| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | Octagon/Street & Smith’s Sports Group World Congress Of Sports Begins |
| • | David Beckham Gets His Own Logo In Extension With Adidas Through ‘08 |
| • | ESPN And NCTC Announce Multiple Long-Term Distribution Agreements |
| • | Cavaliers To Distribute 10,000 LeBron Bobbleheads Before Tonight’s Game |
| • | NHL Announces Blues As Winner Of League’s Marketing & Advertising Award |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
WORLD CONGRESS OF SPORTS KICKS OFF IN NEWPORT BEACH
 |
| Mark Burnett And Dick Ebersol
Chat Before The Morning Sessions |
Mark Burnett, creator of such reality TV hits as “Survivor” and “The Apprentice,” delivered the opening keynote address this morning at the Octagon/Street & Smith’s Sports Group World Congress of Sports at the Four Seasons hotel in Newport Beach, California. Burnett discussed his upcoming NBC boxing reality series, “The Contender,” which involves Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg and Sylvester Stallone as partners: Burnett: “It is reinvention of one of my biggest loves, boxing, which I think needs reinventing.” More Burnett: “I think it is going to be huge. I look for opportunities. I think boxing is a sport where the largest sponsors in the world are like, ‘Stay away.’ However, if it is clean and transparent, the upside is massive.”
Noting that sports ratings are generally “trending downward,” Burnett attributed the few bright spots, such as his favorite team, the Lakers, to people continuing to be drawn to great characters. Burnett called the acquisition of Karl Malone and Gary Payton a “stroke of genius. We fans want to see the legends play.” Burnett added, “Just pure sports is not going to deliver massive ratings. Story, story, story. I am a living example. I now, quite frankly, am reinventing Thursday nights. Who would have believed that I would be pushing off sitcoms on Thursday night with ‘The Apprentice?’ If you would have told people that five years ago, they would have laughed their asses off” (THE DAILY).
DAVID BECKHAM GETS HIS OWN LOGO IN EXTENSION WITH ADIDAS
The AP reports that Real Madrid MF David Beckham today “unveiled his new logo with adidas” and announced that he has “extended his contract with the German shoe company until 2008.” Beckham’s logo will be “used on a specially designed collection of adidas products.” The logo was inspired by the image of Beckham taking a free kick (AP, 3/3).
ESPN, NCTC ANNOUNCE LONG-TERM DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS
ESPN and the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), a purchasing cooperative for over 6,500 independent cable systems, today announced that the two organizations have signed multiple, long-term distribution agreements for ESPN networks and services. In a statement, NCTC President & CEO Michael Pandzik noted the fee increase in the deal is lower than the annual increases of recent years. NCTC represents more than 1,200 independent cable operators across the U.S., and their 6,500 individual systems provide cable service to more than 15 million U.S. subscribers (ESPN).
CAVALIERS TO DISTRIBUTE 10,000 LEBRON BOBBLEHEADS TONIGHT
The Cavalierswill distribute 10,000 LeBron James collectible bobblehead dolls prior to their 7:00pm ET game against the Hawks at Gund Arena, and the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER noted that the dolls arrived at Gund Arena Monday “in an armored car protected by pistol-wielding guards” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/2).
The Cavaliers today announced that the game is sold out, marking the eighth sellout of the season. The capacity crowd of 20,562 will bring the club’s average attendance to 17,614 (Cavaliers).
NHL TODAY ANNOUNCES BLUES AS WINNER OF MARKETING AWARD
The Blues today announced that the franchise has won the NHL’s Outstanding Club Marketing Campaign Award for the ’03-04 season for its retro themed effort. The honor marks the second time in three seasons the Blues have won the award, as its “Bleed Blue” campaign won the inaugural award in ’01-02. A panel of judges comprised of The Daily, several North American ad agencies and consultants and NHL Enterprises reviewed the campaigns. The Wild, Coyotes, Thrashers and Maple Leafs joined the Blues as finalists for the distinction (Blues).
ASTRAZENECA BECOMES OFFICIAL PGA TOUR, CHAMPIONS TOUR PARTNER
Healthcare company AstraZeneca today announced that it has entered into a multiyear sponsorship with the PGA Tour for its new cholesterol-lowering medication Crestor to become an official partner with the PGA Tour and Champions Tour. The company will donate approximately $3M each year to designated health care and PGA Tour charities. The agreement also includes an on-site component at select events featuring an interactive exhibit. Additionally, AstraZeneca and Crestor will sponsor the PGA Tour year-end charity special, which is scheduled to air on ABC December 18. AstraZeneca has been a PGA Tour sponsor for two years (AstraZeneca).
BUZZER BEATERS
Sporting News this week features Michael Jordan on the cover in a Trail Blazers uniform, with the header, “What If?”
Sports Illustrated this week features Lincoln High School G Sebastian Telfair on the cover, with the header, “Watch Me Now.”
ESPN The Magazine this week features Marlins LF Miguel Cabrera on the cover, with the header, “Fantasy Time.”
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| Sporting News | Sports Illustrated |
Roush Racing today announced that Hot Wheels will serve as the primary sponsor for the No. 99 Ford driven by Jeff Burton at the March 21 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway (Roush Racing).
On Sporting News Radio’s “Rick Ballou Show” last night, former Pirates OF and Barry Bonds teammate Andy Van Slyke said of steroid allegations surrounding Bonds: “Unequivocally, he’s taken them, without equivocation he’s taken them. I can say that with utmost certainty.” Van Slyke later added that he “never saw him put it into his body” (Sporting News Radio).
CBS MARKETWATCH reports that Footstar has “filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following a costly accounting problem and declining sales to key customer Kmart.” The company operates Footaction and Just for Feet stores (CBSMARKETWATCH.com, 3/3).
Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim yesterday said that the competition to land the Expos “may be down to a three-city race.” Fraim: “The information we’re getting from [MLB], while it comes in drabs, is very encouraging.” Though Fraim would not name the other two cities, he “implied that Monterrey” is one (VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 3/3).
Team Sports Entertainment today announced that four shareholders – Robert Wussler, William Wortman, Stephan Cass and Sherrie Farrugia – have filed suit in Fulton County (GA) Superior Court against the company’s former CEO William Miller, alleging breach of contract, wrongful conversion of company funds, mismanagement, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. The company intended to launch Team Racing Auto Circuit in ‘03 (Team Sports Entertainment).
Wachovia Cycling Series producers Threshold Sports today announced that Subaru will be the official vehicle of the ’04 series in Lancaster, PA; Trenton, NJ; and Philadelphia June 1-6. Subaru vehicles will serve as pace cars, and the company will sponsor the Subaru Master the Mountain challenge June 6 (Threshold Sports).
TONIGHT’S EVENTS
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, Jackie Robinson Foundation Chair Len Coleman and Robinson’s daughter Sharon will unveil a program honoring Jackie Robinson during a 4:30pm ET conference call.
CHANNEL SURFING
Pacers C Jermaine O’Neal will be on the “Hot Seat” during ESPN’s “SportsCenter” at 6:00pm ET.
Part four of ESPN’s five-part “Sex and Sports” series will examine sex and recruiting during the 6:00pm edition of “SportsCenter.”
ESPN will air NCAA men’s basketball: Georgia Tech-Duke at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air NCAA men’s basketball: Missouri-Texas Tech at 7:30pm ET.
ESPN Classic’s “SportsCentury” will profile Jim Craig at 8:00pm ET.
ESPN will air Lakers-Rockets at 9:00pm ET.
Travel Channel will air World Poker Tour’s Borgata Poker Open at 9:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air Canucks-Avalanche at 9:30pm ET.
Former NFLer Jamal Anderson, boxing promoter Don King, former basketball coach Dean Smith, NASCAR driver Kurt Busch and rappers Jermaine Dupri and J-Kwon are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”
ESPN’s “OTL Nightly” will examine basketball players jumping to the NBA while still in high school at 12:30am ET on ESPN.
NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon will appear on CBS’ “The Late Late Show” at 12:35am ET.
A&E’s “Biography” will profile the Genovese Crime Family at 8:00pm ET.
E!’s “True Hollywood Story” will profile the Hilton Sisters at 8:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Ben Stiller |
| “The Tonight Show” | Carmen Electra |
| “The Late Late Show” | Jeff Gordon |
| “Late Night” | Snoop Dogg |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Molly Simms |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL’s Sarah Talalay writes of the Heat and NHL Panthers, “As Heat and Panthers players make their final pushes for the postseason, the teams' business offices are taking different approaches to attempt to fill their arenas. Heat players and executives are spending time in the community, paying tolls, pumping gas and serving as ushers and concession sales people at a movie theater. … The Panthers have focused on discounted tickets, special offers and occasionally a postgame player autograph” (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL).
The WASHINGTON TIMES’ Eric Fisher writes, “In the last three months, star athletes such as [Jaromir] Jagr, Alex Rodriguez, Peter Bondra, Robert Lang, Greg Maddux, Alfonso Soriano, Rasheed Wallace, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte have all changed teams. And in their wake are literally tens of thousands of jerseys, hats, T-shirts and other apparel bearing their name or likeness in their old team logos and colors, items now unwanted by most fans and aggressively discounted in price by nervous retailers” (WASHINGTON TIMES).
See The Daily Insider’s Articles of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
Mindbenders: What has a neck and two arms, but does not have a head or hands?
IN OTHER NEWS……
MSNBC's Tom Costello reported that at Disney''s annual meeting in Philadelphia today, 43% of shareholders withheld support for the re-election of CEO Michael Eisner to the BOD. Costello called the vote a "staggering" show of no confidence (MSNBC, 3/3).
THE DAILY STAT: PRIMETIME NIELSEN RATINGS
The following lists the final Nielsen ratings for the top ten primetime shows for the week of February 23-29 (TV.YAHOO.com, 3/3).
| RK | PROGRAM | NET | DAY | RAT/SHR | HHS (IN MILLIONS) |
| 1) | Academy Awards | ABC | Sun | 26.0/40 | 28.2 |
| 2) | Countdown to Oscars 2004 | ABC | Sun | 17.3/27 | 18.7 |
| 3) | CSI | CBS | Thu | 17.1/25 | 18.5 |
| 4) | American Idol | Fox | Tue | 15.0/23 | 16.3 |
| 5) | Friends | NBC | Thu | 14.6/22 | 15.8 |
| 6) | ER | NBC | Thu | 14.3/23 | 15.5 |
| 7) | CSI: Miami | CBS | Mon | 13.2/21 | 14.3 |
| 8) | American Idol | Fox | Wed | 12.9/20 | 14.0 |
| 9) | Survivor: All-Stars | CBS | Thu | 12.9/19 | 13.9 |
| 10) | The Apprentice | NBC | Thu | 12.5/18 | 13.6 |
…TODAY’S ANSWER
A shirt.
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