After bringing in $4.3B over the last four years from
ABC, ESPN, Fox, NBC and TNT, the NFL will "score a healthy
revenue increase" in the upcoming negotiations over TV
rights, according to Jeff Jensen in ADVERTISING AGE.
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue: "Based on our current ad
revenues ... and strength of the programming, I would
anticipate I would get very substantial increases in
revenues in the next round of contracts." While the NFL was
considering selling a Sunday night prime-time deal to a
broadcast network, Tagliabue now says that would be "very
unlikely." But Tagliabue added the league will ask its TV
partners for more prime-time inventory so it can extend the
reach of its ad campaigns beyond game broadcasts, including
its "Play Football" and "Feel the Power" campaigns. The NFL
also wants to see more "shoulder programming" on network
partners, especially shows promoting football to young
viewers. Although a network has not been designated, plans
are "in the works" for a regular series aimed at kids and
backed by NFL sponsors (ADVERTISING AGE, 1/20 issue).
FOX NEW GRAPHIC: TUNA TRAPS? Fox Sports President
David Hill and Exec Producer Ed Goren previewed their
coverage of Super Bowl Sunday. Fox will not use any new
technical innovations for the game, but Goren said "we'll
throw in a wrinkle or two" (Michael Starr, N.Y. POST, 1/21).
SEEING GREEN ON THE BAYOU: In Atlanta, Prentis Rogers
estimates revenue for Fox's entire Super Bowl Sunday will be
a $100M "windfall" for Fox (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 1/22).
FEELING SPICY: The Sporting News will air its first
Super Bowl Preview Special this week on 21 RSNs, including
Fox Sports Net and SportsChannel. The show is hosted by
Barry Tompkins, with TSN Editor John Rawlings and former
player James Lofton as analysts (The Sporting News).
...SportsLine and Yahoo! have developed their own Super Bowl
site on the World Wide Web, accessed through either
SportsLine or Yahoo!. The site, in conjunction with VDOnet,
US West and Preview Travel, offers audio and video content
(SportsLine)....SportsFan Radio Network and SportsFan online
will be headquartered out of the House of Blues restaurant
in New Orleans this week (SportsFan)....Despite being upset
with ESPN's "Outside the Lines" segment, the Packers
relationship with ESPN "has returned to normal," as Packers
personnel have made themselves available to the sports
network (Howard Manley, BOSTON GLOBE, 1/19).
