CBS President & Chief Advertising Revenue Officer Jo Ann Ross today said the net has sold more than 90% of its ad slots for Super Bowl LIII. That pace is ahead of the last two years and on par with Super Bowl 50, which CBS also broadcast. CBS Exec VP/Sports Sales & Marketing John Bogusz said the entire third quarter is sold out, with remaining slots currently scattered around the other quarters. Ross and Bogusz each said some of the new advertisers and categories will surprise, but they were not at liberty to disclose them because of a high number of non-disclosure agreements signed with the brands. A source said a 30-second spot is selling for as high as $5.25M.

Meanwhile, CBS plans to use 135 cameras for the game, including 8K HD cameras. CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus said the use of 8K HD, the highest resolution currently available, marks a first for sports. He added that the Super Bowl will become the second-highest revenue event in the history of CBS Corp., behind only the ’15 Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight on Showtime.

CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus declined to predict a rating for Super Bowl LIII, but network execs said the live stream of the game is poised to post another double-digit percentage increase in audience size and once again set a new record for digital viewership of the event. Super Bowl LII on NBC last February generated an average minute audience of 2.02 million viewers and a peak of 3.1 million concurrent streams, continuing a steady pattern of growth since live Super Bowl digital streams began in '12. CBS Sports Digital Exec VP & GM Jeff Gerttula: “There has been a very consistent trend of double-digit growth I would expect to continue this time around. We particularly expect to see further lift from connected TV platforms and on mobile."

Super Bowl LIII extends a significantly widened digital distribution that began last year in which the game will be made available to all connected devices through NFL, Verizon Media Group and CBS platforms, including the CBS All Access OTT service. CBS’ live stream of the game also will be joined by a wide range of ancillary programming on its CBS Sports HQ streaming network. Gerttula said the net has undertaken a wide range of internal preparations to minimize latency in the digital feed from real time play, annually one of the most frequent complaints surrounding the Super Bowl stream. “We’re really at the bleeding edge of what the Internet can handle in terms of a live event when it comes to the Super Bowl,” he said. “But we’re doing everything we can to minimize that lag.”

The Angels and the city of Anaheim are "expected to agree to a one-year extension of the team's lease at Angel Stadium," keeping them at the ballpark through the '20 season. The Anaheim City Council is "expected to consider the extension at its meeting Tuesday." The short-term deal allows "time for the new city council to familiarize itself with options for keeping the team in Anaheim" while the Angels "consider alternative homes in Southern California" (LATIMES.com, 1/10).

The Angels in October "exercised an opt-out clause; the team would otherwise have been locked into the lease for another decade." Neither side has commented in recent months on "what they hope a new lease might include." City spokesperson Mike Lyster said, “We’re going to look at everything from rehabbing the stadium all the way to building a new stadium” (OCREGISTER.com, 1/10).

Ice Cube’s Big3 league will expand to 12 teams from eight for the '19 season. The league also will play in 18 cities, with games to be held twice a week in each city compared to once a week in 10 cities over the first two seasons. “It’s time to up the ante a bit,” said Ice Cube. The Big3 did not renew its previous two-year TV deal with Fox that ended in '18 and is looking for a new media partner. “We are not ready to announce who our partner is going to be,” said league co-Founder Jeff Kwatinetz. “There is a ton of interest.”

The league also announced that former WNBAer Lisa Leslie will coach one of the new teams this year, while the player age requirement will be lowered from 30 to 27. Players still must have NBA or pro international basketball experience. Meanwhile, Kwatinetz noted Ice Cube and a group that includes LL Cool J is still interested in bidding on the Fox RSNs. Their interest in the RSN sale was reported last fall.

The purse for the Kentucky Derby will increase to $3M, up from $2M last year, "starting with this year’s 145th running on May 4." The $1M increase is a "result of returns from the historical racing machines at Derby City Gaming." It also marks the "first increase for the Kentucky Derby purse" since '05. First place in the Derby will now earn $1.86M, while the "other two jewels of the Triple Crown series, the Preakness and Belmont, both offer" purses of $1.5M (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 1/10).

The Bruins and NWHL Boston Pride are partnering on several initiatives around women’s hockey that will see the NHL team provide financial and marketing support to the NWHL team. The Bruins will launch a new program for girls aged 4-10 called the Bruins Academy Girls Learn to Play program, to be led by Pride players. The Bruins also will help market the Pride to hockey fans across Massachusetts. In celebration of the new partnership, Pride players will participate in on-ice activities and in broadcast and scoreboard interviews during tonight’s Capitals-Bruins game.

This marks the fourth deal between NHL and NWHL teams in their respective local markets. Others include the Devils and Metropolitan Riveters; Wild and Whitecaps; and the Sabres and Beauts, which Pegula Sports & Entertainment acquired in Dec. '17. NWHL Deputy Commissioner Hayley Moore said that the partnerships have helped “to grow the game on all levels and plug into that engine to get more of the word out there.” She declined to comment on the level of the Bruins financial contribution in the deal.

The N.Y. Times named Randy Archibold sports editor. He had served as deputy sports editor since '15 (NYTIMES.com, 1/10).

FloSports.tv reached a deal to serve as the exclusive distribution partner for both Atlantic Hockey and Hockey East through '22 (FloSports).

The Orioles will partner with Live Nation to bring Billy Joel to Camden Yards on July 26, marking the first concert in the ballpark's history (Live Nation).

"Certainly would love to see that happen but nothing is official. Now that the announcement has been made, we're hoping to see what we can figure out. Understandably, the priority for the NHL is their game and anything on top of that is a bonus" -- Air Force Academy Chief Program Office Nick Kiger, on possibly adding an outdoor college hockey game to the NHL Stadium Series weekend in '20 (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/10).

“If you're Kyler Murray and you can come out now and be drafted in the first round, you’re never going to be hotter than you are right now, and you keep your star status. ... If you go to Oakland, nobody sees you in Oakland if you're playing for the Oakland A’s” -- Sports radio host Dan Patrick (“The Dan Patrick Show,” 1/10).

Something to watch for the final two NFL hires of this cycle: the chair of the NFL's workplace diversity committee is Katie Blackburn, EVP of the Bengals & Mike Brown's daughter. Have talked to people outside that team that imagine there is some pressure to make a diverse hire.

— Judy Battista (@judybattista) January 10, 2019

If Kyler Murray were to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, he'd be the first athlete to ever be a first round pick in both the MLB & NFL, via @EliasSports.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 10, 2019

My life as a Bucs writer for the foreseeable future is a nonstop panic that my phone will change “Arians” to either “Ariana” or “Asians.” Just making sure you understand this.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 10, 2019

Nice thing about @oscarmayer joining @roushfenway is that it's a sponsor fans can show their support for in their day-to-day lives.

There's not enough of that in #NASCAR these days.

— Daniel McFadin (@danielmcfadin) January 10, 2019

Man @TJQuinnESPN has built a career of investigation and speaking hard truth to power, but he may wind up going down as the guy who cracked The Soproanos finale.

— Jason Gay (@jasongay) January 10, 2019

Ciara’s husband will be attending Spring Training with the Yankees this year.

— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) January 10, 2019

Members of the French women's national soccer team hold a seminar on the country's FIFA Women's World Cup hosting plans at the annual United Soccer Coaches convention at the McCormick Place West Building in Chicago. 

Free agent RF Bryce Harper promotes a new initiative via online fundraising platform Omaze that will benefit the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. Donors will have the chance to win a haircut, lunch and game of catch with Harper.

NFL Network's Michael Irvin will appear on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" at 11:35pm ET.

65% -- Percentage of Gen Z males who keep up with non-traditional sports by watching videos on YouTube or social media, according to a survey from Whistle Sports. A total of 501 men aged 13-34 were polled in the survey, and 56% feel that non-traditional sports are more relevant to their generation than traditional sports (Whistle Sports).