| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
4:00pm ET | |
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| • | NASCAR Today Announces Deal To Broadcast Nextel Cup Races In Canada |
| • | Spike Lee’s Marketing Agency To Produce TNT’s NBA Promotional Campaign |
| • | Pinacle Events Assumes Professional Women’s Bowling Association Ownership |
| • | Wilson Racquet Sports Today Agrees To Consult AEG On WTA Championships |
| • | Pat O’Brien, Dan Hicks To Anchor NBC’s Late Night Olympics Show |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
NASCAR RACES TO BE BROADCAST ON FREE CANADIAN TV WITH DEAL
NASCARtoday announced that Canadian TV broadcaster Craig Media will televise 12 liveNextel Cup Series races for the ’04 and ’05 seasons, marking the first timeraces in NASCAR’s top series will be broadcast on free channels in Canada. The two-year deal begins with live coverageof the Daytona 500 on February 15 and will feature all of the Nextel Cuptelecasts on NBC. Craig Media willbroadcast the races in Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba (NASCAR).
TNT TO USE SPIKE LEE’S FIRM FOR NBA PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN
TNTtoday announced that it has selected Spike Lee’s marketing agency,SpikeDDB, to produce its on-air promotional campaign for the upcoming NBAseason. TV spots for the “Let The TruthBe Told” campaign will feature Lakers C Shaquille O’Neal, Pistons C BenWallace, Nets G Jason Kidd and Cavaliers G LeBron James, aswell as the “Inside The NBA” team. Thespots parody nursery rhymes, placing the NBAers in settings alongsidechildren. TNT tips off its seasonOctober 28 at 8:00pm ET with Suns-Spurs, followed by Mavericks-Lakers (TNT).
PINACLE EVENTS ASSUMED OWNERSHIP OF PWBA SEPTEMBER 2
TheProfessional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) today announced that it hasceased operations under its present ownership effective September 1, and thatNY-based Pinacle Events assumed ownership September 2, contingent on duediligence. Finalization of theagreement will be announced in the next 30-60 days. Under Pinacle management, the PWBA regional tours continue tostage events in six geographic regions during the transition (PWBA).
WILSON TO CONSULT AEG ON GROWING WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS
WilsonRacquet Sports today agreed with AEG to become the official grassrootsmarketing partner and consultant for the WTA Championships, which will be heldin November at Staples Center in L.A. Wilson will consult AEG on how to grow the event, specifically targetingticket sales. Wilson will conductdealer and teaching pro events prior to and during the WTA Championships. Last year’s six-day event at Staples Centerdrew a disappointing total attendance of 56,863 (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
SportingNews this week features an action shot of Steelers WR Hines Ward on thecover scoring a TD against the Ravens, with the header, “NFL Week 1 … What WeLearned From A Wild Opening Week – And What It Means To You.”
SportsIllustrated this week features an action shot of Bills DT Sam Adams onthe cover returning an interception for a TD against the Patriots, with theheader, “Away We Go … The NFL Is Off And Running.”
ESPNMagazine this week offers its NFL Preview, featuring Bucs LB Derrick Brookson the cover, next to the header, “Who’s Ready? Ask Him, It’s The Bucs. Ask Us, It’s The Bills And Rams.”
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| Sporting News | Sports Illustrated |
NCAAPresident Myles Brand released a statement today following VanderbiltUniv.’s decision to eliminateits athletics department that read in part: “Chancellor Gee and VanderbiltUniversity have made a significant commitment to the concept of integratingintercollegiate athletics with the university’s mission. I applaud them. This is more than an experiment; it is a major shift in thecollegiate sports culture” (NCAA).
CallawayGolf today announced that Exec VP/Manufacturing Bob Penicka will beappointed as Top-Flite President & COO upon the completion of theacquisition of Top-Flite’s assets later this month (Callaway Golf).
NBCtoday announced that Pat O’Brien will host the net’s late night showduring the first week of the ‘04 Olympics in Athens. Dan Hicks, who will do swimming play-by-play during thefirst week, will host NBC’s late night show during the second week ofcompetition (NBC).
TheFalcons today announced that they have redesigned their Web site as part of an overallre-branding initiative. The Falconsutilized 17 of the most active participants on the team’s message board toresearch other Web sites and offer their thoughts for improvements. All content on the site is managed in-houseand is hosted by Chicago-based Sportvision (Falcons).
TheHurricanes and Ticketmaster today announced a multiyear extension to theirexisting ticketing agreement that will include venue and team technologyinstallations. In addition tocontinuing to sell single-game tickets for the team, Ticketmaster will nowhandle all season-ticketing services (Hurricanes).
BLOODHORSEreports that Youbet.com “is poised to launch portable betting in [Q4 ‘03]through wireless technology such as java-enabled cell phones and handheldpersonal computers.” Wireless companyDigital Orchid will distribute the new service, which will be called “YoubetAnywhere” (BLOODHORSE.com,9/10).
TONIGHT’S EVENTS
TheHeat will host an open casting call for the next Heat TV host at CocoWalk inCoconut Grove from 7:00-9:00pm ET. Thehost will conduct in-game promotions, such as celebrity interviews, contestsand fan relation activities, as well as host various events.
CHANNELSURFING
MLBCardinals CF Jim Edmonds will be onthe “Hot Seat” during “SportsCenter” at 6:00pm ET.
ESPNwill air Phillies-Braves at 7:00pmET and Angels-A’s at 10:00pm ET.
ESPN2will air Tigers-Yankees at 7:00pm ETand Rangers-Mariners at 10:00pm ET.
ESPNClassic’s “SportsCentury” will profile the year 1998 at 7:00pm ET and DennyMcLain at 8:00pm ET.
BaseballHOFer Willie Mays, D’Rays manager Lou Piniella and actors Burt Reynolds and David Spade are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”
GMDir of Racing Herb Fishel will be onSpeed Channel’s “Wind Tunnel” with Dave Despain at 9:00pm ET.
HBO willair the season premiere of “Inside TheNFL” at 10:00pm ET.
A&E’s“Biography” will profile JoanCrawford at 8:00pmET.
E!’s“True Hollywood Story” will profile Dr.Phil at 8:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Hereare tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Sharon Stone |
| “The Tonight Show” | Farrah Fawcett |
| “The Late Late Show” | Stephen Dorff |
| “Late Night” | Kate Hudson (r) |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Cheech Marin |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
ThePITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE’s Gerry Dulac previews the inaugural 84 Lumber Classicand profiles the title sponsor’s Owner & Founder Joe Hardy, writing,“At 80, he has not mellowed. Nor has hestopped thinking big. People laughedwhen he said he wanteda PGA Tour event at Mystic Rock, the course he had Pete Dye build for$19[M] in 1995. And they still snickerwhen he says he wants to make the 84 Lumber Classic, now that it has becomereality, into the fifth major” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE).
TheORLANDO SENTINEL’s Alan Schmadtke wrote of the Univ. of Central FL’s efforts toincrease football attendance, “While [head coach Mike] Kruczek’s players lifted weightsin the off-season, ISP Sports, UCF’s sales partner, went recruiting. ISP signed up nearly two dozen corporatesponsors to put on Fan Faire, an official tailgate party and centerpiece of theschool’s event thinking. … That’s one of several changes that affect Knightsfans. Almost all of them are part ofAthletic Director Steve Orsini’s masterplan to build the Knights’ fan and booster bases.” (ORLANDO SENTINEL).
SeeThe Daily Insider’s Articles ofInterest section for more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
Mindbenders: A cowboy rode to an inn onFriday, stayed two nights and left on Friday. How could that be?
IN OTHER NEWS……
BILLBOARDreports that September 24, the day after Dave Matthews releases his RCAsolo debut, “Some Devil,” the Dave Matthews Band will “play a benefit showin ... Central Park that is expected to draw upwards of 100,000people.” Full details will be announced Friday, but AOL is “sponsoringthe show and is using it to hype the newest version of its software, AOL 9.0” (BILLBOARD,9/10).
THE DAILY STAT: PRIMETIME NIELSEN RATINGS
Thefollowing lists the final Nielsen ratings for the top ten primetime shows forthe week of September 1-7. Alsoprovided are the weekly viewership averages for each net (USA TODAY, 9/8).
| RK | PROGRAM | NET | DAY | RAT/SHR | VIEWERS (IN MILLIONS) |
| 1) | NFL Football: Jets-Redskins | ABC | Thu | 12.9/22 | 19.1 |
| 2) | 2003 NFL Showcase | ABC | Thu | 11.0/19 | 17.3 |
| 3) | CSI | CBS | Thu | 9.7/15 | 14.5 |
| 4) | Law & Order | NBC | Wed | 9.6/17 | 13.0 |
| 5) | NFL Football: Falcons-Cowboys (60%) | Fox | Sun | 7.9/16 | 12.3 |
| 5) | Law & Order | NBC | Sun | 8.4/14 | 12.3 |
| 7) | Everybody Loves Raymond | CBS | Mon | 7.7/12 | 11.7 |
| 8) | King of Queens | CBS | Mon | 7.6/12 | 11.4 |
| 9) | CSI: Miami | CBS | Mon | 7.7/13 | 11.2 |
| 9) | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | NBC | Sun | 7.5/12 | 11.2 |
| space |
| NET | VIEWERS |
| NBC | 8.3 |
| CBS | 7.8 |
| ABC | 7.8 |
| Fox | 6.3 |
| UPN | 3.0 |
| WB | 2.9 |
…TODAY’SANSWER
The name of the cowboy’shorse was Friday.
If you have any questions,comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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