01/27/20: Sports world mourns Kobe

Monday, January 27, 2020

The sports world is among the industries mourning the death of Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, who was among nine people (including his daughter Gianna) who were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, according to police. He won five NBA titles in his time with the Lakers, as well as two Olympic gold medals playing for the United States, passing at age 41. On the media side, among other notable projects, Bryant most recently served as an executive producer on the ESPN+ series Detail. The news shocked the sports superstar, with tributes on Sunday that spanned from the NFL Pro Bowl to NBA games to the Grammys, while those who knew him expressed their devastation at his loss.

“The NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning. He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary: five NBA championships, an NBA MVP award, 18 NBA All-Star selections, and two Olympic gold medals. But he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability. He was generous with the wisdom he acquired and saw it as his mission to share it with future generations of players, taking special delight in passing down his love of the game to Gianna. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their family, the Lakers organization and the entire sports world.”

“I am in shock over the tragic news of Kobe’s and Gianna’s passing,” said Michael Jordan in a statement. “Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling. I loved Kobe – he was like a little brother to me. We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force.”

“My friend, a legend, husband, father, son, brother, Oscar winner and greatest Lakes of all time is gone,” Tweeted Earvin “Magic” Johnson. “It’s hard to accept. Kobe was a leader of our game, a mentor to both male and female players.”

PROGRAMMING

FOX Sports continued to raise its benchmarks, setting anther viewership record for FS1 for Indiana’s win over Michigan State on Thursday night. The game averaged 811,000 viewers on the channel to become the network’s most-watched college basketball game ever and toppling last week’s short-lived then-record of 692,000 for Iowa/Michigan.

Eli Manning’s retirement was a draw for networks covering the announcement. Tunity Analytics reports that ESPN averaged 292,500 OOH viewers from 11:10 to 11:17a, while NFL Network averaged 62,739 OOH viewers from 11:00 to 11:18a. Peak for both combined was 379,736 at 11:17a.

Taking a look at the continuing flood of Super Bowl news, FOX Deportes will take on its exclusive US Spanish-language rights to the Super Bowl with over eight hours of live coverage from Hard Rock Stadium on Game Day and over 20 hours overall of TV produced from Miami. Programming includes nightly episodes of live event show – FOX Deportes en Vivo as well as its NFL show NFLEROS. Guests include Tony Gonzalez (Tuesday on EN VIVO), Charlotte Flair and Andrade from WWE (En Vivo on Thursday) and more.

NASCAR RACE HUB, FS1’s daily NASCAR news and highlight program, will open season 11 today at 6p with a preseason special, followed by four consecutive days from the FOX Sports set in Miami at the Super Bowl. Shannon Spake and Adam Alexander return as hosts, with Jeff Gordon, Jamie McMurray, Larry McReynolds and NASCAR Cup Series drivers Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola and William Byron scheduled throughout the week.

Barstool Radio hits Miami Beach starting today for Super Bowl coverage, with talent set to Dave Portnoy, Dan ‘Big Cat’ Katz, Kevin ‘KFC’ Clancy, PFT Commenter, Kayce Smith, Willie Colon and others, host their shows live from Tequila Chicas. The Barstool Radio lineup airing daily from Miami will feature The Yak with Dan Katz (12-2p), Clancy & Carrabis with Kayce Smith (2-4p), and The Barstool Radio Show, featuring El Presidente, Dave Portnoy (4-6p).

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel returns for a new season tomorrow at 10p, with the series set to mark its 25th anniversary in April. Segments include: The Reconstruction Games; Erin Andrews; and Patrick Day.

Mark Titus and Tate Frazier are joining the FOX family, signing on with FOX Sports as well as Westwood One as co-hosts of the new Titus and Tate podcast. “Lesser men would have been turned off by FOX Sports executives playing ‘Roundball Rock’ on a loop for an hour during our initial meeting, but that’s when I knew FOX Sports was where I belonged,” said Titus. “Westwood One has been a titan in audio distribution for as long as I can remember, and being associated with such an iconic brand is nothing short of an honor. I’m excited to make podcast magic together.”

Have you taken our workplace satisfaction survey yet?

If you have, we really appreciate your feedback. If not, then what are you waiting for? This 3-4 minute survey won’t take long, and you’ll have your name entered into a drawing to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card.

The survey results will be shared in a Spring report and in our bi-weekly Jobs Newsletter.

Thanks in advance!

SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION

Anheuser-Busch announced a partnership between the iconic Dominican pilsner Presidente Beer and Alex Rodriguez, with Rodriquez joining the company as Chairman of Presidente USA. “Growing up as a Dominican-American in the US, Presidente was not only a beer, it was part of our community. It connected my parents to their home and was a part of every major community event, big or small,” said Rodriguez. “It is truly an honor to get behind a brand with such a deep connection to my heritage and culture, and I cannot wait to help build its future.” As Chairman of Presidente USA, Rodriguez will help grow the Presidente brand presence in the U.S. in 2020 and beyond, including the release of new products and materials.

The National Lacrosse League cemented a sponsorship deal with AT&T, according to CNBC. The deal will mark the league 14th in the last four months and hands AT&T the rights to the NLL MVP Award. The deal comes only weeks after the league struck a gambling partnership with MGM Resorts International and GVC Holdings.

Foster Farms Corn Dogs locked in a new partnership with WWE, launching a campaign featuring WWE Superstar Lacey Evans and her daughter Summer, as they face off against the “Hunger Monster.” The deal will run through 2020 and feature retail activation, a sweepstakes, micro site and social media engagement rolling out into WWE SummerSlam in August 2020.

DIGITAL, DATA & TECH

MinuteMedia acquired FanSided from Meredith. FanSided ranks as one of the fastest growing platforms of sports and lifestyle digital properties, featuring more than 300 destinations focused on specific professional sports teams, college sports, lifestyle trends, and more. FanSided and its platform of individual sites will remain as standalone properties that will operate within the Minute Media family of publishers and have access to Minute Media’s proprietary technology and monetization tools.

ESPORTS

Activision Blizzard announced that it would be bringing its esports leagues and events exclusively to YouTube in a deal with Google. The partnership spans multiple years and includes live broadcasts of Activision Blizzard’s esports leagues and events —including Overwatch League, Call of Duty League, Hearthstone Esports, and more. Over the weekend, YouTube played host to the newly created Call of Duty League. All competitions will be livestreamed on each league’s YouTube channel and will include archived and other special content.

Verizon and Dignitas struck a “first-of-its-kind” strategic partnership that will lead into the launch the nation’s first 5G esports training facility, dubbed the Verizon 5G Gaming Center. Located in Verizon’s 5G Lab in Los Angeles, the 5,500-square-foot training facility will serve as Dignitas’ west coast headquarters and home to its League of Legends teams. Dignitas’ 2019 World Championship-qualifying team will train exclusively at this facility and compete in the League Championship Series, which kicks off Jan. 25 in Los Angeles. The two orgs will also identify and develop ways that Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network can enhance player performance, improve recovery, and enable players to connect with fans.

As League of Legends kicked its news seasons into gear, the LEC announced plans to travel to Budapest, Hungary for the 2020 Spring Finals, as well as Malmo, Sweden for the 2020 Summer Finals. Budapest will play host on April 25-26, while Sweden welcomes competitors on Aug. 29-30.

Meanwhile, the LCS Spring Finals will be headed to Texas! Ford Center at The Star, based in Frisco, Texas to host the stars of North America’s League of Legends teams on April 18-19. The Star is a 91-acre campus including the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters and practice facility, as well as the brand new GameStop Performance Center and headquarters of Complexity Gaming. “We are thrilled to partner with the City of Frisco in bringing one of the largest esports events in North America to Ford Center,” said Dallas Cowboys Chief Operating Officer Stephen Jones. “As the esports industry continues to grow, including here onsite with Complexity Gaming, we will continue to create and host one-of-a-kind experiences for fans all over.”

Speaking of which, the LCS also announced that it had extended its partnership with Red Bull North America as the league’s official energy drink partner. Red Bull will unveil a brand-new press and VIP suite within LCS Studios, enlisting community artist Melissa “Sade” Yabumoto to create artwork that showcases and celebrates the most-played LoL Champions from 2019.

THE MAIN EVENT

Rockets/Jazz on NBA TV at 9p.

A celebration (and networking opportunity) not to be missed!

CYNOPSIS BEST OF THE BEST AWARDS
February 6 | 11:45AM – 2PM | NYC

Come celebrate the best in the biz.

REGISTER BEFORE WE SELL OUT >>
cynopsis.com/events/2019-best-of-the-best-awards

On This Day
1969: Chuck Noll is names head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the Know
Which brand launched a memorable “Whassup?” campaign during the Super Bowl in 2000? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city).

Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question
Only one player has earner MVP honors at the NHL All-Star Game in back-to-back years (1970 and 71). Who was that player? Answer: Bobby Hull. Kudos: Phyllis McQuillan-MSG Networks/NY; Jim Bono-NBCU Hispanic Sports/NY; Denis Barry-CBS/NY; Sean Walker-OMG/NY; Synda Kollman-Charter Marketing Group/Boca Raton; Russ DelCore-a4Media/Oakland; Mike Seidel-CSI Sports/Jersey City; Matt Sautter-WideOrbit/Harrisburg; John Kukla-KDFW/KDFI/Dallas; Joe Lyons-ESPN/Dallas; Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station; Greg Moloznik-GLM Media/Scottsdale; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Anne Wettig-FOX/FOX Sports S&P/LA; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank; Brian Robin-Bear Titan Publications/San Bernardino

Cynopsis Team

Chris Pursell
@VegasandVine

Kerry Smith
Division President
Access Intelligence

Roberta Caploe
Publisher
@robertacaploe

Cynopsis Ad Sales
Mike Farina
203-218-6480

Albert Nassour
917-545-3129

Cynopsis Job Listings Sales
Trish Pihonak
203-899-8459
Director of Operations

CynopsisJobs
Check out more jobs in Cynopsis Classifieds »

Job of the day

CHICAGO WHITE SOX MLB INSIDER
NBC Sports
Chicago
Be the go-to inside source for news/information about the Chicago White Sox, leveraging team/league sources to break news, write features, tell stories, discover and create viral and engaging content. Min 5yrs covering the White Sox and/or MLB. Full info HERE (2/5)

DIGITAL BUSINESS LEAD >>
PGA/Palm Beach Gardens FL: Collaborate w/Championship & Commercial team depts to create a best-in-class digital event business strategy across media, mktg, content & technology. 5yrs exp working in digital sports media, ad sales, or bus. dvlpmnt roles. Exceptional organizational & project mngmnt skills. Full info HERE (2/11)

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE >>
WGN America/Chicago: Generate revenue for WGN America through the selling of national cable television time as well as digital platforms to advertising agencies and clients in the region. Min 5yrs exp selling or buying national television advertising time. Full info HERE (2/11)

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Our NBC10 and Telemundo62 Account Executive opportunity is a highly visible role and a great opportunity for an experienced media sales professional that is seeking growth! Check it out! Full info HERE (2/11)

DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT >>
LA: New TV prod co seeking Development EA. Major growth opp in unscripted dev world. Ideal candidate has excellent writing/research skills, is very organized, & has positive attitude. A passion for TV Dvlpmnt a plus! February start. Full info & apply HERE (2/11)

DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR >>
NBC Sports/Chicago: Create timely, relevant written content on an aggressive news desk by accepting & quickly executing story assignments, monitoring news sources and identifying possible subjects to cover. Solid news judgment & ability to think quickly & act appropriately under high pressure. Full info HERE (2/5)

DIGITAL VIDEO EDITOR >>
NBC Sports/Chicago: Edit daily video content for NBCSportsChicago.com and social media platforms. 3 years of exp minimum, preferably sports; Chicago sports experience a plus. Full info HERE (2/5)

MULTI-PLATFORM PRODUCER CHICAGO CUBS >>
NBC Sports/Chicago: Strong knowledge of web publishing, non-linear editing and an in-depth knowledge of local sports, specifically the Chicago Cubs and the MLB. Min of 2 yrs exp working in digital sports content. Full info HERE (2/5)

CUBS INSIDER >>
NBC Sports/Chicago: Produce a mixture of features, deep-dive and snackable content to grow NBC Sports Chicago’s digital audience. Minimum 5 years covering the Cubs and/or MLB. Full info HERE (2/5)

SR PROD SYSTEM ENGINEER >>
A+E/Stamford CT: Provide mission critical technical support for Digital Media Prod Facility. Media prod exp of min 5 yrs in Production System Engineering and BS Engineering/CS. Spectra Logic & Quantum & traditional baseband technologies. Full info HERE (2/5)

AD SALES, PROGRAMMATIC PLANNER >>
Katz Broadcasting LLC/NYC: Resp for overall sales support to the sales staff, which includes developing strategic sales plans and packages for clients. 2+ yrs of industry related advertising exp. Able to work independently, as well as part of a team a must. Full info HERE (2/5)

MGR REVENUE CLAIMING >>
A+E/NYC: Work w/team to oversee content and revenue claiming on a variety of platforms across the portfolio of brands. Minimum 3-5 years of prior experience in Digital Media/Production or related technically focused field. Full info HERE (2/1)

CONTENT DISTRIBUTION >>
MGR/DIRECTOR/One Animation/Singapore: Dvlp/execute long-term strategy w/sustainable & operational excellence building One Animation’s global sales footprint for our portfolio of content & dvlpng new accts. 5-8yrs exp sales and/or content dist; exp in brdcst TV &/or digital platform sales are a plus. Full info HERE (2/1)

INTERACTIVE PRODUCTION COORD >>
9 Story Media Group/NYC: Key responsibilities incl supporting series & interactive producers in content mngmnt, tracking & organization. Role will also liaise between key creative, prod animation & interactive teams. 2 yrs of animation and/or preschool interactive content prod. Full info HERE (2/1)

INTEGRATED SALES PLANNER >>
A+E Networks/IL: Assist sales staff to maximize the advertising revenue for A+E Networks by creating plans & integrated proposals, stewarding accts & supporting the Account Executives with proposals & deal inventory mgmt. Full Info/Apply: HERE (2/1)

PRODUCER >>
Dreamworks TV/Universal City CA: Produce content for kids and must have a comedic sensibility. Film school graduate preferred. Minimum of 3-5 years experience in producing digital short-form content or traditional television. Ability to produce multiple genres. Full info HERE (1/31)

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, DIRECT RESPONSE >>
ION Media/NYC: Responsible for selling direct response air time for ION Television, and achieving quarterly and annual revenue goals. Minimum of 5 years of direct response experience. Full info HERE (1/31)

DIRECT RESPONSE SALES, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE >>
ION Media/NYC: Responsible for selling direct response air time for ION Plus and Qubo, and achieving quarterly and annual revenue goals. Minimum of 5 years of direct response experience. Full info HERE (1/31)

NETWORK SALES, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE >>
ION MEDIA/NYC: Focus on developing new and growing business among major agencies via strong relationships and superior client service. 5+ years of sales experience with national cable, broadcast ad sales or media buying background required. Full info HERE (1/31)

SALES PLANNER >>
UPtv/NYC: Develop media proposals and work directly with Account Executives and Pricing & Planning. At least 1+yrs related cable exp; or equivalent combination of education and exp. MS knowledge a must and Deal Maker knwlg a +. Full info HERE (1/31)

MANAGER, LINEAR & CROSS-PLATFORM RESEARCH >>
USA & SYFY/NYC: Leverage performance metrics to develop strategies for optimizing viewership. 4+ yrs exp in the entertainment industry: knowledge of TV – linear and cross-platform – pref’d. Full info HERE (1/30)

SR ANALYST, VIDEO SUBSCRIPTIONS & MEMBERSHIP >>
First Look Media/NYC: Maintain, understand & leverage the organization’s quantitative/qualitative data in support of its premium video streaming offer. 3-5yrs exp w/video content analytics w/focus on subscriber acquisition & retention, pref within TV, film, ent, music or video enviro. Full info HERE (1/30)

DIRECTOR, SALES >>
Cox Media Inc/Metairie LA: Manage ad sales function to drive revenue & increase market share. Dvlp/implement strategic plans to guide the sales departments to successfully attain revenue goals. 10 yr exp in related field w/5 yrs B-toB field sales exp w/quotas. Full info HERE (1/30)

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXEC III >>
Cox Media Inc/Phoenix AZ: Generate new business leads. Engage w/new & existing clients to understand business objectives & create mktg campaigns to drive results thru effective TV & digital ad solutions. 2-5 yrs of cable, brdcst, ad sales/support or mktg exp. Full info HERE (1/30)

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXEC III >>
Cox Media Inc/Las Vegas NV: Generate new business leads. Engage w/new & existing clients to understand business objectives & create mktg campaigns to drive results thru effective TV & digital ad solutions. 2-5 yrs of cable, brdcst, ad sales/support or mktg exp. Full info HERE (1/30)

DIRECTOR, MEDIA PLANNING >>
FX Networks/LA: Manage the media exposure metrics and monetary value of all on-air, digital, and cross channel promotional inventory. Min 7 yrs exp in the planning and placement of broadcast, cable and digital media req’d. Full info HERE (1/30)

SR DIRECTOR, CONSUMER MARKETING >>
INSP/Charlotte NC: Support VP & EVP w/dvlpmnt of strategic positioning for new & returning series and films: determine the target audience, and establish marketing objectives and strategies. 7-10 yrs exp entertainment, brand mktg, advertising cable/streaming. Full info HERE (1/30)

ANALYST/SR ANALYST >>
Sesame Workshop/NYC: Responsible for supporting the market research team across a variety of projects, rating analysis, syndicated research analysis, analyzing primary research data, creating sales sheets for business teams, etc. 3-4yr exp media/market research environment. Full info HERE (1/30)

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT >>
NY/NYC: TV prod company seeking admin for President, CCO and SVP of Development. Gatekeeper to each exec & help manage heavy schedules and day-to-day for each and must be able to think fast on their feet. 2-3 yrs exp supporting high level exec. Full info HERE (1/29)

DIRECTOR, PRODUCTION FINANCE >>
FX Networks/LA: Oversee all phases of pre-production, production, and post-production ranging from show set-up to wrap. Exp interpreting ATL contracts. Min 7 yrs finance exp. Req’d w/5 yrs prod finance exp. Full info HERE (1/28)

ENTERTAINMENT COORDINATOR, COMMUNICATIONS >>
You Tube Originals/Play Vista CA: (Temp staff) Candidate w/exp in ent publicity to join comm team to create/implement publicity. 2-3 yrs of PR/event exp, incl internships (incl press releases/newsletters/industry events/ent awards. Full info apply HERE (1/25)

MILITARY & FEDERAL ACCOUNT DIRECTOR >>
Refuel Agency/DC: Resp for identifying brands/agencies that wish to connect w/Military & Federal audiences thru strategic media plans. 2-3 yrs. sales exp selling experiential mktg, out-of-home, digital, social and/or print media desired. Ex working w/ Military and Federal brands or agencies strongly pref’d. Full info HERE (1/25)

DIGITAL COORDINATOR >>
NBC Sports Northwest/Portland OR: support and contribute to multiplatform initiatives in a role that will flex across all platforms in various capacities which engage audience around local and regional sports. Min 2 yrs exp in similar or related industry. Full info HERE (1/24)

MULTI-PLATFORM COORDINATOR >>
NBC Sports Northwest/Portland OR: Coord/execute all areas of the network’s digital properties; execute a multiplatform digital content strategy, focused around local and regional sports news, coverage of live events as well as collaborating on content with NBC Sports Northwest’s linear programs. Min 2 yrs exp sports/news digital media. Full info HERE (1/24)

SR MARKETING MGR >>
NBC Sports Bay Area/San Francisco: Responsible for developing/enforcing marketing strategies and brand guidelines to achieve business objectives. 6+ years of proven experience and results in previous Marketing roles. Full info HERE (1/24)

MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER >>
NBC Sports Washington/Bethesda MD: Candidate must have keen eye for design, modern graphic communications skills, a visual storytelling sense, and a strong interest in our brand. Min 2 yrs of related professional work exp (i.e. Graphic Designer/Animator/Editor) Full info HERE (1/24)

CREATIVE SERVICES PROJECT PLANNER >>
NBC Sports Washington/Bethesda MD: Plan, organize and execute the management of projects as requested from creative services. 2+ yrs of exp in creative services, agency or production related to sports, media or TV or ent industries. Full info HERE (1/24)

PRODUCER, BRAND MARKETING >>
NBC Dallas (Fort Worth AREA) TX: Support for NBC 5’s daily news operations and syndicated/network programming. Lead/participate in strategic planning, brainstorming, concept development, and concept refinement sessions. Full info HERE (1/24)

@{optoutfooterhtml}@