SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL’s Andy Bernstein reports ABC is looking for CPM increases of 7-8% for “MNF,” “some of the highest price increases in all of primetime,” bringing the average cost of a 30-second “MNF” spot to about $350,000. ABC charged a 4-6% increase for other primetime shows. Also, ABC Sports closed a “comprehensive deal” with OMD USA, including OMD’s “always-extensive Super Bowl buy” (
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/6 issue).
OLD SCHOOL: Former MLBer and current Tigers bench coach Kirk Gibson will appear on the cover of a new Wheaties box. The box, which shows Gibson’s ninth-inning, pinch-hit home run to lead the Dodgers over the A’s in Game One of the ’88 World Series, will be available nationally this week. A commemorative edition of the package will be released in conjunction with the MLB All-Star Game in Detroit, where Gibson played 12 seasons with the Tigers. Gibson will also be featured in a new Wheaties TV ad that will begin airing in July. Wheaties is an MLB sponsor (Wheaties).
HITTING THE SPOT: In Nashville, Larry Woody reports Nashville-based Gish, Sherwood & Friends has received two Telly Awards for an IRL commercial featuring IRL driver Tony Kanaan. The commercial, which began airing earlier this year, earned top honors in the “Sports Commercial” and “Cinematography” categories (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 6/8).
