Nissan and Anheuser-Busch have strengthened their presence
on broadcast TV sports, according to INSIDE MEDIA.
NISSAN: Nissan's "drive" back into sports is the result of
a "much heftier" TV ad budget, according to Langdon Brockinton.
With the additional ad dollars, Nissan has signed a deal to buy
four 30-second ads in "virtually every" Monday night NFL game on
ABC this season. Sources say the deal could also carry into the
'97 season. Nissan has also struck a deal with NBC to purchase
"significant" ad time on NBA coverage for '96-97 and '97-98.
Finally, Nissan is "said to have" ad agreements with NBC and Fox
for their NFL and MLB coverage this season, including the Super
Bowl, the NFL regular season and playoffs, postseason baseball
and the All-Star Game. In addition, Nissan agreed to a "sizable"
'98 Olympics deal with CBS. Nissan and its agency, TBWA
Chiat/Day, declined comment, as did the nets. A-B: Sources
say Anheuser-Busch has agreed to a two-year deal with CBS that
gives the company category-exclusivity on the network's NCAA
hoops coverage. In the $15-20M/year agreement, A-B gets four 30-
second spots on each regular-season and NCAA tournament
telecast. Sources also say A-B is in "serious negotiations" with
CBS as they are "looking to secure" half the '98 Nagano Olympic
commercial time allotted to beer makers. A-B is also said to
have "snagged" a small presence on CBS' college football
telecasts this season (INSIDE MEDIA, 6/26 issue).
