Closing Bell, January 26, 2005

FOX SPORTS CHIEF DAVID HILL DISCUSSES SUPER BOWL SPOTS

During a conference call on Fox' plans to debut Turf Cam during Super Bowl XXXIX, Fox Sports TV Group Chair & CEO David Hill also fielded questions relating to Super Bowl commercials. Hill said of whether the process for screening Super Bowl commercials has been modified: “Nothing has changed. All commercials come through to us and are reviewed by our standards and practices department. ... The scenario that’s worked for this Super Bowl is virtually the same as any other on-air production we do.” When asked if the NFL has any involvement in the screening of this year’s commercials, Hill said, “No, they never have been.”

Hill, on Turf Cam: “The Turf Cam really is a huge gamble. We’re putting these little cameras in the field, and the chance of us getting a meaningful shot out of it, in reality, is probably like 100-1 against. But if we do get the shot, it will be absolutely awesome.”

Hill also indicated that changing the name of FSN’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period” to “Best Darn Super Bowl Road Show Period” for Fox’ pregame segment was done to appease affiliates in a number of markets (THE DAILY).

UPS EXPANDS RELATIONSHIP WITH ISC TO INCLUDE FOUR TRACKS

UPS today expanded its relationship with ISC by becoming a sponsor of California Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway and Richmond Int’l Raceway, as well as extending its sponsorship of Daytona Int’l Speedway. The company, whose relationship with DIS began in ’01, signed on with the tracks through '08. UPS also is the official delivery company of NASCAR and has been the primary sponsor of Robert Yates Racing’s No. 88 Nextel Cup Ford since ’01 (UPS).

ROUSH RACING INKS A PAIR OF PART-TIME PRIMARY SPONSORS

Roush Racing today signed a sponsorship deal with The Scotts Company, which will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 99 Ford, driven by Carl Edwards, for at least nine Nextel Cup events this year. Scotts, which sponsored the car for six races in ’04, will be an associate sponsor for the races in which it is not the primary sponsor.

Roush Racing also announced today a sponsorship deal with Chicago-based building products manufacturer USG Corp., whose USG Sheetrock brand will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 17 Nextel Cup Ford, driven by Matt Kenseth, for three Nextel Cup events this year. USG will be an associate sponsor for the remaining races (Roush Racing).

MORE MAGIC TRICKS TO AIR ON SUN SPORTS UNDER MULTIYEAR DEAL

The Magic today inked a multiyear extension of their regional cable TV rights deal with Sun Sports. The new agreement, which begins with the ’05-06 season, calls for Sun Sports to telecast at least 42 regular-season games each year, as well as select playoff games. Sun Sports also will work with the team to produce original programming like this season’s behind-the-scenes look at the team’s offseason moves, “Under the Lights: Magic Makeover.” Sun Sports began televising Magic games in the team's inaugural season of ’89-90 (Magic).

ESPN BOWLS A STRIKE WITH SUNDAY’S PBA DALLAS OPEN TELECAST

ESPN’s coverage of Sunday’s PBA Dallas Open from 1:00-2:30pm ET averaged 1,604,544 HHs, making it the network’s most-watched PBA telecast ever. The previous high was 1,080,115 HHs for the ’90 LaMode Classic. The telecast earned a 1.8 Nielsen cable rating, the second highest-rated PBA telecast in ESPN history. Through 11 telecasts, ESPN’s telecasts are averaging 755,032 viewers, a 23% increase over the first 11 events last year (PBA).

MR. POTATO HEAD SPORTS SPUDS MAKING THEIR DEBUT IN DETROIT

Promotional Partners Worldwide’s (PPW) Mr. Potato Head Sports Spuds will be distributed to the first 5,000 fans in attendance for tonight’s Nuggets-Pistons game at The Palace of Auburn Hills. As the presenting sponsor of the team and giveaway, Rock Financial’s logo will appear on the plastic spud. The giveaway is the first in a series of Mr. Potato Head giveaways by PPW. Other teams that will be utilizing the giveaway include the Phillies and four ECHL teams (THE DAILY).

BUZZER BEATERS

Sporting News this week features Super Bowl QBs Donovan McNabb and Tom Brady, with the header “Super Bowl Preview: Who Will Win and Why.”

Sports Illustrated this week features Eagles LB Jeremiah Trotter, with the header “Party On.”

Sporting News	Sports Illustrated

Vikings Owner Red McCombs today released the following statement: “None of the media reports concerning the potential sale of the Vikings are correct. I am continuing to work with our staff on preparing the Vikings for the 2005 season” (Vikings).

While the USTA was reported to have made nearly $12M in ’04, the estimated total has jumped to $26M with the addition of investment income. The USTA made $27M in ’03, including investment income (TENNISWEEK.com, 1/26).

TAG Heuer today unveiled its Professional Golf Watch, co-designed by company endorser Tiger Woods. The Tiger Woods logo appears on the dial. A limited supply of 4,000 will be available in April. A portion of the sales will be contributed to the Tiger Woods Foundation (TAG Heuer).

CONCACAF today announced that the Orange Bowl, Qwest Field, Gillette Stadium, Home Depot Center, L.A. Memorial Coliseum and Reliant Stadium will host matches in the July 6-24 Gold Cup.  The semifinals and finals will be played at Giants Stadium (CONCACAF).

Cottman Transmission today unveiled its latest ad campaign, via Holton Teitelman & Gury, Philadelphia, featuring “Fox NFL Sunday” analyst and FitzBradshaw Racing co-Owner Terry Bradshaw. Two TV spots were filmed by NFL Films. In December, Cottman inked a sponsorship deal for FitzBradshaw’s Busch Series team (THE DAILY).

Peter Jacobsen Productions has “had preliminary talks with a potential title sponsor and the LPGA and PGA Tours about a new event in Sarasota” (FLORIDA TODAY, 1/26).

General Mills has shifted its title sponsorship of NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award to its Chex brand. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won the last two awards (General Mills).

NOW HEAR THIS

The following are notable quotes from today’s news:

“The owners are interested in trying to reach an accord by the All-Star break.”
--NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter, on CBA negotiations
with the NBA (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/26).

“We want to make sure the types of situations we depict
and the jokes we tell don’t cross the line of good taste.
There’s a heightened sense of awareness where that line is.”
-- A-B VP/Brand Management & Global Brand Creative Dir Bob Lachky,
on the company’s Super Bowl XXXIX ads (N.Y. TIMES, 1/26).

“I’m certainly not going to advocate the
building of a stadium until we have a team.”
-- Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, on his plan to attract an
MLB franchise to Las Vegas (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/26).

TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST

Sportswriter Stephen Rodrick writes in SLATE MAGAZINE, “Now, a sports column is nothing more than a springboard, a gig that starts you on your way to becoming a multimedia star. … If you want to be a consistently good columnist, you can’t be on television. … At the New York Times, where sports columnists are only rarely on television, the reported column lives on. … And the TV regulars? [Tony] Kornheiser plugged his life-inspired sitcom, ‘Listen Up,’ on September 14 but hasn’t quoted an actual person since September 1” (SLATE MAGAZINE).

The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION’s Calnan & Geddes write, “The race is on for Super Bowl hotel rooms and officials say the brisk pace of booking is just what they expected -- with fans having to drive an hour or two to get to the big game. … As of Tuesday evening, the Host Committee counted about 3,000 available hotel rooms in its inventory and 1,400 private homes for rent. However, that inventory includes rooms from South Georgia to as far south as Daytona Beach” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION).

• The Golf Channel and other niche networks are getting good reception.
• Vikings suitor’s group is an oddly matched clan of business owners.
• NHL’s cost-certainty demand is difficult to accept, philosophically.
• NBC’s “The Contender” hopes to bring boxing’s profile back to the top.

See The Daily Insider’s Articles of Interest section for more sports business-related links.

CHANNEL SURFING

ESPN will air NCAA basketball: Marquette-Louisville at 7:00pm ET and Maryland-Duke at 9:00pm.

ESPN2 will air NCAA basketball: Notre Dame-Villanova at 7:30pm ET.

NBA TV will air Nuggets-Pistons at 7:30pm ET and Mavericks-Blazers at 10:00pm.

Redskins VP/Football Operations Vinny Cerato will appear on NFL Network’s “Total Access” at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN Classic will air NCAA basketball: TCU-Charlotte at 8:00pm ET.  Announcer Jim Simpson will be joined by guest commentator and former Charlotte coach Jeff Mullins.

Magic Senior VP Pat Williams will appear on Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor” at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air coverage of the Australian Open at 9:30pm ET.

Patriots QB Tom Brady and Eagles QB Donovan McNabb will appear on HBO’s “Inside the NFL” at 10:00pm ET.

Dolphins LB Junior Seau and Eagles TE Jeff Thomason will appear on “BDSSP.”

ESPN’s “OTL Nightly” will profile Rick Lopez, a former girls basketball coach who died in prison while facing more than 50 counts of felony sexual assault.

HEADLINERS

Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:

IN OTHER NEWS…

FORBES.com reports that Sirius Satellite Radio CEO Mel Karmazin today “scoffed” at the N.Y. Post’s report that the company has been talking to XM Satellite Radio about a merger. Karmazin: “I have not met with the chairman or CEO [of XM], so I have no idea where any of this came from” (FORBES.com, 1/26).

Meanwhile, XM Satellite Radio VP/Programming Operations Chance Patterson said, “This is the same news organization that last fall reported on its cover Dick Gephardt was named John Kerry’s running mate. So consider the source” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/26).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that NBC’s broadcast of “The Tonight Show” on Monday, an hour-long tribute to the late Johnny Carson, drew an 11.2/26 overnight Nielsen rating. Longtime Carson sidekick Ed McMahon and “frequent Carson-era guests Don Rickles, Bob Newhart and Drew Carey” appeared on the show. If the 11.2 holds, it will be the fourth highest-rated “Tonight Show” broadcast since Jay Leno became the host in ’92 (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 1/26).

THE DAILY STAT: PRIMETIME NIELSEN RATINGS

The following lists the final Nielsen ratings for the top ten broadcast primetime shows for the week of January 17-23 (TV.YAHOO.com, 1/26).

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

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