Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Advertisers returning to baseball telecasts
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Asia Pacific
World
Advertisers returning to baseball telecasts
Reuters - Tuesday, April 6
Send
IM Story
Print
By John Consoli
NEW YORK - Despite a laggard economy and tepid ratings for the sport in 2009, advertisers have returned to Major League Baseball telecasts this season, and baseball's TV rights holders are close to selling out commercial time on their first few months of games.
Fox is virtually sold out for April and May, buoyed by a doubling in automotive ad dollars and a 75% hike in financial advertising compared with this time last season for its Saturday afternoon games and two primetime contests. Turner has taken in 15%-20% more ad dollars than it did last year for its Sunday afternoon MLB games.
ESPN, which televises the most games nationally, also is pacing ahead of last year. Its telecast of the Home Run Derby the night before the All-Star Game is almost sold out. And MLB Network, in its second year, added 30 new advertisers this season to the 200 clients from its first year in business.
MLB Net has taken in "three to four times more ad dollars" than 2009 at this point, said Bill Morningstar, executive vp ad sales.
While more ad dollars are rolling in, the national networks' sales execs said they're also getting price increases of 5%-7%. Advertiser interest extends beyond the national telecasts.
Ray Warren, Comcast SportsNet's executive vp and chief revenue officer, who oversees ad sales for several regional sports networks, said ad revenue is tracking 75% ahead of last year. And ad revenue is about 50% higher than last season at Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network, according to a network rep, with six clients renewing for this season in early November, a first for the network.
National ratings are unlikely to be a driver of interest. Last season saw Fox's ratings sink 10% for its Saturday afternoon games and ESPN down 8% for the 66 games it aired on Sundays and weekday nights. Only Turner's TBS enjoyed regular-season gains last year , but off a much lower viewer base. The regional sports networks, as always, had their viewership more tied into how their local teams performed.
So what is driving the advertisers? Clients increasingly see live sports as family friendly, male-heavy and relatively DVR-proof. It helps that baseball, because of its long season and numerous telecasts both nationally and regionally, is cheaper than primetime entertainment fare. "Live sports have not suffered declines in ratings as those seen in primetime," said Kevin Collins, senior vp national broadcast at Initiative.
Moreover, many advertisers, which held back '09 upfront dollars from primetime and were conservative in first-quarter expenditures, find themselves with extra dollars to spend in the second half.
MLB has helped tighten inventory for its TV rights holders by encouraging all of its sponsors to advertise. The league also has added two new sponsors, Firestone and Scotts lawn care products, which are advertising on all networks carrying baseball.
But advertisers who sat out or cut back last year are rounding the bases again. Mark Evans, Fox vp sports sales, said key financial advertisers like E*Trade, Edward Jones and Chase have returned in a big way, and "a lot of advertisers are buying the All-Star Game in July earlier, so there are a lot less than there were at this time last year."
Jon Diament, executive vp ad sales/marketing at Turner Sports, said in addition to auto and insurance money, TBS' Sunday MLB telecasts are thick with movie, wireless, travel and fast-food advertisers. Ed Erhardt, president customer marketing and sales at ESPN, said another category "with juice" is consumer electronics, with Sony, Samsung and Panasonic all spending heavily this season to promote their new 3D sets.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - Tuesday, April 6
Advertisers returning to baseball telecasts Reuters - Tuesday, April 6
Turkey's much-derided super heroes make Internet comeback AFP - Tuesday, April 6
Judge tosses lawsuit against Marvel, Stan Lee Reuters - Tuesday, April 6
R&B singer Erykah Badu in trouble for naked ambition Reuters - Monday, April 5
News Search
Top Stories
US pending home sales leap surprise 8.2%
Record four women in space as Discovery blasts off
Two dead in Mexico after big quake near US border
Discovery blasts off for ISS
Angelie Jolie, Brad Pitt visit Bosnia refugees: UN
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Angelie Jolie, Brad Pitt visit Bosnia refugees: UN
Obama attends Easter service at historic black church
Major quake in Mexico rocks southwestern US
Abortion doctor killer gets life; no parole for 50 yrs
Pope shuns paedophilia scandal as Christians mark Easter
More Most Viewed »
'Rare' fossil of new dinosaur species found in US
Hollywood stars help prevent suicide after Twitter alert
Junkies and junk-food addicts share craving mechanism
Toad is a telltale for impending quakes: scientists
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Tuesday, 6 April 2010 NATO admits killing Afghan women in bungled raid
Russia, Ukraine in 'private' summit: officials
Over 300,000 iPads sold on first day: Apple
Gunmen attack U.S. consulate in Pakistan
|
Iran says still ready to negotiate nuclear swap
US-TECH Summary
British PM defends record as election fight looms
Already strained, AT&T soon to be coping with iPad
Suicide bomber kills 2 police in Russia's Ingushetia
|
US pending home sales leap surprise 8.2%
Apple to preview new iPhone software
Vietnam rejects Google hacking accusation
Nickelodeon To Feature SpongeBob SquarePants Special On Earth Day
Britain's Labour narrows gap on Conservatives: poll
|
Karzai, White House escalate war of words
|
2010 Hangout Beach Music Festival To Feature John Legend And The Black Crowes
Record four women in space as Discovery blasts off
Exercise Said To Aid People With Depression, Anxiety Disorders
South Africa's AWB rules out revenge for leader's death
|
81-Year-Old Great-Grandmother Suing For Back Child Support
Two dead in Mexico after big quake near US border
Cuban dissident says will not stop hunger strike
|
U.S. Service Sector Kicks Into Gear, Boosting Hopes Of Sustained Rebound
Discovery blasts off for ISS
Poll: McCain Leads Conservative Rival In Bid For 5th Term
Nigeria's ill leader holds second prayer meeting
|
U.S. Issues Philippine Travel Warning
Bosnian colleges draw Turks avoiding headscarf ban
|
Women Steal Easter Offerings From Church
First Family In Full Swing At The Easter Egg Roll
US consulate attacked in northwest Pakistan
U.S. Pending Home Sales Jump In February
Obama to unveil nuclear arms strategy on Tuesday
Karzai accusations against foreigners 'untrue': US
Apple's iPad debuts strongly, but key tests remain
|
Microsoft to announce Pink phone next week
|
Already strained, AT&T soon to cope with iPad
|
Apple to preview new iPhone software
|
Dalai Lama visits Slovenia
China journalist club shuts website after attack
|
White House condemns Peshawar attack
Nissan sells locally-assembled cars in Vietnam
Chinese PM to visit Indonesia in April
Facebook veterans in venture capital spotlight
|
Pakistan stocks up on foreign buying despite bombs
Cambodian law to let foreigners buy real estate
Cambodia seeks to attract foreign buyers
Oil races toward $86 a barrel
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
N.Korea 'executes two over bungled currency reform'
Advertisers returning to baseball telecasts
South Korea sees Q1 GDP up around 7 pct
China hails 'miracle' as 115 rescued from flooded mine
Lawmakers: Afghan leader threatens to join Taliban
Pakistan fashion week begins as bombers hit northwest
'Miracle' in China: 115 trapped miners rescued
Feathers and fanfare for Lagos carnival
Turkey's much-derided super heroes make Internet comeback
Pakistan attacks kill 46, target US consulate
France heads for a long Indian summer
Gunmen attack U.S. consulate in Pakistan
UN chief says Uzbekistan must observe human rights
Crowds line up for reopened deck of tallest tower
Protesters vow to stay in Bangkok commercial core
Judge tosses lawsuit against Marvel, Stan Lee
Madonna returns to Malawi on charity trip
|
Child abuse scandal cost US Catholic church $3 bln
R&B singer Erykah Badu in trouble for naked ambition
|
Madrid's 'Broadway' marks 100 years
Judge tosses lawsuit against Marvel, Stan Lee
|
FlashForward, NBC medical dramas face ax
|
Bruce Lee remembered for more than his movies
|
Chieftains' new album explores Irish-Mexican ties
|
Martin couple each cast in TV pilots
|
Advertisers returning to baseball telecasts
|
Chat transcripts in Indonesia reveal al-Qaida ties
Sanctions will not deter nuclear goals: Iran
Local people angry on eve of Italy quake anniversary
US fight Taliban with heavy metal and rock music
Five bodies found after miracle China mine rescue
|
Eye-tracking tools that boost reality
Leaked U.S. video shows deaths of Reuters' Iraqi staffers
Dutch navy frees German cargo ship, arrests 10 pirates
Maoists kill 50-60 police in central India attack
|
Iraq on alert after deadly embassy blasts
Microsoft to unveil new cellphones next week: WSJ
Series of blasts destroys Baghdad buildings
|
Microsoft to announce "Pink" phone next week
Thai protesters cancel march to avert clashes
|
Antenna glitch on historic space shuttle flight
Apple to unveil new iPhone operating system
British PM Brown to call May 6 general election
|
Mexico-California border towns shaken after quake
|
Video posted of Apache strike which killed Reuters employees
South Korea destroyer reaches tanker seized by pirates
|
Already strained, AT&T soon to cope with iPad
Facebook veterans in venture capital spotlight
Mexico Calderon eyes higher fines, jail for monopolies
|
55 Indian police killed by Maoists
India FM calls for closer ties with China
IRS Says No Punitive Measures For Health Insurance Defaulters
Mass Arrest Follows New York City Gang Melee
Friends appeal for kidnap victim in Philippines
China rescuers race to save miners still trapped
Mine Explosion Kills 6 Miners In W. Virginia
Transportation Department Seeking Maximum Penalty Against Toyota
Liberal Supreme Court Justice Stevens Hints at Retirement Soon
Five bodies found after "miracle" China mine rescue
Stocks Continue Higher As Dow Nears 11,000
25 dead, four missing in US mine blast
Rescuers race to find missing in flooded China mine
Timor police declare war on mysterious 'ninjas'
Cisco upgrades servers as it competes with HP, IBM
|
Obama to limit use of US nuclear weapons
Thai protesters clash with riot police
Obama to limit use of US nuclear weapons: official
Three submit binding offers to buy AOL's ICQ: report
|
Two killed, scores injured in major Mexican quake
Vietnam denies Google's hacking accusation
At least 8 dead in West Virginia mine blast: official
Sherpa to scatter Hillary's ashes on Everest
Film futures market plan irks Hollywood
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Seoul shares end nearly flat; Samsung Elec slips
Toyota Prius tops Japan's March auto sales
Toyota recalls 13,000 cars in S.Korea for floor mats
Samsung forecasts 1st quarter profit surge
Whitney Houston postpones Paris show due to illness
Treasury Secretary Geithner begins visit to India
Film futures market plan irks Hollywood
Hitachi president says green focus key to recovery
PAKISTAN
Whitney Houston cancels Paris concert over illness
NZ commodity prices hit record high
Nicollette Sheridan sues "Desperate Housewives" creator
Judge named in Jackson doctor's Los Angeles trial
Toyota Prius hybrid tops Japan's March auto sales
Seoul shares end nearly flat; Samsung Elec slips
Networks looking to reclaim Fridays
Photographer Annie Leibovitz sued in NY for unpaid fees
Photographer Annie Leibovitz sued in NY for unpaid fees
|
Web chats point to al-Qaida's Indonesian links
'Clash of the Titans' tops weekend box office
Judge named in Jackson doctor's Los Angeles trial
|
Madonna returns to Malawi on charity trip
Whitney Houston postpones Paris show due to illness
|
Judge tosses lawsuit against Marvel, Stan Lee
|
ABC orders game show set on skyscraper
|
Networks looking to reclaim Fridays
|
Nicollette Sheridan sues Desperate Housewives creator
|
Three submit binding offers to buy AOL's ICQ: report
Renault set for new tie-up with Daimler
Baghdad blasts kill 35, destroy seven buildings
British parties launch month-long election campaign
|
Russia names second metro suicide bomber
Cisco upgrades servers as it competes with HP, IBM
Blasts rock Baghdad killing 35
Total charged with graft in Iraqi oil-for-food programme
British PM to announce May 6 election
Tempers flare at Terre'blanche murder hearing
|
FDA Approves Modification Of Pain Pill OxyContin
Twenty-eight killed in Baghdad bomb attacks: official
Iran urges Russia to resist missile sale pressure
Sunshine Band Member Charged With Sex Crimes
Yemen frees Shi'ite rebels in north to cement truce
|
Turkey opposes sanctions against Iran
Whitney Houston Cancels Paris Show Due To Illness
Defiant Thai protesters resume city march
|
Israel FM insists no settlement freeze in Jerusalem
Suspected Car Thief Dies After Turning Lights Off During Police Chase
Body Parts Of Man, Woman Found In New Jersey Neighborhood
Five explosions in Baghdad: interior ministry
Turkish police detain more military officers
|
Arrest Warrant Issued For Rapper Coolio After Court Hearing Snub
Rains kill at least 31 in Rio, paralyze city
|
Rihanna Announces Last Girl On Earth Tour With Ke$ha
Childhood Sleep Problems May Be Predictor Of Future Substance Abuse
Kyrgyz protesters storm provincial government HQ
|
Update: Death Toll In West Virginia Mine Explosion At 25
Report: Accidental Prescription Drug Overdose Reaching 'Epidemic' Levels
Defiant Thai protesters resume city march
Broker hand-held device access issue resolved: NYSE
|
Dwarves a big hit at China theme park
Nokia, others to follow Apple in tablet push
|
China-based cyber-spies targeted India: researchers
|
Maoist rebels kill 75 troops in eastern India
Pakistan eyes 4 pct GDP growth next year
Comcast wins Web traffic court fight against FCC
|
Lawmaker: Kim may visit China in late April
US, India see huge opportunities from new partnership
Report: China-based hackers stole India secrets
Cambodian PM gives Chevron ultimatum on oil
27 Taliban reported killed in western fighting
Pakistani stocks ease on profit selling; rupee firms
Treasury Secretary Geithner visits India
Hollywood mogul recalls Elvis, Sinatra in new memoir
China shares flat on fears of tighter credit
Airstrike kills 4 civilians in Afghan south
S.Korea 2009 deficit smaller than expected
AP Analysis: Karzai remarks risk US-Afghan rift
Red Shirt protesters flood streets of Thai capital
Toyota to recall 13,000 vehicles in S.Korea: ministry
China defends yuan policy
Samsung forecasts 1st quarter profit surge
Hollywood mogul recalls Elvis, Sinatra in new memoir
ABC orders game show set on skyscraper
Madonna returns to Malawi on charity trip
|
Hollywood mogul recalls Elvis, Sinatra in new memoir
|
UK actor, activist Corin Redgrave dies aged 70
|
New Moto2 category debuts with the mark of Zorro
|
Date Night hits home for Tina Fey, Steve Carell
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights