| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | NFL Deems ABC’s “MNF” Intro “Inappropriate;” ABC Apologizes For Segment |
| • | With Southern 500 Record Rating, “Chase” Ratings Are Up 10% |
| • | Watch Manufacturer Game Time Inks Three-Year Deal With Chad Pennington |
| • | Anaheim City Council Tonight To Decide Plan Of Action Against Angels |
| • | YES Network Broadcaster Fred Hickman Joins ESPN As “SportsCenter” Anchor |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
ABC & NFL RESPOND TO LAST NIGHT’S RACY “MNF” INTRODUCTION
ABC and the NFL this afternoon issued separate statements on last night’s “MNF” intro that featured ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” cast member Nicollette Sheridan removing the towel she was wearing while seducing Eagles WR Terrell Owens.
The league in a statement said, “ABC’s opening was inappropriate and unsuitable for our ‘Monday Night Football’ audience. While ABC may have gained attention for one of its other shows, the NFL and its fans lost.”
ABC’s statement read, “We have heard from many of our viewers about last night's ‘MNF’ opening segment, and we agree that the placement was inappropriate. We apologize.” Click here for a full transcript of the segment (THE DAILY).
THROUGH NINE “CHASE” RACES, NEXTEL CUP RATINGS ARE UP 10%
NBC today announced that its coverage of Sunday’s NASCAR Nextel Cup Mountain Dew Southern 500 earned a 5.1/11 final Nielsen rating, a 50% increase over the 3.4/8 for the Rockingham race on the comparable date last year on TNT. Through nine Chase for the Nextel Cup races, the average rating on NBC and TNT is a 4.4/10, a 10% increase over last year’s 4.0/9 for the same nine telecast dates (NBC).
The following presents race-by-race ratings for the Chase for the Nextel Cup (THE DAILY):
| NASCAR NEXTEL CUP CHASE FOR THE CUP RATINGS THROUGH NOVEMBER 14 |
| DATE | RACE | TRACK | 04 RAT/SHR (NET) | 03 RAT/SHR (NET) | % +/- |
| 9/19 | Sylvania 300 | New Hampshire International Speedway | 3.4/7 (TNT) | 3.7/8 (TNT) | -8.1% |
| 9/26 | MBNA America 400 | Dover International Speedway | 3.1/8 (TNT) ^ | 4.2/10 (NBC) | -26.2% |
| 10/3 | EA Sports 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | 5.4/12 (NBC) | 5.5/12 (NBC) | -1.8% |
| 10/10 | Banquet 400 | Kansas Speedway | 4.2/10 (NBC) | 4.1/9 (NBC) | 2.4% |
| 10/16 | UAW/GM Quality 500 | Lowe's Motor Speedway | 4.9/9 (NBC) | 4.3/8 (NBC) | 14.0% |
| 10/24 | Subway 500 | Martinsville Speedway | 4.4/10(NBC) | 4.0/10 (NBC) | 10.0% |
| 10/31 | Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 | Atlanta Motor Speedway | 4.6/10 (NBC) | 3.1/7 (NBC) | 48.4% |
| 11/7 | Checker Auto Parts 500 | Phoenix International Raceway | 4.9/10 (NBC) | 4.7/10 (NBC) | 4.3% |
| 11/14 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway | 5.1/11 (NBC) | 3.4/9 (TNT) ^^ | 50.00% |
| 11/21 | Ford 400 | Homestead-Miami Speedway | NA (NBC) | 4.5/10 (NBC) | NA |
NOTES: ^ = Rating reflects TNT's national cable rating. ^^ = Rating represents the November 9 race from Rockingham, NC, and it is TNT's national cable rating.
CENTRIX TO SERVE AS PRIMARY SPONSOR FOR NEXTEL CUP CARS IN ‘05
MB2 Motorsports and NASCAR sponsor Centrix Financial today announced the creation of MB/Sutton Motorsports, which will own the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series No. 36 Centrix Financial Chevy that will begin racing in the ‘05 season. Boris Said will drive the entry. Additionally, Centrix will serve as the primary sponsor of the MB2/MBV No. 01 and No. 10 Chevys for a total of four races and as an associate sponsor of the cars throughout the ’05 season (Centrix).
BLOOMBERG PLEDGES TO KEEP N.Y. FREE FROM OLY AMBUSHERS
N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Commissioner for the Department of Consumer Affairs Gretchen Dykstra and NYC2012 today announced that nearly 600,000, or 95%, of all commercial advertising signs in N.Y., are under contract to be reserved exclusively for Olympic use. To further protect against ambush marketing, Mayor Bloomberg established the Mayor's Enforcement Board on Olympic Brand Protection, chaired by Dykstra, which will go into effect if N.Y is awarded the 2012 Games (NYC2012).
JETS QB CHAD PENNINGTON TO ENDORSE GAME TIME WATCHES
Watch manufacturer and NFL licensee Game Time today announced a three-year endorsement deal with Jets QB Chad Pennington. Under the deal, Pennington will appear in print and radio ad campaigns, as well as make personal appearances on behalf of the company. Pennington also has endorsement deals with Norfolk Bank, Toyota and Reebok (Game Time).
ANAHEIM CITY COUNCIL TO DECIDE ON PLAN TO STOP ANGELS
The ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER reports the Anaheim City Council will decide tonight “how it plans to stop team owner Arte Moreno from changing the team’s name to the Los Angeles Angels.” Last week, the council looked into whether the “Angels would violate their contract with the city, which requires ‘Anaheim’ be included in the team and stadium names.” Meanwhile, L.A. City Council President Alex Padilla plans to introduce a resolution Wednesday stating, “Los Angeles is currently home to one and only one [MLB] team and that is the Los Angeles Dodgers” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 11/16).
NHL CLUBS OFFERING UP LACROSSE TICKETS TO HOCKEY FANS
NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings appeared this morning on ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza.” Jennings, on how the NLL can capitalize on the NHL lockout: “We play in NHL buildings and we’re owned or operated mostly by NHL clubs. Now a lot of the NHL clubs are offering tickets to their season-ticket holders. Right now, they’re starting to refund money back to them, so rather than do that, they’re saying, ‘Why don’t you pick up a lacrosse ticket and come back to the building?’” ESPN2’s Thea Andrews: “How many people are taking them up on that offer?” Jennings: “Minnesota just did it last week, and they’re really moving tickets right now” (“Cold Pizza,” ESPN2, 11/16).
BUZZER BEATERS
The Raiders today launched, Raiders auf Deutsch, a German-language section on the team’s Web site, becoming the first NFL team to offer original content in German (Raiders).
The Cubs are “exploring the possibility of a redesigned bleachers expansion that would move Wrigley Field’s exterior walls about 10 feet out onto sidewalks bordering Waveland and Sheffield Avenues.” The plan would “eliminate the need to build columns in the sidewalks to support the 1,980 new seats in the expanded bleachers” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/16).
ESPN today announced that YES Network broadcaster Fred Hickman will join ESPN as a “SportsCenter” anchor, effective in December. Prior to joining YES, Hickman worked for CNN as a sports anchor (ESPN).
Wheaties today announced a new box featuring Colts QB Peyton Manning and WR Marvin Harrison will begin appearing nationally in the next week. Manning is on the front of the box, while both are pictured on the back around a “Training With Peyton & Marvin” section (Wheaties).
Fox today announced that FoxSports.com received a record 11,716,000 unique visitors in October. Fox noted that among sports Web sites, only ESPN.com drew more unique visitors, with 15,119,000. FoxSports.com’s October figure is a 265% increase over October ’03. FoxSports.com replaced ESPN.com as the official sports site on MSN in July (THE DAILY).
Rogers Sportsnet has won the Canadian broadcast rights to the ‘06 World Cup. TSN has “shown the tournament in recent years, partnering with CBC for the 2002 championship in Japan and South Korea” (CP, 11/16).
NASCAR today announced a multiyear operational and marketing partnership with the Canadian Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (CASCAR). Earlier this year, NASCAR formed NASCAR Canada, in conjunction with TSN, and NASCAR Mexico to extend the marketing of the sport across North America (NASCAR).
TONIGHT’S EVENTS
ESPN will screen its new movie about the life of Dale Earnhardt, “3,” in Charlotte, but it is “unlikely to be attended by several of those portrayed” in the film. Earnhardt’s longtime car owner Richard Childress: “I’m not excited about it. I just don’t think it was handled very [professionally] on ESPN’s part. They asked me about it. I told them it wasn’t right. I haven’t talked to them since” (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 11/15).
Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen and President Steve Patterson will join SMART execs in hosting a 2:00pm PT reading for children at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Portland. Allen has pledged to give SMART $1M once it raises $10M elsewhere.
The Hawks will reveal their new alternate jerseys prior to tonight’s 7:30pm ET game against the Rockets at Philips Arena. The team will debut the uniforms November 24 against the Heat (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/16).
MLS Cup Champions DC United tonight will host an on-field rally at RFK Stadium at 6:30pm ET. DC United players and coaches will join Mayor Anthony Williams and DC Sports & Entertainment Commission Chair Mark Tuohey on-stage. Event admission is free to the public.
The N.Y. Athletic Club will honor CBS’ Jim Nantz as its “Man of the Year” during its annual All-Sports Olympic dinner. Also being honored are various U.S. Olympic medalists.
The winner of the Sixers Charities bid-off and 11 friends will sit in a Wachovia Center suite with Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock for the Sonics-76ers 7:00pm ET game.
Leon Spinks and Chuck Wepner tonight at the Friar’s Club in N.Y. “will headline ‘I Fought Ali,’ a night of reminiscences about The Greatest – by the guys who were on the receiving end of his abuse.” Warner Wolf will host the event (N.Y. POST, 11/13).
CHANNEL SURFING
Roush Racing President Geoff Smith will appear on CNBC’s “Bullseye” at 6:00pm ET.
USC QB Matt Leinart will appear on FSN’s “I, Max” at 6:00pm local time.
ESPN2 will air Preseason NIT: Niagara-Providence at 7:00pm ET and San Diego-Arizona at 9:00pm.
NBA TV will air Heat-T’Wolves at 8:00pm ET.
Former NBAer Dennis Rodman and actors Matthew Perry, Kevin Nealon, Neil Patrick Harris and Mekhi Phifer will appear on Bravo’s “Celebrity Poker Showdown” at 9:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air coverage of ATP Tennis Masters Cup at 11:00pm ET.
NASCAR driver Kyle Busch will appear on Speed Channel’s “Wind Tunnel” at 10:00pm ET.
Bills RB Willis McGahee will appear on “BDSSP.”
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Nicolas Cage |
| “The Tonight Show” | Angelina Jolie |
| “The Late Late Show” | Jane Seymour |
| “Late Night” | Tim Allen |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Denise Richards |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The JACKSONVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL’s Liz Flaisig writes, “It might be difficult to measure the return on sponsoring Super Bowl XXXIX until after the game, but tangible benefits to top local sponsors are already visible. … The [six top sponsors] will appear on all the host committee's promotional efforts, such as 150,000 visitor's guides and banners that will decorate the city as the February 6 game approaches” (JACKSONVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL).
The N.Y. TIMES’ Murray Chass writes Angels Owner Arte Moreno is “missing an opportunity by being short-sighted and focusing on Los Angeles. Calling themselves the Los Angeles Angels might enhance the team's media packages – television, cable and radio – and bring in more sponsorship, signage and advertising dollars, but none of that would be guaranteed money. Selling rights to name the team, on the other hand, would produce cash, both instant and in a steady stream” (N.Y. TIMES).
See The Daily Insider’s Articles of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
Sports & Entertainment: What game show did Rosie Perez’ character, Gloria Clemente, play and win in “White Men Can’t Jump?”
IN OTHER NEWS…
The N.Y. TIMES reports that the Interactive Advertising Bureau, American Association of Advertising Agencies, Advertising Research Foundation and World Federation of Advertisers have “agreed to standardize the ways they count and report the number of people who view online ads. The new voluntary standards include a detailed and recommended process for counting ad impressions, the basic measurement units of audiences for online ads. The standards also call for third-party audits of impression reports from online publishers” (N.Y. TIMES, 11/16).
THE DAILY STAT: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS SURVEY
The following are results from a Sports Illustrated for Kids survey of 200 children. The kids were asked about their favorite toys and what they had on their Christmas wish list (SI):
| What is the one gadget kids
can’t leave the home without? | What electronic gadget is on kids’ wish lists this year? |
| RK | GADGET | RK | GADGET |
| 1) | CD Player | 1) | iPod |
| 2) | Gameboy | 2) | Cellular Phone |
| 3) | Cellular Phone | 3) | Gameboy |
| 4) | Watch | 4) | PlayStation 2 |
| 5) | Walkman | 5t) | Computer/laptop/Xbox |
…TODAY’S ANSWER
"Jeopardy!"
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