Media Notes

The Univ. of Wisconsin Board of Regents is expected to approve a ten-year extension between the school’s athletic program and Learfield Communications that “would provide UW more than $76[M] over the next 12 years.” Learfield would pay a one-time extension bonus of $1M and pay $750,000 “toward the instillation of courtside LED signage at the Kohl Center and LED signage on the [façade] at Camp Randall Stadium.” Learfield handles various TV and radio programming for the school (MIL. JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/13).

The Masters Web Site Sees 18% Increase In Traffic Over Last Year

PAYBACK? In Baltimore, Ray Frager reports WNST-AM Owner Nestor Aparicio was denied a media credential by the Orioles this year. Aparicio in the past has organized walkouts during games at Camden Yards, and Frager writes it is “hard to believe he would have been denied if, instead, he had helped organize 1,000 fans to hold up ‘We love the O’s’ placards.” While the Orioles “might well be within their rights to deny credentials to anyone ... in this instance, it makes them look vindictive” (Baltimore SUN, 4/13).

TRADITION LIVES HERE: Hitwise has determined visits to Masters.org increased 18% during this year’s tournament compared to last year. The site averaged 0.49% of visits among all U.S. Web sites during the four days, up from 0.42% during the ’06 event. The Web site was the 17th most-visited site among more than 4,800 in the Hitwise Sports Category for the week ending April 7 (THE DAILY).