NBC expects the '14 Sochi Games to be profitable, a marked reversal from the $223M loss from the '10 Vancouver Games reported by former network owner GE. Speaking during a press conference today, NBC Sports Group Chair Mark Lazarus said Olympic advertising sales are "pacing extremely well." He added, "This will be a very good moment (financially) for our company." The network's ad sales and distribution deals, including a first-ever Winter Olympics deployment of every event live on digital platforms, have made it possible to avoid similar losses in Sochi, Lazarus said.

NBC's sales team has benefited from having an extra night of primetime programming to sell. The IOC added a dozen new sports events such as snowboard slopestyle and team figure skating, and needed to expand the Olympics from 17 to 18 days in order to schedule the competitions. As a result, NBC today announced that its primetime coverage of the Sochi Games will begin a day earlier than usual. The network will air team figure skating, women's moguls, and snowboard slopestyle, featuring Shaun White, on Feb. 6.

The Opening Ceremony will take place the next day, and NBC execs believe the additional day of broadcasting will help boost viewership for the Sochi Games. NBC Olympics Exec Producer Jim Bell said, “It’s terrific to have this special added night of primetime Thursday, and to do so with one of these exciting sports the IOC added to the menu (like snowboard slopestyle) … will give us a unique opportunity to kick things off and set up the Opening Ceremony the following night in a big way.”

For more on NBC’s plans for Sochi, see tomorrow’s issue of THE DAILY.

Fox Sports has been in talks with veteran TV host Regis Philbin to host a show for its planned Fox Sports 1 channel, according to several sources. Fox and Philbin have not agreed on a deal yet, but sources say talks are serious and an agreement could be close at hand. Fox declined to comment on the rumors, but sources say Philbin would serve as the main host of a show that would look like a sports version of "The View," with Philbin serving in the Barbara Walters role as the part-time host. Philbin is a known sports fan, and sources said the show would be a sports show, as opposed to a hybrid entertainment-and-sports show.

Sources also said that Fox has been looking into having a Jay Mohr show on Fox Sports 1. Last month, Mohr launched "Jay Mohr Sports" on Fox Sports Radio. It is not clear whether Fox is considering simulcasting Mohr's radio show or having him host his own show. Fox Sports still has not officially announced its plans for Fox Sports 1. Sources say Fox will rebrand its motorsports channel Speed as the multi-sport Fox Sports 1 this August. Around the same time, it will rebrand its action sports channel Fuel into the multi-sport Fox Sports 2, sources said.

Fox Sports today announced that play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson will call Fox Soccer's Feb. 13 broadcast of the Manchester United-Real Madrid UEFA Champions League game. Johnson will be joined in the broadcast booth by analyst Warren Barton. The assignment is the first in a series of EPL, FA Cup and Champions League matches Johnson is expected to call this year (Fox Sports).

Fox Sports co-President & co-COO Eric Shanks in Oct. '11 discussed plans with Johnson about becoming "the American voice of soccer" for the '18 FIFA World Cup. Shanks: "This is something we are serious about and something we will continue to work at. Based on radio games and the practice games Gus has done, I think this is going to work" (SI.com, 2/5).

ESPN today announced that analyst Dick Vitale will call NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four games this year for ESPN International, working with play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler. Vitale will work a semifinal game and the championship game telecast, which will be broadcast in 150 countries and territories outside the U.S. Jay Bilas will be the analyst on the other semifinal game. The assignment marks the first time Vitale has called a Final Four game (ESPN).

The Suns and sponsor Southwest Airlines today announced the launch of "Club Orange," a digital fan loyalty program designed to reward fans for interacting via online, social and mobile outlets. After registering at fans.suns.com, Club Orange members can earn points for more than a dozen digital activities. The points can then be redeemed for more than 150 items, including memorabilia, autographed jerseys and prize drawings. The program was developed in conjunction with Row27, Minneapolis (Suns).

MLBAM today began selling subscriptions to its '13 MLB.TV out-of-market live game package, with this year's premium-level $129.99 price, up $5 from last year's peak-level price. The top-end package will again include free access to MLBAM's flagship mobile application MLB.com At Bat, a popular bundling that began in '12. The pairing was in part a response to prior fan complaints about needing to buy two separate products to watch live games on mobile devices, and helped drive further growth of what was already one of the most successful digital paid content packages in any genre. At Bat was $14.99 by itself last year.

Also carrying over from last year, a single MLB.TV subscription will be accessible on more than 250 types of computers, smartphones, tablets and connected TV devices. MiLB.TV, carrying live online feeds of nearly every Triple-A game, returns for a third season. Full-season pricing for the minor-league package is $39.99, same as last year. Subscribers of the MLB.TV package can add the minor league games for an additional $20, also equal to the '12 pricing. Unlike some other major properties, there remains no link between MLB's online out-of-market game package and its linear TV counterpart, Extra Innings.

The Buffalo City Council today will receive an agreement for the Sabres to pay the city $2.2M, or the appraised value, for a parcel of land adjacent to First Niagara Center that will become the site of the HARBORcenter development. The council could approve the deal at its Feb. 19 meeting (BUFFALONEWS.com, 2/5).

The Astros today announced that their games will be broadcast by KBME-AM this season. The Clear Channel-owned station has aired the team's Spring Training games for several years, but regular-season games have been on the company's KTRH-AM since '99 (CHRON.com, 2/5).

BC Powder today announced a sponsorship deal with the SEC. Activation will include a significant presence at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville at the March 13-17 SEC men's basketball tournament (Prestige Brands Holdings).

TNT's Shaquille O'Neal has joined the ownership group of BlueO4, an oxygenated-enhanced water beverage (BlueO4).

NASCAR today announced that the new Gen-6 Sprint Cup Series cars will feature manufacturer identification on the car windshield on either side of the driver’s name (NASCAR).

"Bruton has got enough money that if he wanted to be part of the solution, he'd help to get us or the teams that start-and-park sponsored. Those are the things that he probably should be worried about" – NASCAR team Owner Tommy Baldwin, on SMI Chair & CEO Bruton Smith critizing the practice of teams qualifying for races with no intention of running the full event (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 2/4).

“Soccer is a global business and there’s not a good global mechanism for rooting out corruption in these kinds of sports” – CNBC.com Senior Editor John Carney, on the soccer match-fixing scandal linked to an Asian betting syndicate (“Power Lunch,” CNBC, 2/5).

"We've been well aware of the statements that have been made by Mr. Armstrong in other media reports. That does not change my view at this time" – U.S. Attorney André Birotte, saying Lance Armstrong's admission to doping does not change prosecutors' decision to spare him of criminal charges (REUTERS, 2/5).

"Believe me, as soon as they know the lessons learned from New Orleans, we will be convening to make sure that this doesn't happen" – NRG Energy President & CEO David Crane, whose company provides solar power to MetLife Stadium, on the Super Bowl power outage at Mercedes-Benz Superdome ("Squawk Box," CNBC, 2/5).

The Big Lead's Jason McIntyre: "Gus Johnson calling soccer? Why not? But my favorite soccer announcers are all European. guys who have obsessed over the sport for decades"

New Orleans Times-Picayune's Jeff Duncan: "Nothing against Indy. Awesome SB host last year. But #Nola going for#SB52 to punctuate the city's tricentennial b-day will be tough to beat"

Ad Age's Jeanine Poggi: "Puppy Bowl was watched by 12.4 million people, according to Animal Planet. During blackout viewership jumped to 1.1 million, a 54% increase."

The AP's Brian Mahoney: "ESPN says @miketirico will call both Knicks (day) and Nets (night) games Sun. Makes us guys who were going to pick one look like slackers."

CNBC's Jane Wells: "Nissan hires Ryan Lochte to promote its cars and a healthy lifetsyle. Because cars and tofu obviously go together."

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

BTN.com writer Tom Dienhart has posted an image of Michigan's monochromatic adidas jerseys the team will wear for tonight's game against Ohio State.

ADWEEK.com presents its annual two-minute mashup featuring clips of all the ads that made their national TV debuts during the Super Bowl telecast.

SiriusXM's Chris Russo will appear on CBS' "Late Show" at 11:35pm ET.

5 – Number of MLB front-office execs who hail from Canada: Blue Jays Senior VP/Baseball Operations & GM Alex Anthopoulos and Assistant GM Andrew Tinnish; Brewers President of Baseball Operations & GM Doug Melvin and VP & Assistant GM Gord Ash; and A's Dir of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi (TORONTO STAR, 2/5).