Closing Bell, August 23, 2004

NEWS FROM ATHENS, DAY 11: WILL RATINGS SUCCESSCONTINUE?

With Olympics gymnasticsfinishing tonight and tomorrow, MEDIA LIFE notes of NBC’s ratings, “Athens hasalready built a healthy lead on Sydney 2000 and is on pace to outperform NBC’spromises to advertisers, reportedly somewhere in the 14.0-14.5 household ratingrange for primetime.” If the final fivedays “draw about equal to Sydney, which averaged a 13.8 primetime householdrating, that will still put Athens safely ahead” (MEDIALIFE, 8/23 issue).

NBC’s primetime coveragetonight will highlight track and field, gymnastics and beach volleyball. Click here for a listing ofevents across the NBC Universal networks.

McDonald’s today announcedthat its three AthensOlympic venue restaurants have exceeded predicted sales by more than 40%. The company’s salads have sold three timesthe anticipated number during the first week of the Games (McDonald’s).

USOC Chief CommunicationsOfficer Darryl Seibel said todaythat the USOC, after speaking with members of the South Korean OlympicCommittee is “trying to find an ‘equitable solution’” to the controversy overU.S. gymnast Paul Hamm’s Gold Medalin the all-around competition.  The USOC “would consider supporting SouthKorea's bid to pursue a duplicate gold medal for one of its gymnasts to make upfor the scoring error that gave American Paul Hamm the all-around title” (AP, 8/23).

CITY OF CHICAGO GIVES CUBS THE GREEN LIGHT FORTONIGHT’S GAME

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE notesthat Chicago Building Commissioner StanKaderbek today announced that tonight’s Brewers-Cubs game at Wrigley Fieldwill be played as scheduled. Kaderbekhad “threatened to close the ballpark, saying he had reason to believe somemaintenance work” on the venue since ’01 “had been performed poorly” (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com,8/23).

NIKE MOVING N.Y. HQS TO92,000-SQUARE-FOOT WEST CHELSEA SPACE

CRAIN’S N.Y. BUSINESS reportsthat Nike is moving its N.Y. HQs to 111 Eighth Avenue at West 15^th Street. Nike signed a ten-year lease for 92,000 squarefeet of space. Byrnam Wood represented Nike, while landlord Taconic InvestmentPartners represented itself. Averageasking rents in the building are $38 per square foot. Nike currently has a 51,000-square-foot spaceat 620 Sixth Avenue(CRAIN’S N.Y.BUSINESS, 8/23).

ESPN DEBUTING LATEST SCRIPTED DRAMASERIES, “TILT,” IN JANUARY

ESPN today announced it willdebut its next scripted dramatic series, “Tilt,” Thursday at 9:00pm ET onJanuary 13. The show will explorebehind-the-scenes action at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. “Rounders” writers BrianKoppelman and David Levien wroteand will direct the pilot episode, as well as serve as exec producers and writeselect episodes for the show (ESPN).

BUZZER BEATERS

Pony Int’l today inked amultiyear endorsement deal with 18-year-old female tennis player Sunitha Rao. Financial terms of the agreement were notdisclosed (Pony).

The Des Moines expansion AHL franchise today unveiledits name, the Iowa Stars, and logo, as well as a five-year affiliationagreement with the Stars, beginning with the ’05-06 season. The club, which is owned by former Penguins& Whalers Owner Howard Baldwinand Bob Schlegel, will play at WellsFargo Arena (Iowa Stars).

Speed Channel today unveiledplans for a reality drag-racing show, “Pinks,” set to debut in February’05. The show will pit contestants in abest two-out-of-three format, with the loser handing over the title, or pinkslip, to his/her vehicle (Speed Channel).

CHANNEL SURFING

NBC’s “Nightly News” willprofile U.S. wrestler Patricia Miranda and interview U.S. softball PJennie Finch at 6:30pm ET.

ABC will air NFL preseason: Rams-Chiefs at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN will air Twins-Rangers at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN Classic’s“SportsCentury” will profile Mia Hammat 8:00pm ET.

ESPN’s “OTL Nightly” willexamine judging errors in sports at midnight ET.

HEADLINERS

Here are tonight’s headlineguests on the following talk shows:

TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST

The L.A. TIMES’ Meg James writes, “With Disneyexecutives under pressure to prove to Wall Street that they can reverse thefortunes of the fourth-placenetwork and turn a profit by next year, they must decide whether thebenefits of ‘Monday Night Football’ outweigh the financial losses. … ABC, whichanalysts say is losing about $250 million a year, $150[M] of that from ‘MondayNight Football,’ might be hard-pressed to swallow another gargantuan NFL feeincrease — even though the program has been the network's top-rated show forthe last three seasons” (L.A. TIMES).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s GailSchiller writes, “Rather than just interspersingfootage from a show and a typical commercial, ESPN recently produced aspecially designed comedic spot with an originalstory line that promoted both Wendy's and its ‘SportsCenter’ news program.The spot featured three professional athletes making their way to ESPNheadquarters in Bristol, Conn., to try out for the job of ‘SportsCenter’ anchorwhile weaving in shots of Wendy's and dialogue alluding to the hamburger chainand some of its products” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER).

• Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez is big business at almost every turn.
• Fantasy football leagues attracting top dollars from advertisers.
• Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki is the woman Greeks love to hate.
• Gymnastics judging embarrassment not the first, and certainly not the last.

SeeThe Daily Insider’s Articles ofInterest section for more sports business-related links.

TODAY’S TEASER…

Sports: Which country won the lastGold Medal for tug of war at the Olympics?

THE DAILYSTAT: ATHENSOLYMPICS MEDAL COUNT

The following presents amedal count for the Athens Olympics as of 3:00pm ET:

…TODAY’S ANSWER

England, in 1920.

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

The Closing Bell providesan afternoon recap of the latest news and headlines each Monday through Fridayat approximately 4:00pm ET. If you would like to sign up for an e-mail alert tothe Closing Bell, go to MyAccount and personalize your e-mail alert options.