Visa will be the exclusive credit-card advertiser on ESPN's
Olympic Games-related programming, including a "variety" of U.S.
Olympic Trial events. ESPN is "offering advertisers a chance to
buy commercial time on an extensive Summer Games package," and
Langdon Brockinton reports that sponsors that have bought time on
NBC's Olympic coverage "may look to purchase ESPN's programming
for continuity and defensive purposes." ESPN is asking a "hefty
price" -- up to $1.5M for a package that includes a 30-second
spot on every half hour of Olympic coverage.....Sponsors of
Sports Illustrated's daily Olympic issue would "like to sell the
publications at their respective retail locations in Atlanta,"
and SI GM Alvaro Saralegui said they are "considering the idea."
Space in the publication, which debuts July 19, is "virtually
sold out and nearly all the buyers are official Olympic
sponsors." Brockinton reports the roster includes GM, Coca-Cola,
Visa, IBM, and Eastman Kodak. One question is whether consumers
will be interested in paying the $3 cover price for the daily or
if it will "get lost in the crowd" (INSIDE MEDIA, 11/14 issue).
