Randy Ryan, president of the inaugural John R. Wooden
Classic, has announced new media and sponsorship agreements for
the December 3 college basketball tournament featuring Kansas,
UMass, Kentucky and UCLA.
TELEVISION: As part of a deal with the NBC Super Channel,
the Wooden Classic will be broadcast live from the Pond at
Anaheim during prime time in 32 countries in Western Europe,
Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Additional international
broadcast agreements are expected to place the tournament in a
total of 80 countries. NBC Sports Senior VP Jonathan Miller:
"Sports transcends all boundaries, and we are sure that the
Wooden Classic will be a real happening for the NBC Super Channel
audience."
RADIO: Through Radio Sports Creations and the American
Sports Radio Network, the Wooden Classic will be broadcast live
in over 100 stations in the U.S., and internationally over the
Armed Forces Radio Network. Warren Williamson, president of
Radio Sports Creations: "We are thrilled that the John R. Wooden
Classic invited us in. It obviously means a tremendous amount of
exposure."
SPONSORS: Multi-year agreements have been reached with
Gillette, Jeep-Eagle, NAPA, and Dean Witter. Ryan: "With these
agreements, more people throughout the world can tune in to honor
a living legend who not only defines college basketball, but who
is also a great man. Our goal of insuring the legacy of John
Wooden by creating a first-class event in his honor and having
the opportunity to broadcast it to the world has been achieved"
(John R. Wooden Classic).
