Fox Ad Inventory Completely Sold Out For July 13 MLB All-Star Game

Fox "has completely sold out" ad inventory for the July 13 MLB All-Star Game, according to John Ourand in this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Fox "sold the final couple of spots" for the All-Star Game for about $525,000 per 30-second ad, "representing a high-single-digit percentage increase over last season." The All-Star push "has seen strength from most categories, but especially the auto, telecommunications, movie and consumer electronics sectors." Fox also is reporting "strong support from MLB's official sponsors, which have bought 35 percent of all ad inventory in the All-Star Game." The sponsors include companies like General Motors, Pepsi and Taco Bell. Meanwhile, Fox also said that it "has sold out all of its regular-season advertising inventory through June" for MLB, and that its ad sales inventory is 90% sold "throughout the regular season." The network's ad sales have been "buoyed by two prime-time Yankees games" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/14 issue).