SportsBusiness Daily — Sports Business Resources — your sports business news and information source. Learn More
Advanced
Home About Us Advertise With Us Marketplace/Classifieds College & University Program Subscribe/Trial My Account

Monday
June 2, 2008
Print This Issue


 
MOST VIEWED STORIES
View the top 20 stories
 
Recent Issues
Sports Media

History Repeating: Celtics-Lakers Finals A Boon For ABC, NBA

Lakers-Celtics Finals Match Up
Should Be Ratings Boon For ABC
With the Celtics and Lakers meeting Thursday in the NBA Finals for the first time in 21 years, the matchup "is a godsend for the league and television partner ABC after years of declining interest," according to Michael Wilbon (WASHINGTON POST, 6/1). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Paul Gough writes Celtics-Lakers "is just what the ratings doctor ordered: A high-powered, star-filled matchup (Kobe Bryant vs. Paul Pierce) as well as a rematch of past East Coast and West Coast powerhouses" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 6/2). In New York, Stephen Hart wrote, "After too many appearances of the bland [Spurs F] Tim Duncan and the offensively-challenged Pistons, this is the Finals matchup that I -- and trust me, commissioner David Stern and ABC -- was looking for" (STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE, 6/1). In L.A., Mike Bresnahan wrote Celtics-Lakers will be "intriguing, laden with superstars and heavy with symbolism matched only by an expected meteoric rise in TV ratings" (L.A. TIMES, 5/31).

AD RATES, RATINGS GUARANTEES UP: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Lombardo & Ourand report ESPN/ABC "already was enjoying a virtual sellout of ad inventory with a full week to go before the Finals were scheduled to start." ESPN was charging up to $400,000 for a 30-second spot, and the net is "so bullish about the Finals ... that it boosted its ratings guarantee to advertisers to a 9.5, up from last year's 8.5." While most advertisers have bought across the whole season,  ESPN/ABC Sports Consumer Marketing & Sales President Ed Erhardt said that some inventory "will be available for last-minute advertisers." Erhardt: "We are pacing well ahead of last year's demand, and while a lot of the business is already presold, there will be late scatter" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/2 issue).


Get A Free Trial To SportsBusiness Daily

Reader Comments

To post comments on this article, log in or register for a free trial.

Related Stories By Company Related Stories By Sport
Disney World Complex Gets ESPN Rebranding
November 6, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

ESPN Interested In March Madness Rights
November 5, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

NASCAR Official Critical Of ABC Coverage
November 4, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Vikes-Pack Most-Viewed Fox Game Since '95
November 3, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

ESPN Talks Workplace Conduct With Staff
November 3, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

UCF-Adidas Spat May Head To Court
November 6, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Teams H1N1 Vaccinations Examined
November 6, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

ESPN Interested In March Madness Rights
November 5, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Jordan Wears Nike; adidas Ending UCF Deal
November 5, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Maple Leafs, Raptors Receive H1N1 Vaccine
November 5, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

ALSO IN THIS SECTION


A Publication of Street & Smith's Sports Group.
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (REVISED 2009-06-23) and Privacy Policy (REVISED 2009-06-23).

© 2009 Street & Smith's Sports Group and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Street & Smith's Sports Group.