AD AGE's Anthony Crupi noted despite enduring a 9% drop in viewership, the NFL's network partners still "managed to eke out slight year-over-year increases in revenue from in-game ads." But, unfortunately for broadcasters and the advertisers who are "lining up to buy time in the NFL playoffs, the erosion that characterized the last 17 weeks may only accelerate in the postseason." For starters, three of the top five highest-rated NFL franchises -- Cowboys, Packers and Seahawks -- will be "watching the playoffs from home." Even if advertisers should "expect to reach fewer eyeballs during this playoff cycle, the overall ratings will still eclipse pretty much every other delivery system on the tube, short of the Super Bowl" (ADAGE.com, 1/4).
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK: In Louisville, Jake Lourim notes Kentucky state Rep. Kelly Flood has filed a bill in the House that would require the BOT at all state universities to "investigate their schools' athletic apparel contracts, such as the deals Louisville and Kentucky have with Adidas and Nike, respectively." Flood's bill calls for the governing bodies to "protect the good reputation of the university and maintain the financial integrity of the contract or agreement" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 1/5).
SAVE BIG MONEY: Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Menards home improvement stores and some of its partner vendors will "sponsor Brandon Jones' No. 19 Toyota in 10 Xfinity races." NBCSPORTS.com's Daniel McFadin noted Jones, in his first year with JGR, will have "one partner-specific brand on his hood in each of Menards’ races" (NBCSPORTS.com, 1/4).
