CYNOPSISSPORTS
08.14.14 Good morning. It’s Thursday, August 14, 2014, and this is your first early morning Sports briefing.
SEC Network goes live today at 6p, bolstering an extremely healthy lineup of distributors and content that will include more than 1,000 events in its first year on the channel and its digital platform. The network will open with its flagship news show SEC Now live from all 14 SEC campuses, via a three-hour special celebrating the conference. An opening essay about the tradition of the conference will see Peyton, Eli and Archie Manning, Shaquille O’Neal, Dara Torres and Joe Namath among the 31 voices participating.
Cynopsis Sports asked Justin Connolly, ESPN Senior Vice President for College Networks, about the buildup and the plan ahead in a special Q&A.
On the mood behind the scenes: Nervous excitement. We are very proud of the preparation and effort in advance of launch and support from fans and distributors. Certainly some nerve to ensure the launch goes smoothly and the content lives up to fan expectation and the quality bar set by other ESPN networks.
On programming: We’ll lead with live events we’ll air over 1,000 events across platforms in year one. We’ll surround those events with high quality talent and analysis to enhance the fan’s experience. We’ll also focus on storytelling and access across all of the universities. We’ve expanded our long form features brand, SEC Storied to help populate the network with great content. The key in expanding our show and content development effort is to continue building trust and communication with the universities so they can help us identify different ways to tell the stories and also provide us access that we can shape into content elements for SEC fans to ensure they are getting something special when they tune-in to SEC Network.
On pitching to sponsors: Sponsors have the opportunity to attach themselves to two of the most powerful brands in college sports SEC and ESPN. We will elevate their brands as part of our signature shows with positions they can own in sponsored elements that help fit their goals. SEC Nation, our traveling weekly pre-game show in football, is just one example where our corporate sponsors will be fully integrated into the show segments each week as we tour the SEC. The show will be embedded in the pre-game rituals across the SEC and it has a star-studded cast including Joe Tessitore, Tim Tebow, Marcus Spears, Paul Finebaum and Kaylee Hartung who can bring an authentic and knowledgeable perspective about the SEC to fans across the country.
On building the brand: It is always a challenge to build a brand, destination and voice that will resonate with fans from day one. Our approach has been to build a brand identity that celebrates and connects with core fans of the SEC and its schools. Our pre-launch brand campaign helped create awareness as it invites fans to “Take It All In” on the new SEC Network. Likewise, on the content and presentation, we are looking to create a look that is distinct to this network and develop stories and features that will connect with SEC fans across the country. Another key is to ensure that the brand and ultimately the content live across all platforms and access and availability is as easy as possible. As the network launches and evolves, there will certainly be challenges in each of these areas and a constant process of improving. Provided we continue to focus on the fan, creating great content for that fan and ensuring that availability of SEC Network content is easy and intuitive, then we will distinguish ourselves in an otherwise crowded space.
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM TROIKA
It’s about uncovering the WHY behind the WHAT. Millions of Americans Watched the 2014 FIFA World Cup…
But Do We Really Know WHY? Using original findings from TROIKA’s Research & Insights Group during this year’s World Cup, Troika’s Cultural Anthropologist Susan Kresnicka & Creative Director Gil Haslam reveal the cultural forces that inform WHY fans connect to the game and how to keep them engaged.
Cynopsis Sports Business Summit – NYC | Wednesday, 8/20 12:10pm-12:30pm |
www.troika.tv.The release of the new season’s NBA slate of televised games will see ABC and ESPN combine for 90 national telecasts during the regular season, starting Oct. 29 for a doubleheader pitting the Bull/Knicks at 8p and Thunder/Trail Blazers at 10:30p. ABC and ESPN will combine to televise three games on Christmas Day starting a noon on ESPN with the Wizards/Knicks. ABC then offers a doubleheader at 2:30p starting with Thunder/Spurs and followed by Cavaliers/Heat. Overall, ABC showcases 15 exclusive, national broadcasts and seven doubleheaders, while ESPN delivers 75 national telecasts and 34 doubleheaders.
On TNT, the network is on deck for 53 NBA regular season games including 10 appearances on TNT by the Cavaliers and Bulls, nine appearances by the Clippers, Lakers, Thunder and Warriors, seven appearances by the Spurs and six appearances by the Knicks, Rockets, Trail Blazers and Suns. The network will open the season with an Oct. 28 tip off between the Mavericks/Spurs at 8p, followed by the Rockets/Lakers at 10:30p. The network will also showcase a Christmas Day doubleheader with the Lakers/Bulls at 8p, followed by Warriors/Clippers at 10:30p. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day programming on Jan. 19 features the Cavaliers/Bulls at 8p and Lakers/Suns at 10:30p.
NBA TV’s slate of games this season will see 97 contests in the spotlight, opening with the Bulls/Timberwolves at 8p and Lakers/Warriors at 10:30p. Additionally, the network’s NBA TV Fan Night presented by Sprint will return for its sixth consecutive season with its first of 16 games on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Special programming on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day includes the Mavericks/Grizzlies at 5p.
George Pyne, President of IMG Sports and Entertainment, is officially departing his role at the company to launch a new venture. He will, however, remain a senior advisor to the company. Although reports of the new venture differ, Pyne stated that the goals and objectives will be revealed at a later date. "It has been an honor to work for IMG, the greatest sports marketing company in the world, and a privilege to collaborate with so many talented men and women, whom I would like to thank for the invaluable experiences we have shared. I would like to also thank the amazing clients I have worked with over the years," said Pyne.
CBS Sports Network rolled out its most extensive game lineup ever for the 2014 season, offering teams from the Mountain West, The American, Conference USA, Army and Navy football, the Patriot League and NCAA Division II with 66 games on deck. Analysts Fred Smoot, Eric Crouch and Kevin O’Connell will join the broadcast team. Carter Blackburn returns to CBS Sports Network this year as lead college football play-by-play announcer and will team with Aaron Taylor, as the lead announce team. Reporters include newcomers Cassie Gallo, Melanie Collins and Courtney Fallon, along with Lauren Gardner, Sheehan Stanwick Burch, Susannah Collins and Rashan Ali. The action begins on Aug. 28 at 8p with Tulane/Tulsa.
Only a limited amount of tickets remain, register now! Join us on Aug. 19-20 for the Cynopsis Sports Business Summit and Women of Action in NY with nearly 70 speakers and hundreds of fellow participants slated to attend. Two more sessions in the cards include our CMO Summit, moderated by CSE’s Adam Zimmerman. Participants are set to include NBC Sports Group’s John Miller, the NHL’s Brian Jennings, the LPGA’s Jon Podany and the NFL’s Renie Anderson. Don’t miss our sponsorship activation panel as well, and maximize your results with partners and fans! Hosted by Scott McCune, speakers include Mars’ William Clements, EA Sports’ David Pekush, IMG College’s Andrew Judelson and MLS/SUM’s David Wright. For more info and to register, click here.
ESPN unveiled its 2015 Super Tuesday schedule, featuring a men’s college basketball game from the Big Ten and SEC each Tuesday, beginning Jan. 6 with a doubleheader running at 7p and 9p over the course of nine weeks. Key Big Ten battles will include Iowa/Wisconsin on Jan. 20 and Michigan State/Michigan on Feb. 17. SEC coverage will see Kentucky and Florida both make four appearances each. Coverage tips off on Jan. 6 with Arkansas/Georgia at 7p and Ohio State/Minnesota at 9p.
NBCSN Sunday Sports Report makes its debut on Sunday at 11:30p. The weekly one-hour program that will showcase the news and highlights of the sports properties that primarily air on NBC and NBCSN. Liam McHugh hosts and will recap this week’s top events in the first episode, including the opening weekend of the Premier League season, the latest NFL headlines, the NASCAR Michigan 400, and the start of the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China. In addition, viewers will see a sit-down interview between Josh Elliott and four-time Olympic gold-medalist Missy Franklin.
ESPN made its game selection for the Sept. 7 edition of Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell, choosing the Giants/Tigers matchup at 8p. Dan Shulman, John Kruk and Buster Olney will handle microphone duties.
Jimmy Fallon will host both Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy on The Tonight Show on Monday, according to reports. McIlroy, coming off his fourth major title at the PGA Championship on Sunday, will play in the Barclays next week at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey.
Intersport produced a half-hour special, dubbed Rising Stars Presented By Mercedes Benz, that will air on both CBS Sports Network (tonight at 6:30p) and Tennis Channel (running throughout Sept.). The special is hosted by Tennis Channel’s Justin Gimelstob and features Grigor Dimitrov and Eugenie Bouchard with access in the gym and on the court.
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE
DON’T MISS OUT ON HEARING FROM:
Ross Greenburg – Ross Greenburg Productions
Bill Handcock – College Football Playoff
Scott Greenstein – SiriusXM
Sean McManus – CBS Sports
And more sports industry experts! Agenda | See Who’s Attending | Speakers Wednesday, August 20 | NYAC | REGISTER NOW!.
Mars locked in new multi-year deals with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and NASCAR to cement its role in the sport. The deal with JGR will extend the partnership with the No. 18 M&M’S Toyota as the primary paint scheme in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The NASCAR agreement designates Mars as the Official Chocolate of NASCAR. “From connecting with fans to engaging our retail partners and creating passion among our associates, our alliances with Joe Gibbs Racing and NASCAR are tremendously successful,” said William Clements, Vice President Sponsorships and Sports Marketing at Mars Chocolate North America. “We’re thrilled to extend our partnerships and look forward to celebrating more wins both on and off the track.”
FOX Sports launched its new college football campaign by “apologizing” to family, friends, colleagues and pets forced to the sidelines during the season. Using full-page ads in the New York Times and New York Post, as well as a long-form video documenting one family’s struggle, the campaign spotlights the 100+ games set to run across national and regional channels this year. “We know the repercussions of our actions,” FOX Sports’ statement in the Times and Post reads. “Scorned lovers. Lonely pets. Unvisited grandparents.” FOX Sports’ college football coverage begins Aug. 28, with four straight nights of action, kicking off with Rutgers/Washington State at 10p on FOX Sports 1.
NBC Sports Group and Uber are offering free rides to New Yorkers from Aug. 14-17 via a custom-designed convoy of Mini Cooper Countrymans through Aug. 17 promoting the return of the Premier League. To catch a ride, fans in Manhattan can enter promo code BPLonNBC in the Uber app for the chance to ride in one of the 20 unique Mini Cooper Countrymans. Once inside, a Speak Football app will challenge riders to put their soccer knowledge to the test, as they race against the clock to answer questions from the rules of the game to soccer slang.
ONE World Sports locked in a multiplatform sponsorship agreement with GEICO that will feature on-air spots, program sponsorship and branding, and marks the global sports network’s inaugural agreement for major sponsorship. As a “founder partner,” GEICO becomes ONE World Sports’ exclusive insurance-industry category marketing partner.
EA Sports selected Goal.com to power Match Day Live within FIFA 15, the upcoming release of the soccer video game franchise on Xbox One. Match Day Live will serve as an immersive feature in the game that will offer fans news stories, powered by Goal.com content. This will mark the first time that live soccer articles has been featured in the FIFA franchise.
SendtoNews signed a multi-year agreement with MLB Advanced Media to syndicate MLB and MiLB short-form digital content. SendtoNews will have distribution rights to MLB game highlights, interviews, top plays and video from local news sites. “For advertisers, this means an opportunity to surround their brands around America’s favorite pastime,” SendtoNews CEO Greg Bobolo told Cynopsis. “There are more than 2,000 games per season for MLB alone, and we estimate the deal with push us over the 100 million mark in terms of viewership.” SendtoNews brings in more than 50 million monthly.
SEC Network debuts at 6p.
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE
Are you ready for TWO days of Sports action?
68+ PRESENTERS | HUNDREDS OF ATTENDEES | Q&A’s, PANELS & KEYNOTES
Hear speakers from: Bloomberg Sports, CBS Sports, CSE, EA Sports, WWE, FOX Sports, Chobani, HBO Sports, Mars, MLS Business Ventures, NBA, NBC Sports Group, Neulion, NFL Media, NHL, SiriusXM, Sporting News Media, Troika and more.
AUG 19 -Women of Action | AUG 20 – Sports Business Summit.
ON THIS DAY in 1971: St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson throws his first no-hitter.
In The Know: What was the name of Geena Davis’ team in the movie A League of Their Own? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: Only the second four correct answers from each time zone will be mentioned; and once you’ve been mentioned in any of the Cynopsis editions, you can’t be mentioned again that calendar week.)
Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question: Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris were collectively known by what nickname? Answer: The M&M Boys. Kudos: Michael Ritz-BucStar Consulting/NY; Tom Buffolano-LTN Global/NY; Andrew Feingold-Nielsen Sports/NY; Gabe Alfaya-XL Worldwide/NY; Jerry A. Kapner-Kapner Group/Montclair; Randy Ingram-WBTW-TV/Myrtle Beach; Mark Braff-Braff Communications/ Fair Lawn; Jerehmy White-BusyBuddy Books/Glen Rock; Andy Pittman-Texas A&M University/College Station; Bill Robertson-WCHA/Minneapolis; Chuck Gordon-WVTM-TV/Birmingham; David Hauptman/Denver; Judie Henninger-Valentine Productions Inc./Santa Monica; Jim Bernard-FOX Sports/LA; Larry Hutchings/Pacific Palisades; Alex Petrilli, Jr.-TiVo/San Jose.
Later — Chris
Chris Pursell for Cynopsis | Sports @VegasandVine
08.14.14
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