| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | Dick Ebersol Says NHL Deal Continues NBC On Track Toward Fiscal Sanity |
| • | Capital One To Break New TV Spot Friday Featuring Randy Johnson |
| • | Coe Today Becomes Face Of London Bid; Cassani Moves Behind The Scenes |
| • | Blackhawks To Reduce Season-Ticket Prices By 10% For All Seating In ’04-05 |
| • | Visa To Become Lead Sponsor Of U.S. Gymnastics Championships Through ‘08 |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
BETTMAN, EBERSOL TODAY COMMENT ON NHL-NBC DEAL
NHLCommissioner Gary Bettman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics Chair DickEbersol and NBC Sports President Ken Schanzer today hosted a conferencecall to discuss the revenue-sharing broadcast agreement between the twoentities. Bettman, on the deal: “Thisis the right deal at the right time with the right party. … It is a partnershipthat we are confident in and that we are excited about.”
Ebersol:“We really believe that NBC can bring a lot to this partnership, not the leastof which is an unbelievable distribution system. … I’d like to take particularnote at this point to thank Kenny, who really has spearheaded not only thisdeal, but so many deals in recent years here that put us on a track towardfiscal sanity. The partnership thatGary has brought to us, I believe both sides will do very well, not only inviewing levels, but more importantly in profits that both sides will take outof this deal” (THE DAILY).
Formore on the NBC-NHL deal, see today’sissue of The Daily.
Meanwhile,ESPN has scheduled a 4:45pm ET conference call, at which time they are expectedto announce a new deal with the NHL (ESPN).
CAPITAL ONE TO BREAK NEW AD FRIDAY STARRING RANDY JOHNSON
CapitalOne today announced that it will break a new 30-second TV spot Friday featuringD’Backs P Randy Johnson, marking the first time the company has used aprofessional athlete in one of its ad campaigns. In the spot, titled “Super Fans,” a trio of fans follows Johnsonfrom city to city by using their Capital One No Hassle Rewards cards. The spot, via McCann Erickson, N.Y., will beintegrated into Capital One’s network and cable media schedule (Capital One).
SEBASTIAN COE, BARBARA CASSANI SWITCH ROLES IN LONDON BID
TheLondon GUARDIAN reports that Sebastian Coe today was appointed London2012 Olympic Chair & President in a “dramatic reshuffle of the board, withthe previous leader Barbara Cassani taking over his role” as ViceChair. Coe will “become the public faceof London’s campaign, while Cassani will concentrate on developing thetechnical aspects of the bid.” Also,CEO Keith Mills will “take on the role of bid president (international)to boost the campaign’s presence overseas” (GUARDIAN.co.uk,5/19).
BLACKHAWKS TO REDUCE TICKET PRICES BY 10% FOR ’04-05 SEASON
TheBlackhawks today announced that they will reduce full season-ticket prices by10% for the ’04-05 season for all levels of seating. Ticket prices have not changed over the past four seasons andhave not seen an increase in seven straight seasons with the exception of 198seats on the glass, about 1% of United Center capacity (Blackhawks).
GRACE PARK DISCUSSES LPGA THIS MORNING ON “COLD PIZZA”
LPGAgolfer Grace Park appeared this morning on ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza,” and wasasked about recent meetings of LPGA golfers upset about LPGA Commissioner TyVotaw’s relationship with Sophie Gustafson. Park: “In my opinion, [he] is doing such agreat job with our tournaments. Sponsors are knocking on our door, our tournament purses are going up,TV ratings are up, we have more spectators watching us. He’s doing all the right things and we’re onthe right track. … Let his personal life be personal” (“Cold Pizza,” ESPN2,5/19).
BUZZER BEATERS
SportingNews this week features Raiders DT Warren Sapp on the cover, with theheader, “Sizing Up The Offseason … What’s The Deal? Every NFL Team Rated And Graded.”
SportsIllustrated this week features Astros P Roger Clemens on the cover, withthe header, “Bringing It Home … The Best Of Times For Roger Clemens.”
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| Sporting News | Sports Illustrated |
BLOOMBERGNEWS reports that Visa will become the “lead sponsor of the U.S. gymnasticschampionships” through ‘08. Visa willrename the event the “Visa Championships” and will be the only credit cardaccepted for ticket purchases. Thecompany also becomes a sponsor of the ’08 U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials (BLOOMBERGNEWS, 5/19).
Asexpected, the ACC, Jefferson-Pilot Sports and Raycom Sports today announced anew seven-year deal giving Raycom/JP Sports the TV syndication rights to ACCfootball games through the 2010 season (Raycom Sports).
TNTSenior VP Jeff Behnke said that the net will use 13 cameras, “three morethan normal, and add Steve Kerr to the studio” for tonight’sKings-T’Wolves Game Seven (USA TODAY, 5/19).
After meeting yesterday with the Wild front office andtheir corporate sponsors, NHL Exec VP & CLO Bill Daly said of labornegotiations, “I continue to believe even if you’re getting together andmaking no progress, it’s better than not getting together at all. I’m not sure the [NHLPA] shares my view onthis.” A new round of talks istentatively scheduled in the host city for the first two games of the StanleyCup finals (ST.PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/19).
DolphinsOwner Wayne Huizenga, who controlsPro Player Stadium, indicated that the Marlins would be “wasting their time bytrying to persuade the state legislature to reallocate a $30[M] state sales taxrebate previously earmarked for baseball at Pro Player Stadium.” Huizenga: “We’ve already spent the money andmade all the stadium modifications” (MIAMIHERALD, 5/19).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
GiantsQB Jesse Palmer, on which of the remaining two women his teammates hopehe chooses during tonight’s “The Bachelor” finale: “It’s probably almost aneven split in the locker room right now.” On whether he is looking forward to the show ending so he can returnto football: “We’ve been back now kind of at it for about twomonths” ("Good Morning America," ABC, 5/19).
TONIGHT’S EVENTS
ESPNDeportes will host an event from 5:30-8:30pm ET at ESPN Zone in N.Y. tointroduce the net’s talent to the media.
TheBraves will honor team photographer WalterVictor during a ceremony before their 7:05pm ET game against the D’Backs atTurner Field. The team will name thecamera well beside the home dugout in Victor’s honor (ATLANTACONSTITUTION, 5/19).
TheSharks will host a viewing party at HP Pavilion beginning at 6:00pm PT for GameSix against the Flames.
CHANNEL SURFING
NBAKings co-Owners Joe and Gavin Maloof will appear on FSN’s “I,Max” at 6:00pm local time.
ESPN2will air Giants-Cubs at 7:00pm ETand Yankees-Angels at 10:00pm.
ESPNClassic’s “SportsCentury” will profile JimmyPiersall at 8:00pm ET.
TNT will air the NBA playoffs: Kings-T’WolvesGame Seven at 8:30pm ET.
Boxer Antonio Tarver,sprinter Maurice Greene,Univ. of Arizona football coach MikeStoops, chef Rocco DiSpirito and director Garry Marshall are scheduled to appear onFSN’s “BDSSP.”
ESPNwill air the NHL Western Conference Finals: Sharks-Flames Game Six at9:00pm ET.
ESPNClassic will air “25 Years of Sailing”at 9:00pm ET.
SMI/Lowe’sMotor Speedway President Humpy Wheeler will appear on Speed Channel’s “WindTunnel” at 10:00pm ET.
A&E’s“Biography” will profile ChristinaOnassis at 8:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Hereare tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Kiefer Sutherland |
| “The Tonight Show” | Laura Bush |
| “The Late Late Show” | Marg Helgenberger |
| “Late Night” | Charlie Sheen |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Sara Rue |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
TheWASHINGTON POST’s Liz Clarke writes of upcoming changes in NASCAR’s Nextel CupSeries, “Among the likely developments, according to motorsports analysts andpromoters: The disappearance of Martinsville Speedway from the Nextel Cupcircuit and the demise of short-track racing in general; new superspeedwaysnear Seattle and metropolitan [N.Y.], followed by a NASCAR race in Mexico City;and a healthier bottom line for the two companies [ISC and SMI] that own thebulk of the tracks on NASCAR’s Nextel Cup circuit” (WASHINGTON POST).
TheN.Y. DAILY NEWS’ Mike Lupica writes of T’Wolves F Kevin Garnett comparing Kings-T’Wolves Game Seven to war, whichincluded references to Uzis, M-16s, grenades and missiles, “The league didn’tdo anything about it. Nobody expectedthe league to do anything. Garnett isone of their big guys, a good guy, just voted the best player. In The Year of Kobe, David Stern wantsno trouble with Kevin Garnett. Sternmicro-manages everything, but sits this one out” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS).
- WithNHL deal, NBC continues to avoid precipitous sports rights fees.
- Alook at C$45M Rexall Centre, Tennis Canada’s new home.
- ESPNbelieves GreatOutdoorGames V will surpass previous competitions.
- NewNCAA academic guidelines sparking debate among administrators.
SeeThe Daily Insider’s Articles ofInterest section for more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
Mindbenders: What has a foot on eachside and one in the middle?
IN OTHERNEWS……
TELEVISIONWEEK reports that CBS is “removing a key distinction between ‘60 Minutes’ and its six-season-oldspinoff, ‘60 Minutes II.’ The CBSnewsmagazine’s Sunday and Wednesday editions both will be known as ‘60 Minutes’by the time the 2004-2005 season launches in fall” (TVWEEK.com, 5/19).
TheATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports that The Home Depot profits jumped 21% in Q1 ’04as the “robust housing and remodeling market fueled sales of appliances,flooring and ceiling fans.” For thequarter, The Home Depot recorded a profit of $1.1B, up from $907M a yearearlier. Sales increased 16% to$17.55B, compared with $15.1B in the year ago period. Same-store sales, or results at stores open a year or more,increased 7.7% (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/19).
THE DAILY STAT: PRIMETIME NIELSEN RATINGS
Thefollowing lists the final Nielsen ratings for the top ten primetime shows forthe week of May 10-16 (TV.YAHOO.com, 5/19).
| RK | SHOW | NET | DAY | RAT/SHR | HHs (IN MILLIONS) |
| 1) | Frasier | NBC | Thu | 16.3/25 | 17.7 |
| 2) | ER | NBC | Thu | 15.7/25 | 17.0 |
| 3) | CSI | CBS | Thu | 14.2/22 | 15.4 |
| 4) | American Idol | Fox | Tues | 13.7/23 | 14.8 |
| 5) | American Idol | Fox | Wed | 13.7/21 | 14.8 |
| 6) | CSI: Miami | CBS | Mon | 13.5/22 | 14.6 |
| 7) | Frasier Clipshow Special | NBC | Thu | 11.8/20 | 12.8 |
| 8) | Without A Trace | CBS | Thu | 11.7/19 | 12.7 |
| 9) | Survivor: All-Stars | CBS | Thu | 11.6/19 | 12.6 |
| 10) | Everybody Loves Raymond | CBS | Mon | 11.0/17 | 11.9 |
…TODAY’S ANSWER
A yardstick
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