AZ Cardinals Owner Bill Bidwill has exercised the escape
clause on his radio and TV rights partnership with MAC America,
which includes KTVK-Channel 3 and KESZ-FM. While utilizing the
clause two years into his four-year deal was permitted, Tim Tyers
of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC calls it a "sneak attack." KTVK VP & GM
Bill Miller expressed "shock" at the decision, adding they had a
"good relationship with the Cardinals." KESZ VP & GM Jerry Ryan
also was surprised, noting the team's ratings have doubled on the
FM station and were up 200-300% among the 25-49 market. The
Cardinals' deal with MAC America had marketing and ad sales
shared by all parties and produced more revenues than the $1.5M
they received from previous radio carrier, KTAR. Tyers writes
Bidwill thinks he can gain more revenue "by selling his product
individually to each electronic medium." Bidwill is eyeing KSLX-
FM, which was recently purchased by Jaycor, whose "properties
have strong NFL identification."
BIGGER PICTURE? Tyers criticizes Bidwill for failing to
offer current partners a chance to rework deals while trying to
"get community leaders to build a domed stadium." Although
Bidwill denies looking to relocate, Tyers writes, "If you
consider the team has not sent out season-ticket renewal forms,
pulls the plug on its radio and television package and still
doesn't have the stadium it wants, it creates speculation ...
Could it be he's building a case of non-support to sell the NFL?"
(ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/24).
