Closing Bell, January 28, 2005

MORE INTERVIEWS, GRAPHICS AMONG NEW “AFL ON NBC” FEATURES

NBC on Sunday begins its ‘05 AFL coverage with regional broadcasts beginning at noon ET. The net’s No. 1 announce team of Tom Hammond, Pat Haden and Lewis Johnson will cover Chicago Rush-Dallas Desperados at 3:00pm ET. Rush co-Owner Mike Ditka will be interviewed at halftime of that game. NBC’s studio show again will be anchored by Al Trautwig, alongside Glenn Parker and rotating special guest analysts.

During a conference call yesterday, NBC Sports President Ken Schanzer said of the AFL deal, “We still make money on this. In a world in which most major networks lose money on most of their major properties, when you get a property that can make a little money, that’s where you want to be.” Schanzer, on how the net will promote the league: “First we wanted to make people aware of the game and its existence. Now it’s time to let the stars of the league shine” (THE DAILY).

Schanzer, on the league’s broadcast schedule: “[The league and ourselves] felt if we put a game on the weekend between [NFL conference championships and the Super Bowl], we would be able to attract some viewers that are used to tuning in on Sundays for football games. In Week 2, we decided to put a game on Super Bowl Sunday where there is an enormous audience in front of the television set” (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 1/28).

The ORLANDO SENTINEL reports that NBC “hopes to at least win numerous new viewers this year and will focus heavily on player interviews and enhanced graphics to try to do so. The network also plans to show updated stats of offensive players after most plays, much like CBS's excellent StatTrax graphic, and have microphones on several players and coaches.” During select games, the sideline reporter “will bring a player or coach to a TV monitor just off the field and have them break down a play or two” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/28).

WINTER X GAMES IX OPENS SATURDAY ON BUTTERMILK MOUNTAIN

Winter X Games IX officially begins Saturday for the fourth consecutive year in Aspen, and the ASPEN DAILY NEWS noted that “unless you’re a guerilla marketer, the spectacle is free for all to see. … Rowdiness is forecast through early next week as parties, concerts and general mayhem infiltrate local restaurants, nightclubs and homes to celebrate the games.” G Love & Special Sauce, Ozomatli, The Roots, Unwritten Law, John Legend and others “will be providing the soundtrack for the merriment.” The event drew a record 66,500 people last year (ASPEN DAILY NEWS, 1/27).

Beginning at 1:00pm ET on Saturday, ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will provide 19 hours of Winter X Games programming through Tuesday. Fifteen of those hours will be live. The TORONTO STAR reports that last year’s event saw a 30% spike in its Nielsen ratings, but “what really had sponsors drooling was ESPN’s 48[%] bump in the 18- to 34-year-old audience, and ABC’s 68[%] explosion in the same age group” (TORONTO STAR, 1/28).

THE GOLF CHANNEL PROVIDING INTERACTIVE BOOST FOR PGA EXPO

The ORLANDO SENTINEL reports that The Golf Channel will conclude its coverage of the PGA Merchandise Show this weekend with a live 2:00-4:00pm ET telecast on Saturday and a 12:30-6:30pm airing on Sunday. PGA Golf Exhibitions VP & PGA Merchandise Show Manager Ed Several said that the net’s coverage this year “helps transform the event from a ‘traditional exhibition’ to an ‘interactive participatory’ convention” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/28).

FERRARI LEFT ALONE IN F1 MEETING WITH FIA BOSS MAX MOSLEY

REUTERS reports that the rift between Ferrari and the rest of F1 "was laid bare on Friday when only the world champions turned up for a meeting to discuss rule changes and the sport's long-term future. With nine of the 10 teams absent, Ferrari boss Jean Todt, technical director Ross Brawn and International Automobile Federation President Max Mosley spent two hours deliberating alone" (REUTERS, 1/28).

BUZZER BEATERS

PGA Tour Superstore today signed a five-year deal to title sponsor the World Amateur Handicap Championship beginning in 2005. The event will be known as the PGA Tour Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship, and will be held August 29-September 2 this year (Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday).

The Wild and WCCO-AM are “nearing an agreement on a new two-year contract.” Meanwhile, KFAN-AM officials, whose contract with the T’Wolves expires after this season have met with the club to talk about a new deal (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/28).

Palace Sports & Entertainment has reached an agreement with Nuevo Advertising Group of Sarasota to broadcast all AFL Tampa Bay Storm home games in Spanish this season on WRMD-AM. Nuevo also will assist with Hispanic marketing efforts (Palace).

The Knicks today signed an agreement with FanBuzz to manage all aspects of its online store at http://nyknicks.com (Knicks).

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco “was ‘very surprised’ to learn that Benson Football, controlling partner of [the Saints], owns a yacht.” Saints Owner Tom Benson declined to comment, but a team spokesperson said that it “is irrelevant to the team’s need for state aid to stay competitive in the NFL” (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 1/28).

NOW HEAR THIS

The following are notable quotes from today’s news.

• As Cialis will return to the advertising roster for this year's Super Bowl, ICOS VP/Marketing Leonard Blum said of the controversy surrounding the ED brand's ads, “I think our ads for Cialis have always been tasteful. They focus on romance.” Read the full story.

• Devils President, CEO & GM Lou Lamoriello, on his involvement with this week's NHL labor negotiations: “I was asked to go by the commissioner.” Read the full story.

• While speaking at the first event in the Bobcats Speaker Series, Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban said of putting a team-owned RSN on digital cable, not regular cable,“On one hand you’d like to be able to have [an RSN] on basic cable, but you give up a little bit economically. And if you give up something economically on the TV side, you might have to make it up on the ticket price.” Read the full story.

WEEKEND EVENTS

Friday

The AHL San Antonio Rampage will host Military Appreciation Night during the team’s game against the Chicago Wolves at SBC Center. The Rampage will “wear tan camouflaged uniform tops adorned with the team’s bull logo, and the tops will be auctioned after the game.” Proceeds will go to the San Antonio chapter of the American Red Cross, Fisher House, Army Community Services and Lackland Family Support Center ( SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 1/28).

Sunday

MLB will host an open casting call from 8:00am-4:00pm ET at Yankee Stadium for its “I Live for This” ad campaign. The winners will be flown to Miami in mid-February to shoot a new spot.

Red Sox single-game tickets go on sale at 10:00am ET, and in an effort to “limit access by scalpers, Yankees tickets – as well as Green Monster and right-field roof seats – will be available at a later date through a random drawing” (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/22).

CHANNEL SURFING

Friday

Former NFLer Frank Lemaster will appear on CNBC’s “Kudlow & Cramer” at 5:00pm ET.

Former NBAer Bobby Hurley will debut as a YES Network analyst during the Penn-Yale women's basketball game at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN will air Cavaliers-Knicks at 7:00pm ET and Kings-Rockets at 9:30pm.

ESPN2 will air Friday Night Fights: Rodney Jones-Teddy Reid at 7:30pm ET.

Gabrielle Reece will appear on ABC’s “8 Simple Rules” at 8:00pm ET.

CMT will air “CMT's 40 Greatest NASCAR Moments” at 8:00pm ET.

Spike TV will air “Untold,” which examines amateur bodybuilders, at 9:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air the Australian Open Women’s Final at 9:30pm ET.

MSG will debut “NYK Way,” a show about all things related to the Knicks, at 9:30pm ET.

Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt will appear as a guest analyst on FSN West’s regional report at 10:00pm PT.

Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander, Packers WR Javon Walker and Rockets assistant coach Patrick Ewing will appear on “BDSSP.”

Saturday

ESPN will air “College GameDay” from the Univ. of Kansas’ Allen Fieldhouse.

ABC will air coverage of Winter X Games IX at 1:00pm ET.

ABC will air fourth-round coverage of the PGA Tour’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic at 3:00pm ET.

ESPN will air coverage of the Winter X Games at 3:00pm ET and 9:00pm.

ESPN2 will air NCAA football: Senior Bowl at 4:00pm ET.

NBA TV will air Magic-Wizards at 7:00pm ET.

HBO will air World Champion Boxing: Arturo Gatti-James Leija and Kassim Ouma-Kofi Jantuah at 9:45pm ET.

Sunday

Comcast will begin a free preview of NFL Network in the Jacksonville area until February 7.

NFL Network will air 19 hours of highlights of the past 38 Super Bowls beginning at 6:00am ET.

NBC will air AFL regional coverage: Colorado Crush-Orlando Predators or Philadelphia Soul-Austin Wranglers at noon ET.

ESPN2 will air the Australian Open’s men’s final at noon ET.

ESPN will air PBA: Birmingham Open at 12:30pm ET.

ESPN will air Rockets-Heat at 1:00pm ET.

ESPN will air coverage the Winter X Games at 2:00pm ET and 9:00pm.

NBC will air AFL regional coverage: Chicago Rush-Dallas Desperados, L.A. Avengers-Las Vegas Gladiators or San Jose SaberCats-Tampa Bay Storm at 3:00pm ET.

ABC will air final-round coverage of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic at 3:30pm ET.

NBC will air “The Sunshine Millions,” four races at Santa Anita Park and Gulfstream Park matching California- and Florida-bred horses for a $3.6M purse, at 4:00pm ET.

ESPN will air the ’05 Indoor Visa Championship Series at 5:00pm ET.

ESPN will air Bucks-Cavaliers at 6:30pm ET.

THE DAILY STAT: MARKET SIZES OF SUPER BOWL HOST CITIES

Jacksonville on February 6 will become the smallest market to host the Super Bowl, and USA TODAY notes that some visitors “are renting homes or condos in Jacksonville or staying aboard yachts on the river. And the hotel inventory is more Hampton Inn than Four Seasons, prompting the NFL to gently remind guests their rooms are only a six- or seven-hour sleeping experience.” The following lists the markets to host Super Bowls and their market size based on Nielsen Media Research as of January 1 (USA TODAY, 1/28):

CRITICS WEIGH IN: “ALONE IN THE DARK” & “HIDE AND SEEK”

Based on the video game of the same title, “Alone in the Dark” stars Christian Slater as a supernatural detective out to stop a cult from unleashing demons into the world. In “Hide and Seek,” Robert De Niro stars as a widower who begins to suspect that his daughter’s imaginary friend is real.

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

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