Media Notes

Media Notes

Published June 9, 2003

65% Of “MNF” Inventory Stamped Sold

The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Andy Bernstein reports the NFL's 7-9% increase in upfront ad prices leads all sports. ESPN/ABC Sports President of Consumer Marketing & Sales Ed Erhardt said that his group "has moved 65[%] of the `Monday Night Football' inventory it had hoped to during this advance selling season." A Fox exec said that World Series ad sales are "pacing ahead of last year on a volume basis." The price increase "is not as high as Fox is getting for football." CBS Senior VP/Sports Sales Tony Taranto said that about one-third of Super Bowl inventory has been sold, "and that does not include any of Omnicom buying agency OMD's clients, who traditionally buy about 20[%] of the total Super Bowl ads." Taranto added that "much of what CBS has moved has been third- and fourth-quarter inventory and spots for Super Bowl newcomers" (SBJ, 6/9 issue).

SPEAKING OUT OF TURN: Sportscaster Sid Rosenberg "was stunned to learn — live on the air [Friday] — that's he's being dropped from Don Imus' WFAN/MSNBC morning show." The "bombshell that sportscaster Mike Breen is returning on Wednesday left Rosenberg stunned — and Imus stammering — after it was unintentionally revealed by WFAN's Mike Francesa." Imus told Francesa: "Uh, we weren't supposed to announce that, Mike. ... I hadn't even told Charles yet," referring to longtime sidekick Charles McCord, who "gasped upon hearing the news." However, Rosenberg "will keep his midday slot on" WFAN (N.Y. POST, 6/7).

NOTES: San Antonio posted the highest ratings for NBC's "Budweiser Boxing Series," averaging a 2.9/7, compared to the national average of 1.3/4. The series "not only did ... well in Hispanic markets, but also in predominately African-American markets, such as" Birmingham, Knoxville, Louisville, Cleveland, New Orleans, Richmond and Charlotte (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 6/8)....On June 30, Cablevision is making MSG Network and FSNY premium options, and to "compensate subscribers who have been getting the channels thrown in, Cablevision is substituting the Disney Channel and Turner Classic Movies on Family Cable and reducing the monthly charge for the package by [$0.50]" (NEWSDAY, 6/8).