Tale of the Tape: ESPN vs. FS1

More than a month in, it looks like FS1 is here to stay and with it, carries major implications for advertisers and sponsors. Take a look at how both networks took shape and got to where they are today. H/T: sports-management-degrees.com

Sponsors Step Up in Wake of Gov't Shutdown

Sporting events may go overlooked in light of more pressing needs, but last weekend's Air Force-Navy game, like many other government-funded programs, was put in jeopardy due to the ongoing government shutdown. With no government funds available, Air Force turned to its sponsors to raise the $230,000 necessary for the team to travel to Annapolis, Maryland. A few hours after conversations star...

New Research Suggests A Rise In Q4 Sponsorship Decision Making

It may be go time for events looking to lock-in sponsors for summer 2014. New research from the Canadian Sponsorship Landscape Study suggests that more and more sponsorship decisions are being made during the fall. The fact that sponsorship decisions are being made in the final few months of the year as budgets are being solidified is no surprise, but the dramatic trend upwards in recent years ...

Sir Martin Sorrell: 'We Can't Afford IMG'

$25 billion advertising conglomerate WPP may be out of the bidding for sports and entertainment marketing giant, IMG. "We would love to own IMG," WPP CEO Martin Sorrell told the Leaders in Football sports industry conference yesterday, but when asked if WPP was bidding, he answered: "no, we can't afford it." Sorell says the price tag could reach $2.5 billion with up to 10 companies bidding. T...

Why Hospitals Sponsor The Home Team

Most professional sports teams have a local hospital on their sponsorship roster. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is out with an excellent new piece that sums up the thinking behind local healthcare deals: Health care companies, which tend to have weak brands in the minds of consumers, benefit substantially from a connection to a winning sports franchise, said Kirk Wakefield, a Baylor University...

Ex-GM Marketing Boss: Man U Deal Was 'No Brainer'

The $559 million deal that seems to have cost former General Motors global marketing chief Joel Ewanick his job was a "no brainer" Ewanick said at this week's J.D. Power Automotive Marketing Roundtable. More on the Manchester United-GM deal via Automotive News: In his first public remarks about his July 2012 ouster, Ewanick said Tuesday it was clear that the deal would bring Chevrolet increa...

Coca-Cola Sponsorship Petition Has 300,000 Signatures & Counting

Public pressure is mounting on Olympic sponsors to take a stand on Russia’s new anti-gay laws in the run up to Sochi. Here's one example. The IOC's longest continuous sponsor, Coca-Cola, is the recipient of a petition that now includes nearly 325,000 names asking the beverage giant to condemn Russia’s anti-gay laws and call for their repeal.

Preventing World Series Ambush Is A Lengthy 4 Month Process

Dunkin Donuts is about as Boston as brands come, but as most of you know you won't see them at Fenway this week. In between the foul poles at least. It's all part of the extensive 4 month process that Major League Baseball takes to protect its corporate sponsors at the Fall Classic. Jeremy Cohen, MLB's vice-president of corporate sales and marketing detailed the process for USA Today: "We w...

Teams Look To Cash In On Courtside

Sponsorship may still not be "between the white lines," but it's creeping ever closer. Earlier this month, the Indiana Pacers became the first NBA team to sign an on-court sponsorship deal and today Wall Street Journal confirmed last week's tip that Samsung will be bringing tablets to NBA benches this season. To round out a hectic day around the league, the Raptors have become the second NBA te...

The 6 P's of the Perfect Sponsorship Proposal

When you first start thinking about sponsorship it's often associated with an immediate financial need... I need money to get my event off the ground or fund this movie idea. I want to provide additional services to my local community or I want someone to help pay the bills on my race car. You know what I mean... It's this "what's in it for me" attitude that could be holding you back from de...