CBS Senior VP/NFL Sales Tony Taranto said the network is 80% sold out of NFL ad inventory for the regular season and 65% sold out for Super Bowl XXXVIII. Taranto added that "promising sales categories thus far ... include telecommunications (including a repeat commitment from Nextel to serve as title sponsor for the network's halftime show), pharmaceutical and, surprisingly, financial services, which are coming back strong after light representation the past couple of years" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/11).
NEXTEL CUP: KNIGHT RIDDER's Jim Utter reported that under Nextel's title sponsorship deal, NASCAR's top series will have a new color scheme next year. Sources confirmed that the series' colors will change from the "traditional red and white to predominantly yellow and black." Nextel "uses primarily maroon in its advertising." The change will be made "in part to make Nextel's involvement more distinctive." Meanwhile, BAM Racing co-Owner Beth Ann Morgenthau said that "sponsor problems involving the new Nextel deal with NASCAR and its year-long affiliation with AT&T will not keep BAM Racing from continuing its presence in the series. Morgenthau: "We're putting things together for next season" (KNIGHT RIDDER, 8/9).
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KOBE: In Philadelphia, Jasmine Ellis cites local retailers as saying that the No. 8 Lakers jersey of Philly native Kobe Bryant, which "wasn't popular around here before his over-hyped legal troubles began," are not "selling any better now." One employee at an area retailer: "Why would people buy them now when they've never bought them before?" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/11). Friday's edition of NBC's "The Tonight Show" showed a "new" Bryant Nike shoe, which was half-sneaker, half-dress shoe. Jay Leno: "You can wear it on the court or in the court" (NBC, 8/8).
