Marketplace Round-Up

In L.A., Meg James wrote the ’08 Beijing Games are a “major incentive [for GE] to keep NBC Universal” in its fold. GE Chair & CEO Jeffrey Immelt said that in addition to “providing hundreds of millions of dollars in TV advertising revenue ... GE’s sponsorship of the Games should generate $700[M] in sales of GE products in China” (L.A. TIMES, 6/4).

NEEDING AID: Morgan Stanley analyst William Pecoriello in a report said that Gatorade lost “significant share in the four-week period ended May 20” after Coca-Cola cut Powerade prices 7.5%. During the period, Gatorade posted a 0.8% increase in sales versus a 16% increase the previous year. Meanwhile, Powerade sales increased 41% compared to 24% growth for the year-ago period (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/5).

GIANT DEALS: Eminence Sports Travel is offering Father’s Day travel packages for MLB Giants fans wanting to attend the June 15-17 series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The $1,995 package includes two suite tickets to the Saturday game with a room at the Four Seasons Boston for Saturday night. A package costing $3,495 includes two suite tickets to games on Saturday and Sunday, two nights at the Four Seasons and limo service to and from Fenway (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/5).

YOUR AD HERE: The Mets have launched the “Your 15 Seconds of Mets Fame Commercial Contest,” and the winning spot will debut July 12 on SportsNet N.Y. during Reds-Mets. The winner will receive tickets to a home game this season, during which the ad will appear on the DiamondVision scoreboard in Shea Stadium (Mets).