11/27/18: ABC selects the NFL Draft

Good morning. It’s Tuesday November 27, 2018 and this is your first early morning Sports briefing.

Disney is stepping up its game with the NFL, announcing – for the first time in its history – that ABC will now carry all three days of the 2019 NFL Draft, including two nights of primetime coverage as part of the company’s coverage of the event. ABC will be the exclusive broadcast home of the event and will produce its own distinct telecast for the ABC audience, separate from ESPN and NFL Network, during the first two nights of coverage. For the second straight year, ABC will simulcast ESPN’s presentation on Day 3. The prime-time draft specials on ABC will be anchored by ESPN’s College GameDay and feature ESPN and ABC personalities and other special guests as part of the multi-night ABC presentation. The 2019 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 25-27, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn.

“ESPN is constantly seeking opportunities to innovate and expand our coverage of major events and the NFL Draft is a perfect example of that. There is no better way to celebrate 40 years of working with the NFL to grow the Draft than to bring the considerable assets of The Walt Disney Company to Nashville,” said ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro. “With ESPN networks and platforms, and the addition of ABC as the exclusive broadcast home to the Draft, we will bring more resources than ever before as we introduce fans to the next generation of NFL players.”

ESPN, which has presented the annual NFL Draft since 1980, will continue to offer a traditional X’s and O’s football analysis-themed production.

ON THE AIR

Speaking of the NFL, CBS Sports saw its Week 12 NFL doubleheader coverage on Sunday rank as its highest-rated game of the NFL season. The national 4:25p game window drew a 17% spike to hits a rating/share of 15.5/29 in the metered markets, anchored by the Steelers/Broncos matchup. The network’s regional 1p game window earned an increase of 11% with a rating/share of 9.0/19. Through 12 weeks, The NFL on CBS’ season-to-date ratings are up 5% from a year ago.

NBC’s Sunday Night Football coverage of the Packers/Vikings delivered a 13.2/22 overnight Nielsen score (not including digital), up 8% from last year’s Week 12 SNF game. The contest marks the tenth time in past 12 games that NBC’s NFL overnight topped corresponding game in 2017.

Finally, FOX saw its singleheader NFL coverage on Sunday draw a 103/22 in metered markets, up 3% year-to-year.

Former middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin will decide on his next broadcast partner before the end of the year, according to ESPN. Golovkin promoter Tom Loeffler stated that Golovkin is being aggressively pursued by ESPN as part of its deal with Top Rank as well as by streaming platform DAZN,, and that the fighter plans to be back in the ring sometime between March and May.

Special event Bellator and USO Present: Salute the Troops – which honors the men and women of the US Armed Forces – will now be simulcast by American Forces Network on Dec. 14 to the approximately 475,000 US Service members, DoD Civilians, and their families deployed around the world in 22 time zones, 168 countries, and aboard nearly 200 ships at sea. The fight card will also air on Paramount Network, as well as MTV2, and will stream LIVE on Bellator’s new global distribution partner, DAZN. Bellator and the USO will also host a series of events at a number of military bases in Hawaii leading up to the big fight weekend.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

The 2^nd Annual Cynopsis Short Form Video Festival

Wednesday, March 6^th | SVA Theatre, NYC

Finalists to be announced in mid-December…

Winners will be announced live on-stage at the 2nd Annual Short Form Video Festival, taking place this March in NYC. At the festival, we’ll also offer panels on the state of short form video as well as opportunities to network with creators and buyers. Panels include:

• Finding The Right Platforms For Premium Short For Video
• What Advertisers Want From Short-For Video

SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION

For a 12th consecutive year, ESPN’s V Week for Cancer Research will look to drive awareness and funds for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, this year spanning Nov. 27-Dec. 8, and running across ESPN platforms. The 2018 V Week will feature three new initiatives to raise funds for the V Foundation: Kicks to Beat Cancer, which will see ESPN commentators and professional athletes donate a signed pair to be auctioned off; Craig Sager Style Day from Nov. 29-30 and seeing ESPN, NBA on TNT and NBA TV on-air commentators will wear jackets and clothing that capture Craig’s signature “Sager Style”; and WeRateDogs “h*ck cancer” Campaign. Additional V Week programming will once again see Jim Valvano’s ESPYS Speech Roadblock, along with the “Cancer Is” Campaign.

Paris-Saint Germain renewed their sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola, with the new deal spanning until 2021. “We are very proud to be one of the historic partners of Paris Saint-Germain and to renew our commitment to the club. Paris Saint-Germain are France’s favourite club and one of the most popular clubs in the world, something we have in common, always very close to our consumers. We love Paris, its prestigious club and its fans, wherever they come from. This partnership is very important for Coca-Cola, and our strategy of uniting, despite our differences,” said Francois Gay Bellile, President of Coca-Cola France.

Minor League Baseball locked in an agreement with ECHO Incorporated that will see the brand serve as the “Official Outdoor Power Tool of MiLB” and the “Official Outdoor Power Tool of Copa de la Diversion.” In select ballparks beginning in 2019, MiLB and its teams will help showcase ECHO’s range of powerful products through pregame “Power Hour presented by ECHO” events to reach potential customers.

Riddell and The Alliance of American Football inked a multi-year partnership to bring football helmet technology and protective equipment to the new league and its players. Riddell will serve as the official protective equipment partner of The Alliance through the 2021 season.

DIGITAL & STREAMING

DAZN is looking to introduce ad models to help pay for its recent rights deals, according to the Wall Street Journal, with John Skipper, executive chairman at DAZN Group, telling the publication that the company will introduce its ad model in the next six to eight months,

Twitter is celebrating hockey with a recently-launched #Hockey Twitter content series that includes a launch video featuring NHL stars and actor/superfan Jay Baruchel, unique new hashtag-triggered #HockeyTwitter emoji and more. The celebration comes on the heels of the October announcement of the new weekly #IceSurfing Twitter show in partnership with SportsNet Canada.

ESPN sports business reporter Darren Rovell is reportedly leaving the company to join the Action Network, a start-up media company dedicated to sports gambling, according to CNN. A deal could be finalized this week, and potentially as soon as Monday.

ESPORTS

After being accepted into the LEC, Team Vitality announced that it had locked in around $22.7 million in financing led by entrepreneur Tej Kohli. The investment will be used to develop “state-of-the-art facilities,” as well as a store, office, and training centers.

Nintendo unveiled plans to organize a Japan East and Japan West League that will showcase Super Smash Bros Ultimate in 2019. Play will serve as part of a tournament series for the upcoming title that will be known as the Smash Ball Cup. The West League will be located in Osaka while the East League will be located in Tokyo.

THE MAIN EVENT

Golden Knights/Blackhawks on NBCSN at 8p.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

The Latest Strategies for Maximizing and Monetizing Mobile Engagement

During our 12/6 webinar, “The Latest Strategies for Maximizing and Monetizing Mobile Engagement,” our experts will explore the solutions now available to content creators, buyers, and sellers to make the most of mobile. Speakers include Bobby LaCivita, Sr. Director of Research & Measurement for Group Nine Media; David Laird, Senior Director of Sales Insights for Oath; and Hetal Patel, Head of Sales Research & Insights at Vox Media.

REGISTRATION IS FREE – SIGN UP HERE

ON THIS DAY in 1947: The Yankees’ Joe DiMaggio tops the Red Sox’ Ted Williams 202 votes to 201 for the American League’s MVP Award.

In the Know: Which club was Ted Williams the manager for? (Hint – not the Red Sox) (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city.)

Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question: Who is the NFL’s all-time leader in career interceptions (catching them, not throwing them)? Answer: Paul Krause. Kudos: Michael Ritz-BucStar Consulting/NY; Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station; Joe Lyons-ESPN/Dallas; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union/Burbank; Brian Robin-Pechanga Resort Casino/Temecula

Later – Chris

Chris Pursell @VegasandVine
Roberta Caploe Publisher @robertacaploe	Diane K Schwartz Senior Vice President Media Communications Group	Cynopsis Ad Sales Mike Farina \| 203-218-6480 VP, Sales	Cynopsis Job Listings Sales Trish Pihonak \| 203-899-8459 Director of Operations

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