Networks Ink Sponsor Backing For College Football Coverage

The Home Depot Inks Three-Year Deal To Continue Sponsoring ESPN’s “College GameDay”

The Home Depot has inked a three-year renewal of its presenting sponsorship of ESPN’s “College GameDay” show, which will continue to be called “ESPN College GameDay Built By The Home Depot.” The deal includes branding on the set’s main desk, commercial spots and a series of sponsored features across ESPN properties. The company will also sponsor vignettes on Friday’s “SportsCenter” and on the Saturday “GameDay” that feature favorite moments from the latter’s first 20 years. An expanded two-hour “GameDay” will make its season debut on Saturday at its new 10:00am ET start time. The first show will originate from Atlanta, site of Notre Dame-Georgia Tech, which will air on ABC at 8:00pm, marking the debut of “Saturday Night Football Presented by Southwest Airlines.” “GameDay” has a new dedicated Web site at www.collegegameday.com (THE DAILY).

FSN FOOTBALL DEALS: In this week’s SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, John Ourand reports FSN has signed electronics company Kyocera to a sponsorship deal “in the low seven figures for the network’s Big 12 and Pac-10 college football games.” Kyocera will sponsor FSN’s weekly studio show, “College Football Saturday Kickoff.” The net has also signed Nike to sponsor an expanded high school football lineup featuring eight national games. FSN Exec VP/Ad Sales Kyle Sherman said the deal represents a “nice six-figure deal” for the network. Sources said that the value of the deal is “north of $500,000” (SBJ, 8/28 issue).