Figure Skating Reaping Benefits Of Writers Strike

Figure Skating Nets Primetime Coverage Due To Writers Strike

The U.S. Figure Skating Championships later this month will air "two nights in prime time" on NBC thanks to "a scheduling change owing peripherally to the writers' strike," according to Philip Hersh of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE.  NBC has moved the Sunday, January 27 men's final from "live late in the afternoon to delayed in a Sunday evening timeslot [7:00-9:00pm ET] that had been assigned to 'Dateline.'" The women's and dance finals will be in prime time from 8:00-11:00pm ET on Saturday, January 26. NBC Universal Sports & Olympics VP/Strategic Marketing & Communications Mike McCarley indicated that the network "promises significant promotion of the telecasts."  Meanwhile, Hersh notes the U.S. Figure Skating Association "has to come up with revenue to replace" the $12M it had been receiving annually from ABC, as NBC's three-year deal with the organization does not include a rights fee; instead "both sides are selling advertising with profit-sharing incentives."  Additionally, State Farm "chose not to renew" its title sponsorship of the Championships, and "negotiations with other companies, including Procter & Gamble, have yet to produce a replacement" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/10).