Fort Lauderdale, FL.-based SportsLine USA "is on the
verge of announcing a major alliance with CBS" that would
rename the site CBS SportsLine, according to Burgi & Lefton
of MEDIAWEEK. Sources "close to the deal" say CBS would pay
SportsLine "in the high tens of millions of dollars" to
create CBS' first sports dedicated Web site. Execs are
trying to close the deal in time to debut before the NCAA
basketball tournament in March. While NBC and Fox "had come
close" to making an deal with SportsLine, the networks now
remain "without dedicated sports-related Web sites."
SportsLine's ad revenue reportedly increased from $270,000
in the first quarter to $4M in its second quarter
(MEDIAWEEK, 1/20 issue). GM's Oldsmobile division signed a
partnership with SportsLine. Oldsmobile will have banner
ads at varying sites (ADWEEK, 1/20 issue).
ONLINE NEWS & NOTES: Nike launched an interim Web site
focusing around the Super Bowl, created by San Francisco-
based Red Sky Interactive. This week Nike will hear "final
pitches" for a new Internet strategy (AD WEEK, 1/20)....The
Sporting News launched its Web site on Monday at http://www.
sportingnews.com (TSN)....Electronic Advertising and
Marketplace Report estimates Web advertising revenue in '96
at $171.5M, up 170% from $63.5M in '95 (MEDIACENTRAL, 1/20).
