| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Tuesday, November 9, 2004
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | DC Council Chair Linda Cropp Tables Mayor’s Ballpark Financing Proposal |
| • | Highlights From Today’s Sports Media & Technology 2004 Conference Sessions |
| • | Michael Phelps’ Sponsors Respond To Swimming Sensation’s Arrest Last Week |
| • | MLS Earthquakes Today Announce Plans To Stay In Bay Area For 2005 Season |
| • | Nuggets F Carmelo Anthony Headlining New Jordan Brand Campaign |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
DC COUNCIL CHAIR TABLES VOTE ON MAYOR’S BALLPARK PROPOSAL
The WASHINGTON POST reports that DC Council Chair Linda Cropp this morning tabled for two weeks Mayor Anthony Williams’ proposal to build a ballpark for the Expos along the Anacostia Waterfront, “announcing that she has a new plan that could provide up to $350[M] in private funding for the project.” When Cropp “could not secure a majority of votes to table the bill, she exercised her right to set the council’s agenda and removed the item” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 11/9).
STREET & SMITH’S SPORTS MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY 2004 HIGHLIGHTS
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| Bodenheimer Opens Conference |
Street & Smith’s Sports Group’s Sports Media & Technology 2004 conference began this morning at the InterContinental Barclay New York.
ESPN/ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer delivered the opening keynote address. Bodenheimer, on competition: “We are now living in a world where competition goes well beyond television. It now includes mediums not even remotely available when my oldest child was born just 17 years ago: wireless, video games, broadband, the Internet, video on PCs, and a plethora of niche and general interest print outlets.”
“Having a collection of multimedia assets is really the price of admission to the game going forward.” Bodenheimer continued, “Sports fans want what they want, when they want it, wherever they are. And that desire is only going to increase going forward. Indeed, the genie is out of the bottle. It’s not just about delivery anymore.”
“It is not just about content. Brands do indeed matter. Brand strength matters a lot. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of branding in this economy. In an era where consumers do not distinguish between broadcast and cable networks and there is so much competition among so many companies and mediums for consumer attention, it is critical that your brand serves as a beacon in a sea of choice.”
The first discussion, “Cable Programming & Distribution and the Impact on How We View Sports,” featured Turner Network Sales Senior VP/Sales & Marketing Sid Eshleman, NBA Exec VP/Strategic Planning & Business Development Ed Desser, Time Warner Cable Exec VP/Programming Fred Dressler, The Tennis Channel CEO David Meister and NFL Network Senior VP/Distribution Adam Shaw.
Dressler: “The most significant issue, which is certainly highlighted by the NFL deal announced yesterday, is how the marketplace will continue to absorb these costs.”
Meister, on the cost-value relationship of sports tiers: “I would look at it and say so far it is a flawed value proposition.”
Shaw, on a possible ESPN competitor: “To someone who is controlling the content, one more bidder is obviously a good thing in terms of supporting our economics.”
MICHAEL PHELPS’ SPONSORS RESPOND TO SWIMMER’S RECENT ARREST
U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps’ sponsors Argent Mortgage and Speedo today responded with statements following the swimmer’s arrest Thursday for driving under the influence of alcohol. Phelps himself said of the arrest, “I’m 19, but no matter how old you are, you should take responsibility for your actions, which I will do. I’m extremely sorry for the mistake that I made.”
Cingular Wireless, which recently completed its purchase of AT&T Wireless, said, "Our deal with Michael runs through the end of the year and we do not want to speculate on whether the deal will be extended. We do admire him for taking responsibility for his actions and wish him the best of luck." Argent Mortgage said, “We were notified November 8, that Michael Phelps was arrested last Thursday for driving under the influence of alcohol. While we can confirm that Argent Mortgage is a sponsor of Michael Phelps, we are not in a position to comment on the charges.” Speedo’s statement read, “Michael’s statement stands by itself and we trust that this is a learning experience for Michael and others.” Omega, PowerBar, Vans and Visa did not respond to inquiries (THE DAILY).
MLS SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES STAYING IN THE BAY AREA FOR 2005
The MLS Earthquakes today announced that the club will remain in the Bay Area for the ’05 season and continue to play their home matches at San Jose State Univ.’s Spartan Stadium. An investment group led by Tony Amanpour recently pulled out of a bid to purchase the team from AEG (THE DAILY).
CARMELO ANTHONY HEADLINING NEW JORDAN BRAND CAMPAIGN
Nike’s Jordan Brand today unveiled a new print and TV campaign featuring Nuggets F Carmelo Anthony and comedian Tommy Davidson pumping Anthony’s upcoming shoe, the Jordan Carmelo 1.5, which hits retail November 26. TV ads break during UPN’s November 16 broadcast of the Vibe Awards, of which Jordan Brand is the presenting sponsor. The five TV ads were directed by Charles Stone III, who directed “Mr. 3000,” and print ads were created by street artist Shepard Fairey (Jordan Brand).
BUZZER BEATERS
Rockies Vice Chair Jerry McMorris today was removed as a director and officer of Colorado Baseball 1993, Inc., and Colorado Baseball Management, Inc. McMorris remains a shareholder in both entities (Rockies).
USA Today’s Chris Jenkins and American Public Health Association Exec Dir Dr. Georges Benjamin appeared this morning on ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza” to discuss NASCAR’s expected removal of a ban on hard liquor sponsors. Benjamin called the expected lifting of the ban “a terrible idea. … This is about fast cars and kids and alcohol.” Benjamin added this decision would “not show the leadership that we have come to expect out of our NASCAR leaders.” Jenkins noted NASCAR’s network partners will be OK with the decision and “also want to see some of this money” (“Cold Pizza,” ESPN2, 11/9).
Golf instructor Butch Harmon today unveiled plans to launch the Butch Harmon Vegas Tour in June ’05 (Butch Harmon Vegas Tour).
The Univ. of Tennessee today announced plans for a $107.6M renovation of Neyland Stadium featuring club suites with 1,589 seats (KNOXVILLENEWS.com, 11/9).
The Triple-A PCL Albuquerque Isotopes will host two MLB exhibition games April 1 and 2 at Isotopes Park. Officials have tagged the weekend, which will feature Rockies-Rangers and D’Backs-Rangers, “Major League Weekend” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/8).
FLW Outdoors today announced a sponsorship deal with Cadbury Schweppes’ Hawaiian Punch brand, which becomes the official shelf-stable juice of FLW Outdoors’ six tournament trails (FLW Outdoors).
OpenTV and iN Demand today inked a two-year extension of their agreement to produce “NASCAR in Car” through the ’06 season (OpenTV).
Hibernia National Bank today signed a partnership with ISP Sports and Spectator Advertising Solutions’ StadiumTray to promote its new Texas locations at the Univ. of Houston and Rice Univ.’s home football games (ISP Sports).
TONIGHT’S EVENTS
MLS FC Dallas GM Greg Elliott will host a Town Hall meeting from 6:30-8:00pm CT at the Marriott in Addison, Texas (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 11/4).
The Heat will distribute “Back in Black” T-shirts to the first 1,000 fans in 400 Level seats for the team’s 7:30pm ET game against the Wizards at AmericanAirlines Arena. Meanwhile, Victoria’s Secret “Angels Across America” models Giselle Bundchen, Tyra Banks, Adriana Lima, Heidi Klum and Alessandra Ambrosio will make an appearance at the game for interviews, on-court activities and an autograph session.
The Dolphins will host their 16th annual Superbowl of Fashion to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Miami Dolphins Foundation from 6:30pm-10:00pm ET at the Broward County Convention Center in Ft. Lauderdale.
CHANNEL SURFING
ESPN2 will air NCAA football: Toledo-Northern Illinois at 7:30pm ET.
NBA TV will air Pacers-T’Wolves at 8:00pm ET.
Bobcats F Emeka Okafor will appear on WB’s “One Tree Hill” at 9:00pm ET.
Champ Car driver Sebastien Bourdais will appear on CBS’ “Late Show” at 11:30pm ET.
Tennis player Jennifer Capriati will appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Salma Hayek |
| “The Tonight Show” | Wanda Sykes |
| “The Late Late Show” | Mark Harmon |
| “Late Night” | Tina Fey |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Jennifer Tilly |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
A PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE editorial writes the NHL is a league that “shouldn’t be testing its fans – it should be groveling to them. Hockey used to be solidly fourth in popularity of professional sports, behind football, baseball and basketball. Now, not only does hockey fall far below NASCAR's ratings, but it's below arena football in many markets. Imagine the laughs if arena football announced a lockout” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE).
See The Daily Insider’s Articles of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
Sports & Entertainment: Which of the following actors did not play a sportswriter or sportscaster on the TV show listed beside them?
Bob Uecker – “Mr. Belvedere”
Tony Danza – “The Tony Danza Show”
Dabney Coleman – “The Slap Maxwell Story”
John Ritter – “8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter”
Jack Klugman – “The Odd Couple”
THE DAILY STAT: TOP NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION GAINERS & LOSERS
The following details the ten newspapers that experienced the largest gains and losses in average weekday circulation for the six months ended September 30, 2004, compared the year-ago period (AD AGE, 11/8 issue):
| TOP TEN CIRCULATION GAINERS |
| RK | NEWSPAPER | % CHANGE | 2004 | 2003 |
| 1) | Primera Hora (San Juan) | 8.0% | 132,811 | 123,016 |
| 2) | New York Post | 5.2% | 686,207 | 652,426 |
| 3) | Sarasota Herald-Tribune | 5.0% | 100,294 | 95,515 |
| 4) | Atlanta Journal-Constitution | 3.8% | 397,097 | 382,421 |
| 5) | Las Vegas Review-Journal | 3.7% | 100,036 | 96,508 |
| 6) | USA Today | 3.1% | 2,220,863 | 2,154,539 |
| 7) | Lexington Herald-Leader | 2.6% | 114,234 | 111,393 |
| 8) | Ft. Worth Star-Telegram | 2.2% | 230,176 | 225,202 |
| 9) | El Nuevo Dia (San Juan) | 2.0% | 205,541 | 201,529 |
| 10) | Tampa Tribune | 1.9% | 214,269 | 210,264 |
| TOP TEN CIRCULATION LOSERS |
| RK | NEWSPAPER | % CHANGE | 2004 | 2003 |
| 1) | Greensburg Tribune-Review | -9.6% | 108,109 | 119,646 |
| 2) | Investor’s Business Daily | -8.6% | 197,333 | 215,868 |
| 3) | San Francisco Chronicle | -6.3% | 480,587 | 512,640 |
| 4) | Buffalo News | -5.6% | 196,429 | 207,982 |
| 5) | Los Angeles Times | -5.6% | 902,164 | 955,211 |
| 6) | Philadelphia Daily News | -5.3% | 135,956 | 143,631 |
| 7) | Denver Post | -4.6% | 275,472 | 288,831 |
| 8) | Arizona Republic | -4.4% | 413,268 | 432,285 |
| 9) | Rocky Mountain News | -4.3% | 276,610 | 288,889 |
| 10) | Asbury Park Press | -4.2% | 160,339 | 167,284 |
…TODAY’S ANSWER
John Ritter was not a sportswriter on “8 Simple Rules,” but he did write for his local newspaper.
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