IMG’s board last night approved a $2.4B sale of the company to William Morris Endeavor and Silver Lake Partners. The deal, which sources said will be announced today, immediately turns WME into a major player in sports by adding IMG’s sports consulting, college, tennis, golf and media businesses to its portfolio. It also gives IMG’s owner, Forstmann Little, a significant return on the $750M the private equity firm spent on IMG in '04.

WME beat out bids from CVC Capital and Carlyle Group for IMG. Evercore and Morgan Stanley managed the sale. Forstmann Little trustee Mark MacDougall oversaw the process. WME was willing to pay more than other finalists for IMG because co-CEO Ari Emanuel believes he can find a way to cut costs by finding synergies between the two companies. Successfully doing that will require blending two distinct cultures and two very different companies.

See today's issue of THE DAILY for more on this story.

How the WME/IMG deal is playing in the national media: The N.Y. TIMES goes with the page one headline, “After A Merger, Agents To Stars And Stadiums.” Story lede: “Ari Emanuel has climbed – brashly, ruthlessly – into Hollywood’s power center with one position in mind: king. … A combined IMG and William Morris Endeavor would significantly alter the balance of power in Hollywood’s business landscape” (N.Y. TIMES, 12/18). An L.A. TIMES Business section cover story states the transaction “would intensify” WME’s competition with CAA “for supremacy in the talent agency business, demonstrating that the battle has moved beyond television and movies and into sports” (L.A. TIMES, 12/18). The WALL STREET JOURNAL strips the deal across its Marketplace section: “Shifting Hollywood economics are behind WME's quest for new revenue sources” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/18).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER writes the deal “would create a massive entity with enough star power to redraw the business landscape in Hollywood” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 12/17). DEADLINE.com reports IMG “would function independently under the new structure, but its owners Forstmann Little would have no equity stake” (DEADLINE.com, 12/17).

The 49ers have signed Intel as a founding partner in a multiyear deal covering naming rights to a plaza on the northwest side of Levi’s Stadium. The number of years and financial terms were not disclosed, but founding partnerships at the major-league level are typically 10-year deals valued at seven figures annually. The Intel Plaza will feature a fan experience zone showcasing Intel’s newest products. The agreement also includes radio and television advertising, hospitality and the opportunity for Intel to host events with customers at the stadium. The computer chip maker’s headquarters in Santa Clara are about two miles southeast of the stadium.

The agreement was aided for the 49ers by CAA and comes less than a week after Intel signed a sponsorship with La Liga club FC Barcelona that includes rights to the team’s jerseys, a five-year deal with a total value reported to be $25M.

A source said that MLB's gross revenues in '13 will exceed $8B "for the first time." The "exact figures were not revealed," but the league is projected to take in revenues of $8-8.5B on the year. Revenues last year were above $7.5B. While attendance "has been ostensibly flat for the league, the continuing growth in television revenue is a key reason for the rapid escalation." It is "very possible" MLB this time next year could see revenues in the $8.5-9B range, as revenues will "double for new broadcast deals" with the league's national TV partners (FORBES.com, 12/17).

The Big East Conference has signed an exclusive two-year radio rights deal with WestwoodOne that covers both men's and women's basketball. The deal includes an undetermined number of regular-season games; the semifinals and championship of the men's Big East tournament; and the championship game of the women's Big East tournament. The agreement allows the Big East to live stream the radio broadcasts to the conference's website. Games also will be available via WestwoodOne's website and SiruisXM Satellite Radio. As part of the deal, WestwoodOne will distribute games to local terrestrial radio stations.

Coverage starts with a New Year's Eve doubleheader: Villanova-Butler and Marquette-Creighton. Game analysts will include former coaches John Thompson and Steve Lappas and former player Donny Marshall.

The Marion County (Fla.) Commission yesterday unanimously voted to postpone until Jan. 7 its decision to "consider a sales tax referendum proposed by the city of Ocala to pay" for a new ballpark for the Single-A Florida State League Yankees. The commission "wants more time to determine if there are alternative ways to fund the project other than a sales tax." The postponed proposal would have put a "referendum on the ballot March 18 asking Marion County's voters if they would be willing to approve a three-year half-cent sales tax" (Ocala STAR BANNER, 12/17).

USA Today in this morning's issue published the results of its inaugural "Ad Meter: Year in Sports presented by Kia." The survey involved more than 5,000 Ad Meter panelists casting ballots. Highlights included "Best Viral Video" going to Bauer Hockey's effort with Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane's stickhandling tricks. The "Best Athlete on Social Media" was gymnast McKayla Maroney. A Guinness ad featuring wheelchair basketball won for "Best Commercial." Bill Murray's appearance on ESPN's "College GameDay" won for "Best Media Moment" (USA TODAY, 12/18).

Today’s Top Read: In his last column for the Wall Street Journal after 22 years of reviewing consumer technology products, Walt Mossberg lists the products that changed the digital industry (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/18).

IndyCar team owner A.J. Foyt is “keeping his team together” for a second straight season. Foyt said that driver Takuma Sato, chief engineer Don Halliday and performance engineer Raul Prados “will be back in 2014” (INDYSTAR.com, 12/17).

U.S. volleyball player Lindsey Berg has agreed to endorse Kaos Gold and its DTC line of energy drinks (Kaos Gold).

Cox Communications has begun carrying the beIN Sport channel and later this month will begin offering the beIN Sport Play broadband service (Cox Communications).

Virginia-based Center of the Universe Brewing Co. has partnered with the Double-A Eastern League Richmond Flying Squirrels to create Chin Music, an amber lager that “will be available at The Diamond and throughout the region beginning in March” (AP, 12/17).

“Rather than it being restrictive, I think the BCS broadened college football” – Former SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer, who helped implement the system in ’98 (ESPN.com, 12/17).

“It does make the player more free-agent like and that was the intent of the settlement” – MLB Giants GM Brian Sabean, on the new posting system for int’l free agents (CSNBAYAREA.com, 12/17).

"I wish Nike would have told me when they were going to release the images, but that's just what the biggest brand in the world does that I'm grateful to be a part of" – Cavaliers G Kyrie Irving, saying he was caught off guard by Nike's official release of the Zoom HyperRev (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 12/18).

"It's an albatross that hangs around our necks. Every year it forces us to either come up with more revenue or take away from spending for other things the county needs" – Hamilton County (Ohio) Commissioner Todd Portune, on a sales-tax increase agreed on in '96 to pay $540M toward construction of Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park  (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 12/17).

“I talk to them every single day, so I feel like I’m out there with them in spirit. I talk to the coaches after the game, the players” – Suspended Dolphins G Richie Incognito (ESPN.com, 12/17).

Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell: "BTW, David Wesley was always good at articulating basketball, so I'm sure not surprised he'd become a color analyst in New Orleans."

ESPN's Buster Olney: "Estimates on where the Tanaka bidding would go, if he's posted for MLB teams, reach well over $100 million, because of his age (25)."

SI's Tim Layden: "When time comes to put fact-checking notes at end of my completed story, I would rather jump out the window. But it must be done."

Louisville Courier-Journal's Tim Sullivan: "Saw Anchorman 2. It's very funny in spots, but could stand pruning. Sadly, satirical depiction of trivialization of TV news rings too true."
 
If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

Omnicom and Publicis reportedly will “win unconditional European Union regulatory approval” for their $35.1B merger to “create the world’s biggest advertising agency.” The deal was expected to draw “tough antitrust scrutiny because of the combined company’s strong market share” (REUTERS, 12/17).

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Classical Music.”

“’Royal March of the Lion,’ ‘The Aquarium’ and ‘The Aviary’ are thematically related 1886 works from this man.”

Last night's 1:00am ET edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with ESPN's Avery Johnson discussing the return of Clippers coach Doc Rivers to Boston, followed by Bulls-Knicks and the benching of Redskins QB Robert Griffin III. Last night's 11:00pm ET edition of FS1's "Fox Sports Live" led with UFC fighter Dominick Cruz and FS1's Ariel Helwani discussing the UFC, followed by Doc Rivers returning to Boston and Bulls-Knicks.

ESPN2’s Keith Olbermann documents the “worst persons” in the world of sports, with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America HOF voters last night drawing his ire.

NBC’s Jay Leno: “It’s that time of year when toy manufacturers have to post warnings on which toys could be a choking hazard and they don’t have to be tiny little toys. For example, a football given to Tony Romo, that could be seen as a choking hazard. It’s been a rough week for quarterbacks. Eli Manning wanted to do something nice for his teammates and last night he threw a Christmas party and it got intercepted” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 12/17).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “Did anybody here buy a lottery ticket? I didn’t feel like waiting in line so instead I fed a dollar bill to a pigeon, same result. They say you have a better chance of being hit by an Eli Manning pass than winning the lottery” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 12/17).

CBS’ David Letterman: “You folks get in that Mega-Millions thing? Six hundred million dollars, that’s just crazy. The only way you can make that kind of money is if you're playing second base for the Seattle Mariners. … Apparently there’s another divorce going down in the Kardashian family. Lamar Odom, I guess married to Khloe, this is an interesting legal point, if Lamar Odom is ever arrested, the fact that he was married to a Kardashian will count as time served” (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/17).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Questions Never Before Asked By Barbara Walters.” Letterman said, “This is hard to believe because when you consider the source, the subject of the list, it’s hard to believe that there have been questions never before asked by this person. You would think if there’s a question to be asked, Barbara Walters will be the first to have asked it.” ABC’s Barbara Walters appeared live on-stage to read the list (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/17).

10) "Can I call you Pope Frank?"
9) "Do you really want me to sing?"
8) "Anyone got a job for me?"
7) "Is there a place for me on Duck Dynasty?"
6) "I ask you: What does Miley Cyrus have that I don't have?"
5) "Is this your first time at Denny's?"
4) "Wanna spend New Year's Eve on my couch?"
3) "Why am I here?"
2) "Can I go now?"
1) "Just who is David Letterman?"

“Who was Camille Saint-Saëns?”