IOC tabs five for 2012
The IOC Executive Board announced that Paris, New York, Moscow, London and Madrid were accepted as candidate cities to host the 2012 Olympics. Leipzig, Istanbul, Havana and Rio de Janeiro were eliminated. The five cities have until Nov. 15 to submit a formal bid, and a final decision will be made in July 2005. Paris graded the best in the IOC report based on an overall weighting of 11 technical criteria that included accommodations, infrastructure and security. Madrid was a second, followed by London, New York and Moscow.
ACC syndication assigned
Jefferson-Pilot Sports and Raycom Sports announced a seven-year deal giving them syndication rights to ACC football from 2004 through the 2010 season. Raycom and Jefferson-Pilot also increased their financial commitment to the ACC men’s basketball TV package, which runs through the 2010-11 season. The Raleigh News & Observer put the combined packages’ worth at about $35 million a year, about $6 million more than the previous football and basketball deals.
SportsLine mulls options
SportsLine.com announced that it has hired Perseus Group, an independent investment bank, to explore strategic alternatives and a “variety of ideas” to increase shareholder value. Chairman and CEO Michael Levy said, “The Board of Directors believes that SportsLine’s recent share price is not reflective of the company’s true value, relative to our operating performance and others in our peer group.”
Capital spending
Capital One announced it will feature D’backs pitcher Randy Johnson, fresh off his perfect game last week, in a new 30-second television spot as part of its “What’s In Your Wallet?” campaign, marking the first time the company is using a celebrity athlete in an ad campaign. In the spot, a trio of fans follows Johnson from city to city by using their Capital One No Hassle Rewards cards. The spot, via McCann Erickson, New York, will be integrated into Capital One’s media schedule.
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