Dr Pepper extended its sponsorship deal with ESPN and the CFP for six years prior to last night's Alabama-Georgia title game. The soft drink brand will continue its presenting sponsorship of the CFP National Championship trophy through '26 as part of the agreement. The deal also renews Dr Pepper as an SEC sponsor and its long-term commitment with ESPN and the SEC Network. Added facets of the deal include sponsorship of the Big 12 and its football championship game; designation as a Pac-12 Championship partner when ESPN airs the game; and a presence across ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Audio, SEC Network and the forthcoming ACC Network (ESPN).
MAKE-GOODS ALL AROUND: In N.Y., Richard Morgan writes under the header, "Ratings For Opening Round Of NFL Playoffs Flop." Data from Standard Media Index "estimates that 'audience deficiency units' -- otherwise known as make-goods --accounted" for 21% of NFL ad inventory "through the first three months of this season" and for 22% through the same period last year. This means NFL broadcasters have been "devoting about a fifth of their in-game ad time to making their advertisers whole." SMI also reports that the "networks airing the NFL’s national telecasts benefitted" from a 2% bump in ad revenue through the end of November. But it said that "almost all of the uptick" can be "attributed to an extra game" in '17 (N.Y. POST, 1/9).
TOPPS IT OFF: Topps has signed Angels P/OF Shohei Ohtani to a long-term trading card and autograph deal. The former Japanese phenom last month set a one-day sales record for the Topps Now on-demand card service with 17,323 cards sold for a release commemorating his signing with the Angels. Ohtani’s first rookie card will arrive in time for Spring Training, and other releases featuring him will appear throughout the ’18 season (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). In L.A., Jeff Fletcher cites sources as saying that hundreds of players have "similar trading card deals, but Ohtani's deal is believed to be much larger than usual for a rookie" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 1/9).
