Ad Out: FSN Reducing Commercial Time During T'Wolves Games

FSN North during all remaining T'Wolves broadcasts, "rather than going to commercial after the second quarter, ... will remain at the venue, breaking away for only two minutes of ads just before the third quarter," according to Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE.  There is "usually about 12 minutes of commercial inventory fit into the 15-minute break."  The net's plan "is to squeeze the screen and have a ticker running at the bottom and statistics and other information provided on the righthand side." Advertisers' logos will be included on the ticker. FSN North Senior VP & GM Mike Dimond believes that "by providing more analysis and interviews, along with showing halftime entertainment from the arena, viewers will be less likely to leave." Dimond, on the appeal to advertisers, said, "Your logo can be on the screen for 12 solid minutes. It's not just about a 30-second spot here. It's so new, we are struggling with the value and what it's worth. It's hard to put a figure on it." For now, "the halftime concept will be solely focused" on the T'Wolves, as Dimond indicated that "there would be some obstacles for doing it with the Wild, where you have two intermissions" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/30).

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