Early next month, ESPN will launch a "major Web
merchandising operation" to sell major league logoed sports
apparel, according to ADVERTISING AGE. ESPN will link with 1-
800-PRO-TEAM Corp. of Plant City, FL, to handle inventory,
pricing and distribution. ESPN, its Web partner Starwave and 1-
800-PRO-TEAM will share revenues. Initial sales will be done via
e-mail or through an 800-number, although plans are for Starwave
to "implement a proprietary commerce system for secure
transactions." While ESPNET SportsZone is confident the site
will create a third online revenue source in addition to
advertising and subscriptions, Starwave VP Geoff Reiss cited the
lack of "real-life examples" and would not project revenues
(Charles Waltner, AD AGE, 4/15 issue).
OTHER NOTES.COM: Sierra On-Line Corp. has acquired Headgate
Inc., developers of golf simulation software. The company plans
a Windows 95 golf title. Sierra CEO Ken Williams: "Golf is one
of the leading categories in entertainment software publishing;
the market is actually larger than flight simulations" (Sierra
On-Line)....In addition to the official Boston Marathon site,
operated by Digital Equipment Corp., Boston.com -- run by a unit
of the Boston Globe -- will follow today's race (N.Y. TIMES,
4/15).
