The NBA will "use a soft sell to remind fans why they
love the sport" in two new 30-second TV spots, according to
ADWEEK. NBA CMO Rick Welts said the ads "won't look like
NBA spots have looked in the past," and that the campaign
will "focus on the beauty of basketball and getting back on
the court." The ads will be developed by NBAE and the NBA's
creative consultant Berlin, Cameron & Partners. N.Y.-based
Click 3X will handle post-production (ADWEEK, 1/11 issue).
ON BOARD: In Houston, Greg Hassell reported that
several Houston-area companies that "advertise heavily"
during Rockets games say that "they are not cutting back on
their advertising plans" due to the NBA's six-month lockout.
Gallery Furniture President Jim McIngvale said that his
company will advertise "every bit as tenaciously" as it has
in the past. McIngvale: "We want to be part of the solution,
not part of the problem." Hassell also reported that TX-
based Southwest Airlines, which has signage and broadcast ad
deals with 17 NBA teams, has "no plans" to cut back its NBA-
related advertising (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/12).
