NBC has signed the U.S. Postal Service to sponsor the
'99 and 2001 Ryder Cups, according to Brockinton & Reynolds
of INSIDE MEDIA. NBC recently sent sponsor proposals to five
incumbents that bought time on the '95 and '97 events: USPS,
GM, PepsiCo, Coopers & Lybrand and Ping. USPS officials
wouldn't comment on terms of the deal, but industry sources
"expected NBC to attach a considerably more expensive rate
to the '99/2001 packages (INSIDE MEDIA, 12/11 issue).
A STRIKE OR SPARE? As of last week, ABC had sold more
than 95% of ad time for its Sugar and Rose Bowl telecasts.
CBS sold more than 85% for its Orange and Fiesta Bowls. A
30-second spot for the Sugar Bowl sold for $425-475,000,
while "much of the inventory" for the Rose was between $375-
425,000 per 30-second spot (INSIDE MEDIA, 12/11).
NUGGETS: Sources indicate Buick will not return to
sponsor ABC's college basketball telecast this year....7-
Eleven will return as presenting sponsor of Fox's broadcast
of the NHL All-Star Game. 7-Eleven bought air time on Fox's
regular-season NHL coverage. For the season, Fox has sold
"virtually all" of its inventory, with "many" 30-second
spots going for $30-40,000 each. Much of the time went in
multiyear deals to official league sponsors Quaker State,
Anheuser-Busch, Nike and Dodge....CBS has sold "more than"
60% of its inventory to the '98 Winter Olympics in Nagano
(Brockinton & Reynolds, INSIDE MEDIA, 12/11).
