AD WEEK’s Anthony Crupi reported as the NFL begins its sixth season of “Thursday Night Football” on Nov. 10, NFL Network is “close to selling out its eight-game prime-time slate.” NFL VP/Media Sales David Pattillo said that NFLN “has sold more than 80 percent of its in-game inventory, holding back spots in the latter half of the schedule to accommodate scatter buys.” Auto, retail, and QSR have been “particularly active in the lead-up to ‘TNF,’ and studio clients are also a big part of the mix” (ADWEEK.com, 10/31).
TAPPING A NEW MARKET: REUTERS’ Amlan Chakraborty writes the “indifference shown by the majority of India's deep-pocketed” corporations toward F1 has “baffled team bosses who expect them to warm to the sport following the success of last weekend's inaugural Indian Grand Prix.” The teams are “mostly happy with Formula One's newest host and believe they have chanced upon a huge untapped market in one of the world's fastest growing economies.” F1 Team Sauber CEO Monisha Kaltenborn, a native of India, “got local dairy brand Amul on board for Sunday's race.” Toro Rosso Team Principal Franz Tost said that teams “could not afford to ignore ‘markets for the future’ like India” (REUTERS, 11/1).
CHOICE IS HIS: The GUARDIAN's Lawrence Donegan wondered why golf fans should care that Chubby Chandler "has been dumped" by Rory McIlroy for representation in favor of Horizon Sports' Conor Ridge. Both agents would agree that McIlroy “will make a ton of money whoever is running his business affairs,” as there is “no need to look any further for golf's next marketing star.” If McIlroy reportedly switched agents "because he was concerned about the way his ‘brand’ was being developed, we can be assured that he cares greatly about the way he is now perceived.” An agent will be able to “help with all kinds of things.” Donegan: “But, in the end, McIlroy's career and his brand are in his own hands. It is his choice” (GUARDIAN.co.uk, 10/29).
LET’S GET TOGETHER: The PGA Tour has retained IMG as its worldwide licensing rep, and the agency will work with the league to expand and manage the PGA Tour’s international retail licensing program in all regions except Japan, where the Tour separately retains Bonmax Co. as its master licensee. The agreement with IMG extends through ’15 (PGA Tour).
