Closing Bell, December 16, 2003

SIRIUS HOPES DEAL HAS SIMILAR IMPACT TO “NFL SUNDAY TICKET”

SiriusSatellite Radio President & CEO JosephClayton appeared on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” today to discuss the company’s newseven-year, $220M deal to be the NFL’s official satellite radio partner.  Clayton: “We see this as a transformationevent, just like the ‘NFL Sunday Ticket’ brought viewers to satellitetelevision back in the mid-90s, we think it will have the same effect onsatellite radio – not only for Sirius, but for the whole satellite radiocategory.”  CNBC’s Bill Griffethnoted Sirius’ deal is not exclusive – meaning competitor XM Radio could signteam deals.  However, Clayton saidcompetitors would have to pay “a much higher price.”  Griffeth noted Sirius has more than 200,000 subscribers, andcited an SG Cowen analyst as saying that Sirius is “going to need be about 1.4million subs over the life of the deal” to recoup the rights fee (“PowerLunch,” CNBC, 12/16).

Atpresstime, shares of Sirius were trading at $2.27, up 1.57%.  Shares of XM Radio were trading at $22.78,down 1.47%.

AFL TO OFFER FANTASY GAMES UNDER SANDBOXPLUS AGREEMENT

TheAFL today officially announced a two-year agreement with SandboxPlus, underwhich the fantasy game site will develop, produce, implement and manage theleague’s fantasy football program through ’05. The league will offer two free games and one premium game (AFL).  SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL reports that NBC“plans to scroll fantasy statistics during its AFL broadcasts next year” (SPORTSBUSINESSJOURNAL, 12/15 issue).

MLB RANGERS TO REMODEL 23 LUXURY SUITES AT THE BALLPARK

TheMLB Rangers today announced that the club has undertaken a major remodelingproject for 23 of its luxury suites for the ’04 season, the first remodelingsince The Ballpark in Arlington opened in ’94. The club is also introducing a new benefits program for full-seasonsuite holders.  Benefits include a 15%discount on all Rangers merchandise and a new ticket exchange policy, wherebyany unused suite tickets for a previously played game may be exchanged forseats in the lower bowl for future Sunday through Thursday games (Rangers).

COYOTES TO INTRODUCE NEW IN-ARENA STUDIO SHOW DECEMBER 27

TheCoyotes today announced that they will introduce a new in-arena studio show,“CoyoteVision,” beginning December 27 at Glendale Arena.  The team has hired former FSN host andKNXV-ABC sports anchor Barry Buetel and in-arena host Brittany Evansas the show’s talent.  The show willprovide over 40 minutes of content, including 15 minutes of pregame coverage,complete game analysis, coaches tips, an opponent preview, a “hot/cold” segmentfrom around the league and previous game highlights.  The show will run for 12 minutes during each 15-minuteintermission (Coyotes).

BUZZER BEATERS

TheN.Y. TIMES reports that Charles Wang, who withdrew his $265M bid for theNets December 4, “is close to reinstating his bid,” according to two peoplewith knowledge of his position. However, Wang’s spokesperson, Chris Botta, said that he was“unaware of a change in Wang’s position” (N.Y.TIMES, 12/16).

TheL.A. TIMES reports that Kobe Bryant’s attorneys “have filed a flood ofcourt motions in advance of a pretrial hearing Friday, arguing that thecredibility of the woman is suspect – and pertinent to the case.”  The most significant motion asserts that thewoman’s two purported suicide attempts “should be admissible” (L.A.TIMES, 12/16).

VARIETY.comreports that last night’s Eagles-Dolphins game “enabled ABC tocapture Monday in adults 18-49, according to preliminary nationals fromNielsen.”  The game posted a 6.8/17 fastnational “in adults 18-49 and 17.3 million viewers overall” from 9:00-11:00pmET.  When nationals are released latertoday, this “could be the top ‘MNF’ score in a couple of months” (VARIETY.com,12/16).

TheAP reports that British Open champion Ben Curtis is joining the EuropeanPGA Tour despite earning a five-year PGA Tour exemption with his British Openwin.  However, Curtis “is not abandoningthe PGA Tour; he still plans to play 18-20 events” (AP,12/16).

TheExpos today announced that an agreement has been reached with CKGM-AM, The Team990, to broadcast Expos games for a fourth consecutive season.  Expos Exec VP/Business Affairs ClaudeDelorme said in a release, “I would like to take this opportunity to thankSilver Star Mercedes and Goldenpalace.com for their on-going association withthe station and the team” (Expos).

STATS,Inc. today announced that CBS Sports will incorporate the company’s researchand production resources in its broadcasts of NCAA men’s basketball (STATS,Inc.).

TONIGHT’S EVENTS

SupersonicsOwner Howard Schultz will be the featured speaker for the Suns’ PlatinumClub Speakers Series, beginning at 6:00pm MT at America West Arena.  Tickets cost $100 and include a PlatinumClub seat to the Supersonics-Suns game.

CHANNEL SURFING

ESPNwill air NCAA men’s basketball: Utah-LSUat 7:00pm ET.

ESPN2will air NCAA football: New Orleans Bowl – Memphis-North Texas at 7:00pm ET.

ESPNClassic’s “SportsCentury” will profile JackieJoyner-Kersee at 8:00pm ET.

TheGolf Channel will air the “Year in Golf”at 8:00pm ET.

NBATV will air Rockets-Timberwolves at8:00pm ET.

ProFootball HOFer Eric Dickerson,Broncos RB Clinton Portis, 49ers LB Julian Peterson and Donnie Wahlberg are scheduled to appearon FSN’s “BDSSP.”

E!’s“True Hollywood Story” will profile BillClinton at 8:00pm ET.

A&E’s“Biography” will profile The Green RiverKiller at 8:00pm ET.

Bravowill air “Celebrity Poker Showdown”at 9:00pm ET, featuring Hank Azaria,

Michael Ian Black, Peter Facinelli, Mo Gaffneyamd Nicole Sullivan.

VH1’s “Driven” will profile Mike Tyson at 11:00pm ET.

HEADLINERS

Hereare tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:

TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST

TheN.Y. TIMES’ Mike Wise writes, “The history books say the last Indian tribe inIllinois was forcibly relocated to Kansas and then Oklahoma early in the 19^thcentury.  But there is one Indian left,according to members of the Honor the Chief Society: ChiefIlliniwek. … A debate over whether mascots with Indian themes are offensiveor harmless has played out on college campuses and at professional stadiums formore than two decades.  But there issomething singular here, a fierce loyalty to a student in war paint that makesthe hair stand on grown men’s forearms” (N.Y. TIMES).

TheATLANTA CONSTITUTION’s Jeff Schultz writes of former SEC Commissioner RoyKramer, “What I, nor anybody else, will never have are two children likethe former SEC commissioner’s: One is the SEC title game, college football’sgreatest success story this side of the Rose Bowl.  The other is the BCS, which recently climbed two spots past MargeSchott in the rankings as sports’most lampooned entities” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION).

• Horseracing finding new owners from all walks of life with partnerships.
• Opening of Camden Yards in April ’92 changed the way stadiums are designed.
• NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue’s plan for a “MNF” B-game is a good one.
• Steelers Owner Dan Rooney believes owners should participate in minority candidate interviews.

SeeThe Daily Insider’s Articles ofInterest section for more sports business-related links.

TODAY’S TEASER…

Sports& Entertainment: Name the actor whose portrayal of an obsessed high school wrestlerwas followed seven years later by a role as an America’s Cup skipper.

IN OTHER NEWS……

Coca-ColaEnterprises today announced that President & COO John Alm has beenelected President & CEO.  CurrentChair & CEO Lowry Kline will remain Exec Chair and retain activemanagement duties.  The changes areeffective January 1 (Coca-Cola Enterprises).

THE DAILY STAT: TOP SPORTS SITES FORWEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 30

Thefollowing are the top five sports Web sites ranked according to home uniqueaudience for the week ending November 30, according toNielsen//NetRatings.  Unique Audience = the number of persons in thousandsaccessing the site or network, with each counted only once.  Average timespent = the average amount of time a visitor has spent at that property for theweek.  This data is based on 37,000 home users with Internet access (Nielsen//NetRatings). Note: Traffic to the SportsLine.com brand does not include traffic to itsnetwork of sites, such as the NFL Network and PGA Tour.

…TODAY’S ANSWER

Matthew Modine starred as Louden Swain in the ’85 romanticdrama “Vision Quest” and as Will Parker in the ’92 action flick “Wind.”

If you have any questions,comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com

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