July 15, 2003, at Comiskey Park.  The logo will be unveiled before tonight's 7:05pm CT Angels-White Sox game (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/6).


BEAMER FOUNDATION GIVES BOWDEN ITS BLESSING TO "ROLL"

ABC Radio's Keith Olbermann reported this afternoon that "after two days of controversy, 'Let's Roll' is now the authorized team slogan for Florida State University football."  The phrase is identified with the late Todd Beamer from United flight #93, and this morning, Todd S. Beamer Foundation CEO Doug MacMillan telephoned FSU football coach Bobby Bowden and approved the school's use of the term.  MacMillan told Olbermann: "His intention is to inspire his athletes, and our intention is that Todd's words inspire anybody."  While no deal was agreed upon concerning any money made from the FSU/"Let's Roll" connection going to charities helping the families of 9/11 victims, MacMillan said such a relationship could be reached in the future (ABC Radio, 8/7).


RETIREMENT COMMUNITY: TIMMS TO HAVE JERSEY HUNG TONIGHT

The AZ REPUBLIC reports that WNBA Mercury assistant coach Michele Timms "is being honored tonight, fittingly on the seventh day of the month," as her No. 7 jersey will be hoisted to the rafters of America West Arena during halftime of the Rockers-Mercury game.  It is "only the second number to be retired in the six-year WNBA history."  The Comets retired No. 10 to honor the late Kim Perrot (AZ REPUBLIC, 8/7).


GLOBOSPORT TO PROMOTE FEBRUARY WTA TOUR EVENT IN INDIA

REUTERS reports that India "will host a $140,000 WTA tour event early next year, to be promoted by" doubles player Mahesh Bhupathi's sports management company, Globosport.  Bhupathi's father, Krishna, said today that the event "is planned for the third week in February" (REUTERS, 8/7).


BUZZER BEATERS

Bucks G Ray Allen has signed a deal to join 989 Sports as the cover athlete for NBA Shootout 2003.  The deal includes potential print and TV ad components (THE DAILY).

Electronic Arts (EA) today announced the formation of EA Trax, a program that partners major music labels and artists with the video game company.  Upcoming EA Sports titles including "Madden NFL 2003," "NBA Live 2003," "NHL 2003," and "NASCAR Thunder 2003" will feature EA Trax, highlighted by artists like Snoop Dog, Papa Roach, Method Man and Just Blaze (THE DAILY).

Golf Digest identified 270 CEO golfers, who "run the gamut from near-scratch player [Sun Microsystem's] Scott McNealy to Principal Financial chief J. Barry Griswell, a 35.1 [handicap] who took up the game two years ago and has broken 100 twice."  View the complete list here (GOLFDIGEST.com, 8/7).

Mutual of Omaha today signed on as title sponsor of the inaugural "Duel in the Pool," a competition between U.S. and Australian swimmers to be held on April 6, 2003, in Indianapolis (THE DAILY).

Columbia Sportswear Co. has entered an agreement to become the official apparel supplier to the '02 Eco-Challenge Adventure Race, scheduled for October in Fiji.  This marks Columbia's seventh consecutive year sponsoring the race (THE DAILY).


TODAY'S ARTICLES OF INTEREST

The N.Y. TIMES' Mike Freeman profiles former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent, who "has become a long-distance bombardier, lobbing spitballs at the owners from his Connecticut home, rubbing their faces in the laundry list of mistakes baseball has committed since he was shoved out the door" (N.Y. TIMES).

In a CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Q&A with John Erardi, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig discusses several issues baseball currently faces (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER).

See The Daily Insider's Articles of Interest section for these and more sports business-related links.


TONIGHT'S EVENTS

Phil Mickelson, in MI for this week's Buick Open, will throw out the first pitch before tonight's Rangers-Tigers game at Comerica Park (THE DAILY).

In honor of his Talking Bobblehead Day, Orioles broadcaster Chuck Thompson will throw out the first pitch prior to the team's game against the Twins at Camden Yards (THE DAILY).

WNBA Liberty G Becky Hammon will appear at the NBA Store in N.Y. at 5:00pm ET to share insight into the Liberty's season (THE DAILY).

The Vikings will hold an intra-squad passing scrimmage at Blakeslee Stadium at 6:30pm CT to benefit the Viking Children's Fund and MN St. Univ's Mankato athletics.  There will also be a post-scrimmage autograph session (THE DAILY).

Fox NASCAR analyst Larry McReynolds will host a Web chat at www.crewchiefclub.com from 8:00-9:00pm ET (THE DAILY).


IN OTHER NEWS……

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that households that report to Nielsen Media Research "will now have their TiVo usage included in their television viewing data."  In a letter sent to all Nielsen clients, Nielsen Media Research President & CEO Susan Whiting wrote, "Working together, Nielsen Media Research and TiVo have developed software that will enable the extraction of tuning, recording and playback information from TiVo's PVR system" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/7).


THE DAILY STAT:

The following lists the final Nielsen ratings for the top ten prime time shows for the week of July 29 – August 4.  Also provided are Nielsen ratings averages season to date for the nets' primetime coverage (USA TODAY, 8/7).

TOP TEN PRIMETIME NIELSEN RATINGS FOR JULY 29 - AUGUST 4
RK PROGRAM
NET
DAY
RAT/SHR
VIEWERS
(IN MILLIONS)
1) CSI
CBS
Thu
10.5/18
15.6
t2) 48 Hours
CBS
Mon
8.6/15
12.3
t2) Everybody Loves Raymond
CBS
Mon
8.5/14
12.3
4) American Idol
Fox
Tue
7.1/12
12.2
5) Law & Order
NBC
Wed
8.5/15
12.1
6) Dog Eat Dog
NBC
Mon
6.7/11
11.7
7) Becker
CBS
Mon
7.8/13
11.2
8) 60 Minutes
CBS
Sun
7.5/15
10.9
9) Dateline
NBC
Tue
7.6/13
10.8
10) American Idol
Fox
Wed
6.2/10
10.2

NIELSEN AVERAGES SEASON-TO-DATE
NBC
8.5
CBS
8.0
ABC
6.1
Fox
5.5
UPN
2.6
WB
2.4


CHANNEL SURFING

ESPN will air A's-Red Sox at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air Braves-D'Backs at 10:00pm ET.

ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Willie Mays at 8:00pm ET.

Pirates C Jason Kendall, LF Brian Giles and P Josh Fogg will be on "The Last Word."

Pistons F Jerry Stackhouse, Reds CF Ken Griffey, Jr., RF Adam Dunn and Eagles QB Donovan McNabb are scheduled to appear on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."

A&E will profile John Wayne Gacy at 8:00pm ET.

E!'s "True Hollywood Story" will profile Martha Stewart at 8:00pm ET and Winona Ryder at 9:00pm ET.

E!'s "Revealed" features Antonio Banderas at 10:00pm ET.

HBO and NFL Films will air the second episode of "Hard Knocks" at 11:00pm ET.


HEADLINERS

Here are tonight's headline guests on the following talk shows:

"The Late Show" John McEnroe (r)
"The Tonight Show" Jennifer Aniston
"The Late Late Show" Jennifer Esposito
"Late Night" Paul Rudd

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com

The Closing Bell provides an afternoon recap of the latest news and headlines each Monday through Friday at approximately 4:00pm ET. If you would like to sign up for an e-mail alert to the Closing Bell, go to My Account and personalize your e-mail alert options.

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