Closing Bell, October 24, 2003

GAO REPORT SAYS A LA CARTE CABLE NOT UNIFORMLY POSITIVE

MUTLICHANNEL NEWS writes that a General Accounting Officereport released today “concluded that retail cable rates have risen due to anumber of factors and that the sale of programming on an a la carte basis wouldnot be a uniformly positive development.”
The report reads in part, “An a la carte approach would facilitate moresubscriber choice but require additional technology and customer service.  Additionally, cable networks
could lose advertising revenue.  As aresult, some subscribers’ bills might
decline but others might increase” (MULTICHANNELNEWS.com,10/24).

In response to the report, ABC Sports/ESPN President GeorgeBodenheimer issued this statement today, “We are heartened to see the GAOconfirm that FCC data blaming program costs may be flawed, that a-la-carte isnot a panacea and that competition is better than regulation” (ESPN).

MOTOROLA AND AT&T TEAMING FOR PRO BOWL BALLOTING ACTIVATION

By Terry Lefton,Editor-at-Large, The Sports Business Daily

NFL Telecom sponsor Motorola and AT&T Wireless aresponsoring this year’s balloting for the Pro Bowl.  Voting for the game, which will be held in Honolulu on February7, can be done on NFL.com or, starting today, through November 30 at the morethan 1,000 AT&T Wireless stores nationwide.  Voting can also be done via text messaging, using a combinationof AT&T Wireless service and a Motorola handset.  A Motorola-entitled sweepstakes overlay sees the league offeringfour trips for two to the Pro Bowl. Anyone voting at AT&T Wireless stores or via text messaging isentered in the sweeps.  The winners willbe announced December 18 on ESPN’s Pro Bowl Selection Show.  The AFC and NFC squads are selected by votesof fans, players and coaches, with each group’s vote counting equally.

BREEDERS’ CUP COVERAGE ON NBC TO INCLUDE KRONE FEATURE

NBC will air the Breeders’ Cup World ThoroughbredChampionships at Santa Anita Park tomorrow from 1:00-6:00pm ET, and the BOSTONHERALD notes that Producer David Michaels “promises to fill between races with stories on Hall of Fame trainer BobbyFrankel and the comebacks of Julie Krone and Gary Stevens” (BOSTONHERALD, 10/24).  Michaels: “Allweek long we have been following Julie Krone around, who is destined to be oneof the big stories of the day” (NBC).

Oak Tree Racing Association tonight will host the Breeders’Cup Charity Gala at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena.  Live auction items include five hours offlying time on a NetJets private aircraft as well as getaway packages to DelMar, Saratoga, Lone Star Park and Bally’s Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.  Proceeds benefit the Grayson-Jockey ClubResearch Foundation, NTRA Charities and Kids to the Cup.

In L.A., T.J. Simers writes that the NTRA “will add $1,000to the charity that gets $500 from the loser of Saturday’s TVG/Page 2 pickingcontest,” between Simers and TVG broadcaster Frank Lyons.  Simers is picking for the benefit of theMattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA.  Themoney will come from Simers and not the L.A. Times.  Simers’ pick in the Classic is Congaree, while Lyons picksPerfect Drift (L.A.TIMES, 10/24).

“VIRTUAL CADDY” TO GRAPHICALLY PRESENT PGA TOUR STATISTICS

USA TODAY notes that “Virtual Caddy” graphics will appear oncoverage of the PGA Tour Funai Classic on ESPN and ABC.  The technology, developed by Sportvision,“draws on mountains of statistics generated by the PGA Tour.  Those stats, collected by researcherswielding handheld devices, include information about every Tour shot – from howfar each was hit to where each landed. As a golfer lines up a 15-footer, you might see the percentage ofplayers who holed in from about that distance. Or see the percentage of putts that particular player holed from thatdistance all season” (USA TODAY,10/24).

The ORLANDO SENTINEL notes of final-round coverage,beginning Sunday at 3:00pm ET, “becauseof the shift to standard time, the tee times will start earlier than normal,and ABC’s coverage will include little live material” (ORLANDOSENTINEL, 10/24).

NBA KINGS APPROACH SEASON WITHOUT LOCAL CABLE TV CONTRACT

The SACRAMENTO BEE reports that less than a week before the NBA season starts, the Kings“are still without a local cable TV contract. And team president John Thomas is sounding more pessimistic thanever about getting a deal done soon – if at all.”  Thomas: “We’re not confident that something will get done thisseason.  But we’re still veryhopeful.”  Last season, 67 of the team’s82 games were televised in Sacramento on a combination of over-the-air outlets,regional cable channels and national cable networks.   Currently, 38 games are scheduled to air in the market (SACRAMENTOBEE, 10/24).

TWO BRITISH OFFICES TO CHALLENGE EU ON PREMIER LEAGUE DEAL

The London TELEGRAPHreports that the British Foreign Office and Department of Culture, Media& Sport “are poised to challenge the European Commission and argue thatsport, currently under scrutiny by the European Union competition authorities,deserves to be granted special status which would, in turn, help the PremierLeague hold on to their [$1.69B] deal with Sky.”  The move comes as the EU investigates “whether the PremierLeague’s proposed deal with Sky breaches European competition rules” (LondonTELEGRAPH, 10/24).

CITY AUTHORITY AWARDS CONTRACT FOR HEINZ FIELD ESCALATORS

The PITTSBURGHPOST-GAZETTE reports that the city-county Sports & ExhibitionAuthority board voted yesterday “to award a $754,985 contract to SchindlerElevator Corp. to install escalators in the northeast corner” of HeinzField.  Steelers Exec Dir of StadiumManagement Jimmie Sacco estimated the project’s total cost “at severalmillion dollars.  The Steelers will useprivate seat license revenue to cover most of the costs.  Any shortfalls will be made up by the team”(PITTSBURGHPOST-GAZETTE, 10/24).

FORMER GATOR HOOPS PLAYER’S SUIT AGAINST NIKE TO GO TO TRIAL

The GAINESVILLE SUNreports that the lawsuit filed by former Florida basketball player Brent Wright againstNike will go to trial in August.  Wrightis seeking “damages of more than $75,000 after his Nike Maxair shoe ripped openduring a game against Mississippi” in 01. The suit, which has been moved from circuit court to federal court,claims that the defective shoe “caused permanent damage to Wright’s right footlimiting his earning capacity as a professional basketball player” (GAINESVILLESUN, 10/24).

BUZZER BEATERS

The S.F. CHRONICLE reports that authorities investigating BALCO contacted Raiders C BarretRobbins.  A source would not confirm that Robbins “had been subpoenaed totestify as a witness, only that he had been contacted” (S.F.CHRONICLE, 10/24).

The CP reported that the CFL “still owes nearly $750,000 to the NFL as part of a development fundcreated by the two organizations in ‘99. The fund called for both the CFL and NFL to contribute $800,000 USapiece towards funding programs focusing on grass-roots initiatives, education,coaching and general infrastructure in Canada.”  While the NFL has met its obligations, the CFL “has contributedjust $55,000” (CP,10/23).

The ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS reports that Sen. Ben NighthorseCampbell (R-CO) “is undergoing regular radiation treatments related toprostate cancer” (ROCKYMOUNTAIN NEWS, 10/24).

The L.A. TIMES reports that the NHL Kings and FSN West “havebeen trying various things to draw more viewers to telecasts.”  For Saturday night’s game against theBlackhawks, referee Kerry Fraser “will wear a microphone, which shouldpick up some interesting conversations” (L.A.TIMES, 10/24).

The AP reports that theOR Court of Appeals has ruled against a convicted kidnapper and rapist “whosought pain and suffering damages because prison officials took away hisorthopedic Nike shoes” (AP, 10/24).

WEEKEND EVENTS

The NHL Panthers will host Breast Cancer Awareness Night duringtheir 7:30pm ET game against the Wild. Pink ribbons will be distributed to all fans in attendance.

Soldier Field will host its two-day “Scary, Scary Nights”event beginning at 5:00pm CT.  Inaddition to a traditional carnival at the stadium’s festival area, “Psycho”will be shown on the stadium’s two video screens at 7:30pm.  The event opens Saturday at 2:00pm, with thesame movie show time.

The Lakers and Kings will play an NBA preseason game at7:30pm PT at the sold-out Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, and the LASVEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL notes that with Kobe Bryant expected to play,“interest has grown for the game.  What few of the 18,500 tickets that remainedwere scooped up last week.  Ticketbrokers are getting five to six times the face value of an $82 lower bowlticket” (LASVEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/24).

Former Nebraska QB and Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouchwill be the game analyst for the PPV telecast of the Iowa St.-Nebraska game at11:40am CT.

The T’Wolves will host Fan Jam from noon-3:00pm CT at TargetCenter.  In addition to an intra-squadscrimmage, the event includes interactive games, face painting and otherchildren’s activities.

Guernsey’s AuctionHouse in association with Hunt Auctions will host The Sports Immortals Auctionat the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City.  Items in the collection include JoeFrazier’s contract from the “Thrilla In Manila” bout against MuhammadAli, the five-acre PAmountaintop site where Ali trained for many of his bouts and game uniforms fromWillie Mays and Stan Musial. View the catalogue.

The Astros will beginSpanish-language tours of Minute Maid Park at 11:00am CT, becoming the fifthteam in MLB to offer regularly scheduled tours in a language other thanEnglish.  The Spanish-language tourswill be offered every Saturday at 11:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm.

Time Warner willlaunch its new Wisconsin On Demand channel at a customer appreciation event atMiller Park.  The channel, which willuse VOD technology, “is lining up an impressive array of programming,including two sports shows not airing locally: ‘The Barry Alvarez Show’ and theGreen Bay Packer-produced ‘GTV,’ aimed at younger fans” (MILWAUKEEJOUNRAL SENTINEL, 10/24).

The Heat will host “Meet the Heat” from 11:00am-2:00pm ET atAmericanAirlines Arena, where Heat players will sign autographs prior to theteam’s only open-to-the-public scrimmage of the year.  Office Depot is presenting sponsor of the event.

A fanwill replace Carrot Top on the hood of Ken Schrader’s car for theBass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.  IL native Robert Underwood won a consumer-promotioncontest to get his face on the 1-800-CALL-ATT Dodge (DALLASMORNING NEWS, 10/23).

BobCostas will emceethe Jim Murray Scholars-Chris McCarron Awards dinner at the Beverly HiltonHotel, beginning at 7:00pm PT.  RoyFirestone will speak at the event (L.A.TIMES, 10/24).

CHANNEL SURFING

ESPN Classic will air “RivalryRenewed,” which will examine the recent Red Sox-Yankees ALCS at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN will air NBA preseason: Spurs-Rockets at 8:00pm ET and Lakers-Kingsat 10:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air high school football: Evangel Christian Academy-De La Salle at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN Classic’s “SportsCentury” will profile the book “Ball Four” at 8:00pm ET.

Members of the Single-A NY-Penn League Vermont Expos and BrooklynCyclones will appear on TLC’s “WhileYou Were Out” at 9:00pm ET.

NFL HOFer Jim Brown,Redskins CB Champ Bailey and actors Ernie Hudson and Danny Nucci are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”

ESPN will air “CollegeGameDay” from Bowling Green Univ.’sDoyt Perry Stadium at 10:30am ET.

NBC will air the Breeders’Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at 1:00pm ET.

TNT will air the NASCAR Busch Series Aaron’s 312 at 1:00pm ET.

ESPN will air third round coverage of the PGA Tour Funai Classic at the Walt Disney Resortat 4:00pm ET.

Fox will air Marlins-YankeesWorld Series Game Six at 7:30pm ET.

Sunday

ESPN’s “Outside TheLines” will profile former MLBer WillieMays Aikens at 9:30am ET.

NBC will air the NASCAR Winston Cup Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at 12:30pm ET.

ESPN will air part two of “The Season: Roger Clemens” at 2:30pm ET.

ABC will air final-round coverage of the PGA Tour Funai Classic at the Walt Disney Resortat 3:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air MLS Fire-Crewat 4:00pm ET.

NBC will air coverage of the Gravity Games at 4:30pm ET.

Fox will air Marlins-YankeesWorld Series Game Seven (if necessary) at 7:30pm ET.

TODAY’S TEASER…

General: Name the ’77 spoof that featured the Kung-Fuparody “A Fistful Of Yen” and others, such as “Catholic School Girls InTrouble” and “Danger Seekers.”

THE DAILY STAT: TOP TEN U.S. AD SPENDERS FOR FIRST HALF OF ‘03

The following presents the top ten U.S. ad spenders for thefirst half of ’03, in billions of dollars, according to TNS MediaIntelligence/CMR (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/15):

CRITICS WEIGH IN: “RADIO” & “SCARY MOVIE 3”

Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ed Harris star in “Radio” as amentally challenged man in a small South Carolina town and the football coachwho mentored him and encouraged him to become the team’s morale booster.  The “Scary Movie” series continues with aslew of new cast members (Charlie Sheen, Leslie Nielsen, PamelaAnderson) and new movies to spoof like “The Ring” and “Signs:.”

…TODAY’S ANSWER

“Kentucky Fried Movie” – David Zucker, who co-wrotethe film with Jim Abrahams, directed and produced “Scary Movie 3.”

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

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