U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright "approached
the NBA in November, asking if the league would supply
programming" to the Balkan area as "part of an effort to
help support war-torn Bosnia and Herzegovina," according to
Langdon Brockinton of MEDIAWEEK. The NBA finalized a deal
with the OBN network, which reaches "about" 80% of the
Bosnian and Herzegovinan population, under which OBN will
air two NBA games per week as a well as the weekly half-hour
highlights show, "NBA Action." The first game "is expected"
to air "before the end of the month." The league currently
delivers league programming to neighboring Croatia, Serbia,
and Montenegro (Langdon Brockinton, MEDIAWEEK, 12/15 issue).
NBA NOTES: Brockinton also reports that NBC is "said to
have sold about" 90% of its NBA ad time for this season.
For February's All-Star Game, NBC has sold "all but about"
three or four 30-second spots, and is "said to be asking"
$450,000 for each of the remaining units. NBC is also
"getting ready to pitch" new four-year NBA sponsorship
packages to incumbent automotive sponsors, with the price
"likely" to "climb considerably." Also, Turner Sports has
moved "about" 90% of its regular season ad inventory, and
85% of its postseason time (MEDIAWEEK, 12/15 issue).
