Walt Disney Co. is scheduled to "formally hop on the
interactive bandwagon today with the launch of a new division
that will publish video games and CD-Rom software."  Disney is
the "last of the major entertainment conglomerates to launch its
own interactive publishing arm.  The move is significant because
it represents a major commitment to the emerging industry by the
company that has been perhaps the most skeptical of the so-called
digital revolution."  The division will be headed by Steve
McBeth, Exec VP of Disney Consumer Products.  The company plans
to publish five cartridge games (Sega/Nintendo etc.) and about a
dozen CD-ROM titles by next Christmas (Amy Harmon, L.A. TIMES,
12/5).
     ESPN/SONY DEAL:  ESPN Enterprises and Sony Imagesoft will
release several news sports video games this holiday season.  The
games include:  "ESPN Sunday Night NFL," "ESPN National Hockey
Night," "ESPN Speed World," "NBA Hangtime '95," and "ESPN
Baseball Tonight:  Pennant Fever Edition."  The games include
commentary from ESPN personalities such as Chris Berman.  All
titles will be available for the Sega CD format, while some will
be available for Sega Genesis and Nintendo.  All will be released
on CD-ROM "shortly" (ESPN).

     With all the uncertainty surrounding baseball, one would
think that The Baseball Network "would be about as busy as a bear
in winter," writes Langdon Brockington & Mike Reynolds in the
latest issue of INSIDE MEDIA.  However, Dr. Pepper confirms that
it is pursuing a deal with TBN to buy ad time on ABC's telecast
of the '95 All-Star game.  The buy makes sense because the All-
Star game has a high-visibility; the game takes place in July,
the company's key selling-season; and the game is scheduled to be
played at The Ballpark at Arlington, near Dr. Pepper's HQs and
the drink's No. 1 market.  TBN Exec VP/ Marketing & Sales Mike
Trager: "We're in discussion with a number of soft drink
companies regarding the 1995 season and beyond."  Trager also
said TBN is talking to fast-food, finance and computer companies,
but he would not elaborate.  (INSIDE MEDIA, 11/30-12/13 issue).

     The NBA has "shelved" an $8M campaign touting its licensees
until February at the earliest, agency sources reported last
week.  Using the tagline, "I love this stuff," the ads were
supposed to start in time for the holiday season.  "But an
overwhelming response to the league's quirky new identity
campaign with actor Bill Murray" has convinced the league to wait
(BRANDWEEK, 12/5)....Both Pizza Hut and Domino's have added
buffalo wings to their menu (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/5)....Former
minor league player Craig Pippin plans to open 300 delicatessens
nationwide with Tommy Lasorda's name.  Malls and airports "are
early targets" for the new chain, called Tommy Lasorda's Dugout
(TAMPA TRIBUNE, 12/5)....BUSINESS WEEK profiles British
billionaire Richard Branson's attempt to enter the cola wars with
his Virgin Cola brand (BUSINESS WEEK, 12/12 issue).

     Nike is using two baseball stars to push its cross training
shoes in an upcoming TV spot, scheduled to break during the NFL
playoffs.  The ad has Don Mattingly hitting ball out of Yankee
Stadium -- Ken Griffey Jr. catches it ball in CA and throws a
runner out.  In a separate piece, BRANDWEEK's Eric Hollreiser
notes that Nike is stepping up its regional basketball shoe
advertising with the nine-market campaign "tailor-made for
specific cities."  It signals a "fresh attempt" toward
establishing regional dialogues "that make the brand more
relevant to local youth, yet able to translate nationally"
(BRANDWEEK, 12/5 issue).

     In spite of the NHL's two-month-old lockout, the league is
still selling sponsorships.  The latest is a 2-year deal with
Coca-Cola Foods that makes Minute Maid the NHL's "official juice
sponsor."  The contract begins in '95 and calls for two
promotions, possibly tied to the league's all-star game and its
"Muppets Take the Ice" cross-licensing program via a merchandise
premium or a sweepstakes.  The deal is restricted to juices and
does not include Coca-Cola's Fruitopia beverage, sold under the
Minute Maid brand.  Coke already has an NHL sponsorship for its
flagship cola.  Rick Dudley, Senior VP and COO of NHL
Enterprises, said the league is "sitting one two other
sponsorship deals," one which includes a major "media commitment"
to Fox (Terry Lefton, BRANDWEEK, 12/5 issue).

     Product-placement advertising has come to the video-game
business, "just in time for Christmas" -- and it is being
"embraced by game makers as a possible cash cow."  Some examples
include little Adidas billboards in the video game FIFA Int'l
Soccer and 7-Up ads on a scoreboard of a Formula One Grand Prix
video game.  "While new technology has made video games more
believable, it has also made them vastly more expensive to
produce.  Proponents say product ads help keep the expensive
games from costing even more, while adding a dash of realism."
Opponents of video-game product placement say the "arrival of
advertising on computer games is wiping out one of the last
havens children have against commercial messages."  What bothers
consumer groups is that the ads in many of the games are "subtle
-- often, products are woven into the action itself.  In
addition, children play games over and over, unlike, say, movies,
where viewers are usually exposed to product deals only once or
twice."  Another worry:  "Unlike movies, which are rated by
industry review boards, video games are unregulated."  There is
nothing to prevent video game makers from accepting alcohol and
cigarette advertising (Kyle Pope, WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/5).

     Sprint debuts its interview with college basketball coaches
who vote in CNN/USA TODAY's coaches poll.  It is a 15-week
campaign, with USA TODAY print ads as the only mode of
advertising.  A different NCAA coach with a vote is interviewed
each Sunday by Sprint spokesperson Billy Packer.  Fans are
encouraged to dial an 800-number to hear the coaches' top four as
well as an interview with Packer.  The campaign culminates with a
pick the Final Four contest, where Sprint flies the winner to the
games (Cohn & Wolfe).

     Lord West formal wear is offering new NFL items.  Football
fans can "declare loyalties" with cummerbunds, vests and bow ties
imprinted with their choice of NFL team crests and helmets.  The
ties and vests reverse to traditional black for "less exuberant
occasions."  Lord West is also offering tuxedos with the jackets
lined in the same NFL fabrics (Mary Gottschalk, SAN JOSE MERCURY
NEWS, 12/4).

     For the first time, Tultex, the VA-based apparel marketer,
has purchased ad spots on national college basketball telecasts.
The company, which will tout its Discus Athletic brand activewear
in the ads, has cut deals for the '94-95 season with ESPN and
Raycom (Brockington & Reynolds, INSIDE MEDIA, 11/30-12/13).