In its newest ad campaign featuring Rip Torn, the NTRA
is looking to put a "greater emphasis on the wagering side
of the game, to emphasize the 'sociability and camaraderie
of the racetrack,' and to 'raise the profile of the ads by
having an element of celebrity,'" according to Steve Bowen,
of the NTRA's ad agency, Merkely Newman Harty. In DC,
Andrew Beyer calls the ads "funny, and they ring true. ...
Torn is completely believable as an obsessive racing fan,
and much of the humor in the ads evokes the real humor of
the track" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/17)....The marketing of six-
and 12-pack packaging of Molson Diamond, Molson's new low-
alcohol beer, will include sampling sessions at NHL games
(AD AGE, 12/17)....Callaway Golf's lawsuit against Spalding
over the packaging of Spalding's "System C" golf balls
received a go ahead after the U.S. District Court in CA
dismissed a counterclaim by Spalding and set a trial date of
October 23, 1999 (Callaway Golf)....WCBS-NY will be one of
14 CBS O&Os that will pre-empt programming next Tuesday for
a 30-minute infomercial time buy from TX-based golf club
manufacturer Alien Sports (N.Y. POST, 12/17).
