01/03/18: CFP Semifinals come up Roses

Good morning. It’s Wednesday January 03, 2018 and this is your first early morning Sports briefing.

Georgia’s nail-biting win over Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl helped push ESPN’s coverage of the New Year’s Six to record numbers. The College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day delivered an audience of 26,826,000 viewers between ESPN and ESPN2, up 39% from last season’s first CFP Semifinal on the same two networks and 71% from the 2015 season’s first CFP Semifinal, also on ESPN and ESPN2. Meanwhile, the Allstate Sugar Bowl between Clemson and Alabama averaged 21,117,000 viewers, up 10% from last season’s second CFP Semifinal, also on ESPN and ESPN2, and 13% from the 2015’s season second CFP Semifinal on the same two networks. Together, the two CFP Semifinals averaged 24,590,000 viewers, up 27% from last year and 44% from the 2015 season. Meanwhile, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl between UCF and Auburn notched 8,377,000 viewers, the most-watched non-CFP Semifinal Peach Bowl in the New Year’s Six Era.

ON THE AIR

Speaking of ESPN, the company locked in a deal to carry the Florida Cup, the largest annual celebration of international soccer in the Sunshine State. ESPN will air all eight matches of the 2018 Florida Cup (running Jan. 10-20) across its family of networks in the following regions: the US (ESPN Deportes), Mexico and Central America, Caribbean Islands, South America (except for Brazil) and for the first time since 2015, Oceania. In the U.S. all eight Florida Cup matches will stream live in Spanish on the ESPN App. ESPN Deportes.

FOX Sports announced that Chris Myers will join Joe Buck, analyst Troy Aikman and reporter Erin Andrews for FOX Sports’ NFC postseason slate starting with Sunday’s wild card contest between the Panthers/Saints. Myers serves as an additional game reporter, providing insight and updates from the sideline.

Meanwhile, FIFA announced new media rights deals in Russia and Italy for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In Russia, rights have been granted to the 2SPORT2 consortium (representing Channel One, RTR, and Match TV). In Italy, Mediaset has secured live rights to all 64 matches to be aired on its free-to-air channels. The rights sales process in Italy was conducted by the MP & Silva agency, on behalf of FIFA. “We are delighted to take two important steps closer to finalising the global broadcast offering for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia,” said FIFA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Philippe Le Floc’h. “The Russian consortium of broadcasters did a fantastic job of transmitting the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 this summer in the host territory, and we know that they will help to convey the special atmosphere that we will enjoy in Russia next summer. In the Italian market, we are very pleased to have Mediaset as a partner and Italian fans will be able to enjoy all 64 matches of the FIFA World Cup on free-to-air channels.”

NBC Sports Group is serving up more than 20 hours of live coverage of the 2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships from the SAP Center starting today at 11p with live coverage of the ladies’ short program on NBCSN. NBC hosts live coverage of the ladies’ free skate, pairs’ free skate, and free dance programs throughout the weekend, beginning Fri. at 8p with the ladies’ free program. NBC Sports Group’s lead figure skating commentary team will feature play-by-play announcer Terry Gannon, Tara Lipinski, and Johnny Weir, joining Mike Tirico, who will host coverage throughout the weekend.

In golf news, the PGA TOUR returns to action this week at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. Golf Channel has the coverage on Thursday and Friday at 6p while weekend action runs at 3p on Saturday and 6p on Sunday. The Golf Channel broadcast team will see Rich Lerner on play-by-play, with Frank Nobilo as analyst with Mark Rolfing/Curt Byrum in the tower.

Golf Channel also announced that teaching professional Sean Foley has joined Golf Channel’s instructional talent roster as the new primetime host of Playing Lessons. Additionally, Foley will bring his expertise of the golf swing to the network’s news programming, including Golf Central and Golf Central Live From during golf’s biggest events.

SiriusXM announced today that golf instructor Michael Breed inked a new multi-year deal that will increase his role on the SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio channel. His series, A New Breed of Golf, will expand its schedule from three to five days a week and extend to two live hours each day starting at 8a.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

How has your company made the world a better place?

The Cynopsis Social Good Awards

We’re recognizing excellence in the area of social good in the TV, entertainment and digital media industry. From sustainability partnerships and PSA’s to diversity campaigns and environmental initiatives, this is your opportunity to showcase your efforts and inspire others to do the same.

Enter by January 10^th

SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION

UFC is toasting Modelo Especial, locking in a new multi-year marketing partnership that establishes the brand as the “Official Beer and Malt Beverage” sponsor of UFC in the United States. Modelo will now be the presenting sponsor for select UFC Pay-Per-View events and VIP Experiences based in the US, along with signage and branding inside UFC’s world-famous Octagon. Modelo will also feature UFC athletes and personalities in advertising.

Meanwhile, adidas Golf announced that it has extended the contract of 2017 Masters Champion Sergio Garcia, re-signed 2017 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year and TOUR Championship winner Xander Schauffele, and signed three-time European Tour winner Tyrrell Hatton to apparel and footwear contracts. “The adidas brand is as much a part of my life off the golf course as it is on,” said Sergio Garcia. “I’m just as excited today to extend our relationship as I was when I first signed with adidas when I turned pro in 1999.”

DIGITAL & STREAMING

The National Lacrosse League is entering a new partnership with Facebook Watch to feature the newest show from NLL Productions, titled ReLax. The new feature show will focus on insights, reactions and analysis of each weekend’s games by NLL Productions Tyson Geick and Ashley Docking with Inside Lacrosse Contributor Pat Gregoire. The series runs exclusively on Facebook Watch on Mondays at 6p.

ESPORTS

ELEAGUE’s upcoming Boston CS:GO Major will feature the Swiss System for the Challengers Stage and Legends Stage, per Dot Esports. The event runs .Jan. 12-28 and serves as the first Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major to use Valve’s new format with 24 teams instead of 16. Min-Sik Ko, the VP of Tournament Operations at ELEAGUE, posted that both the Challengers and Legends Stages will utilize the Swiss System with opening matches being seeded while other rounds would then pit teams with equal records against one another. Teams that make it to three wins will move forward in the tournament while teams with three losses will be eliminated.

THE MAIN EVENT

Cavaliers/Celtics on ESPN at 8p.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Getting Maximum Impact from Experiential Marketing

Cynopsis Webinar: Tuesday Jan. 30 at 1:30pm ET

The more millennials turn away from traditional advertising, the smarter it is for marketers to create experiential events that create powerful connections with consumers. Our panel will focus on how to use social most effectively, the latest metrics for measuring success, and more. Among the speakers are Scott Lachut, President, Research & Strategy for PSFK and Damon Haley, Head of Sports Marketing for Troika.

Learn more and register here

ON THIS DAY in 1983: The Cowboys’ Tony Dorsett sets an NFL record with a 99-yard run against the Vikings.

In the Know: Which NBA player was nicknamed “Bones”? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city.)

Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question: What was the name of the long-running syndicated sports trivia show hosted by the late, great Dick Enberg? Answer: Sports Challenge. Kudos: John Ferlazzo/London; Brian Ricco-BOXTV- The Boxing Channel/NY; Michael Ritz-BucStar Consulting/NY; Maureen Lindsey-Mo Media Production/NY; David Tratner-DKMS/NY; Larry Kahn-Golf Channel/Orlando; Rick Rosenfelt-New York Red Bulls/Harrison; Mike May-PHIT America/Wellington; Bruce Bernstein/Connecticut; Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station; John Kukla-KDFW/KDFI/Dallas-Fort Worth; Bill Robertson-WCHA/Edina; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union/Burbank; Willie Price-American Forces Network/Riverside

Later – Chris

Chris Pursell @VegasandVine
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