Fox's broadcast of the '97 Super Bowl is nine months away,
but the network "already has struck several ad deals" for the
game, according to Langdon Brockinton in the INSIDE MEDIA that
hits stands tomorrow. Perennial Super Bowl advertisers Anheuser-
Busch and Pepsi will be back, along with '96 ad buyers Pizza Hut
and Visa. An A-B spokesperson said the brewer has purchased four
minutes of ad time, while Pepsi would not comment on its buy.
Sources say Fox has sold "the equivalent" of about 19 or 20 30-
second spots with total inventory between 58-60. The network is
said to be asking $1.1M to $1.3M per 30-second (INSIDE MEDIA,
4/17).
BASEBALL UPDATE: Meanwhile, Fox has sold about 50% of its
regular-season MLB inventory for this season, according to
sources. The network is said to be asking $30,000 per 30-second.
Among those "on board": GM, 7-Eleven, Warner Lambert (Zantac
75), Johnson & Johnson (Pepcid AC) and Pizza Hut. In the latest
on Fox's MLB front, Mennen "is on the verge of cutting a sizable
deal." Negotiations continue between Fox and companies in the
beer, automotive, credit card and telecom categories. Both
Miller and A-B are in talks with Fox and NBC. A-B had category
exclusivity on past Baseball Network broadcasts. GM's deal with
NBC gives it "half-" and "full domestic-" auto exclusivity, while
GM's one-year, $25M deal with Fox offers no exclusivity. Import
automaker Toyota is in discussions with both networks, as is
Texaco (Langdon Brockinton, INSIDE MEDIA, 4/17 issue).
