FSN To Debut Action Sports News Program "54321" Tonight
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ABC's Coverage Of Super Bowl XXXVII Up 1% Over Last Two Years
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Verizon Wireless Signs Three-Year Sponsorship Deals With Bulls, Blackhawks
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Action Performance Today Announces Slight Decline In Quarterly Earnings
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Knicks Today Begin Countdown To Ewing Jersey Retiring Ceremony
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Buzzer Beaters/Daily Stat/Articles of Interest/In Other News/Channel Surfing
"54321" TO MELD CONTENT WITH ADVERTISING & MERCHANDISING
Fox Sports Net today will debut "54321," a daily news program devoted to action sports, at 5:00pm ET.
In L.A., Leslie Earnest notes that the show is "being financed, in part, by Huntington Beach-based sportswear maker Quiksilver, … and is a vivid example of the way local youth-apparel makers are tapping into the entertainment industry to help boost their brands" (L.A. TIMES, 1/27).
In Cincinnati, John Kiesewetter wonders, "Will kids hop off their skateboards, snowboards and bikes long enough to watch?" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/27).
In Tacoma, Darrin Beene noted that the show will "push the line between content and advertising, with its CD, DVD and video game reviews and previews" (Tacoma NEWS-TRIBUNE, 1/24).
ABC REPORTS SUPER BOWL COVERAGE UP 1% OVER LAST TWO YEARS
ABC's coverage of Super Bowl XXXVII earned a 40.7/61 fast national Nielsen rating, a 1% increase over the previous two Super Bowls, which both earned a 40.4/61 (THE DAILY).
NBC's counter-programming move during last night's Super Bowl halftime show, a special edition of "SNL," drew a 3.8/5 Nielsen overnight rating from 8:00-8:30pm ET. The Super Bowl halftime show, by comparison, earned a 43.4/61 (THE DAILY). NBC's halftime program last year, which featured a Playboy edition of "Fear Factor," earned a 5.6 overnight (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 1/27).
BRANDWEEK reports that Verizon Wireless has signed three-year sponsorship deals with the Bulls and Blackhawks. Sponsorship benefits include signage at the United Center, the Verizon Wireless logo on the scoreboard and the rights to on-ice and on-court promotions. While Verizon Wireless signed a sponsorship deal with the United Center in '01, this deal "insures that no other wireless carriers will have a presence" at the arena (BRANDWEEK, 1/27 issue).
NET INCOME DOWN, REVENUE UP FOR ACTION PERFORMANCE
The PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL reports that collectible motorsports merchandiser Action Performance today announced a "slight decline in quarterly earnings … [citing] production delays for several toy car models and a decline in trackside and wholesale apparel sales." The company posted net income for the fiscal Q1 ended December 31, 2002, of $8M, compared with $8.2M in the same period a year ago. Revenue rose 2%, to $85.8M, from $84.1M a year ago (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/27).
NASCAR TO BEGIN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TOUR TODAY
The U.S. Department of Defense kicks off a tour today in Charlotte that will take a group of NASCAR drivers, team owners and track owners to U.S. military installations in Germany, Bosnia, Italy and England from January 27-31. Those participating include BelCar Racing co-Owner Sam Belnavis, whose No. 54 Winston Cup Ford is sponsored by the Army National Guard, and Lewis Motorsports Owner Ashton Lewis Sr., whose No. 46 Busch Series Chevy is sponsored by the Civil Air Patrol, as well as Richard Childress Racing Owner Richard Childress. Former and current drivers making the trip include Ernie Irvan,Brendan Gaughan, Mike Wallace and David Starr (THE DAILY).
AND THE WINNERS OF THE DAILY'S SUPER BOWL CONTEST ARE…
Seeing as The Daily promised industry recognition last week to the winners of our Super Bowl contest, below are the winners once again for those who haven't already seen their names in the Morning Buzz and today's issue.
Predators President Jack Diller predicted a 42-10 rout, while Univ. of Notre Dame grad student Matt Durbin predicted a 34-24 Bucs win. Congratulations Jack and Matt on a job well done.
BUZZER BEATERS
The OH High School Athletic Association today ruled that LeBron James "did not violate state amateur bylaws by accepting a sports utility vehicle as a gift" (AP, 1/27).
The Baseball Tomorrow Fund, a joint initiative of MLB and MLBPA, today awarded $22,900 to the Minneapolis and St. Paul Parks Departments to purchase 20 new pitching machines for the Minneapolis/St. Paul Rookie League program (THE DAILY).
The Knicks today begin a 33-day countdown to the retiring of former C Patrick Ewing's jersey. Each day, nyknicks.com will present a different Ewing anecdote, image, video highlight or quote (THE DAILY).
The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reported that the Spurs begin a nine-game road trip tonight so the SBC Center is able to host the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo from February 2-17. Express-News Spurs beat writer Johnny Ludden: "The players are already complaining. I'm saying, 'Hey, you guys get to fly on the charter (flights)'" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 1/26).
The Golf Digest Companies announced today that it will relocate to Wilton, CT, in late spring '03. The company had been headquartered in Trumbull, CT, for the past 18 years (THE DAILY).
TONIGHT'S EVENTS
The T'Wolves will distribute Kevin Garnett Celebriducks to the first 7,498 fans in attendance at tonight's Spurs-T'Wolves game. Two other Celebriducks are hidden within a 5-mile radius of the Target Center. The people who find the Celebriducks will be awarded two courtside seats for an upcoming T'Wolves game (THE DAILY).
"Seabiscuit" actors Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges and Chris Cooper will present an award at tonight's NTRA Eclipse Awards in Beverly Hills, hosted by ESPN's Kenny Mayne (THE DAILY).
The Brewers begin their Spring Fever Tour today with stops in Waukesha and West Allis, WI (THE DAILY).
CHANNEL SURFING
ESPN will air NCAA men's basketball, UConn-St. John's at 7:00pm ET, Texas-Kansas at 9:00pm ET and UNLV-New Mexico at midnight ET.
ESPN2 will air Predators-Sabres at 8:00pm ET.
ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Pete Rozelle at 8:00pm ET.
FSN will debut "54321" at 5:00pm ET.
NBA analyst John Thompson, boxer Vernon Forrest and "American Idol" judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson are scheduled to appear on FSN's "BDSSP."
The Golf Channel's "Golf Talk" will feature Fuzzy Zoeller at 8:00pm ET.
"MNF" announcer Al Michaels will be on CNBC's "After Hours with Maria Bartiromo" at 9:00pm ET.
Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone will appear on FSN's "Southern Sports Report" at 10:00pm ET.
NHL Rangers C Eric Lindros and Oilers Exec VP & GM Kevin Lowe will be on MSG's "JD on Ice" at 11:00pm ET.
A&E's "Biography" will profile The Saudi Royal Family at 8:00pm ET.
E!'s "True Hollywood Story" will profile John Holmes at 8:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight's headline guests on the following talk shows:
"Late Show"
Richard Gere (r)
"The Tonight Show"
Heather Graham
"The Late Late Show"
Patricia Heaton
"Late Night"
Adam Sandler (r)
TODAY'S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The Baltimore SUN's Jon Morgan notes that the NFLPA "has not only averted disaster but grown into the richest union in sports, largely due" to Players Inc, the union's in-house sports marketing agency. The pioneering subsidiary has "nimbly exploited opportunities" such as computer and video games, an interactive Web site, its own credit card, and TV and radio shows production (Baltimore SUN).
See The Daily Insider's Articles of Interest section for these and more sports business-related links.
TODAY'S TEASER…
Sports: Bucs S Dexter Jackson became the eighth defensive player to win the Super Bowl MVP last night. Name the first.
IN OTHER NEWS…
MSNBC.com has named America Online Senior Dir of Programming Integration Dean Wright as Editor-in-Chief. Wright formerly spent four years as MSNBC.com Managing Editor (THE DAILY).
THE DAILY STAT: N.Y. TIMES BESTSELLING NONFICTION
The following presents best selling nonfiction books for the week ending January 18 (N.Y. TIMES):
THIS WEEK
HARDCOVER NONFICTION
1)
THE SAVAGE NATION, Michael Savage (WND/Thomas Nelson)
2)
THE RIGHT MAN, David Frum (Random House)
3)
WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY LIFE?, Po Bronson (Randon House)
4)
LEADERSHIP, Rudolph W. Giuliani with Ken Kurson (Miramax/Hyperion)
5)
BUSH AT WAR, Bob Woodward (Simon & Schuster)
6)
PORTRAIT OF A KILLER, Patricia Cornwell (Putnam)
7)
STUPID WHITE MEN, Michael Moore (Regan-Books/HarperCollins)
8)
1421, Gavin Menzies (Morrow)
9)
THE CONQUERORS, Michael Beschloss (Simon & Schuster)
10)
KINGDOM OF FEAR, Hunter S. Thompson (Simon & Schuster)
…TODAY'S ANSWER
Cowboys LB Chuck Howley was named MVP of Super Bowl V. Note: Cowboys DE Harvey Martin and DT Randy White shared the award for Super Bowl XII.
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