Billion-dollar Olympics

Overall ad sales have been dreadful, but the Beijing games are one of those grand television events that prove to be the exception. Madison Avenue snapped up more than $1 billion in advertising time in advance of NBC's 3,600 hours of coverage, with additional business expected to be written over the next two weeks. Interest was apparently sluggish at first, but a bunch of late money has flowed in. The network is reportedly charging $750,000 for each 30-second spot in live events. From Variety:

NBC said it saw a surge in ad dollars thanks to the solid ratings chalked up by the Olympic trials for swimming, gymnastics and track & field, which averaged better numbers (peaking at about 8 million viewers) than similar televised trials leading up to the 2004 Olympics. Advertisers also took note of the way NBC showcased such high-visibility athletes as Michael Phelps, Dara Torres, Tyson Gay and Shawn Johnson during the trials. Star athletes generate bigger Nielsen ratings.
5:09 PM Thursday, August 7 2008 • Link
Email or share:
© 2003-2008   •  About LA Observed  •  Contact the editor
LA Biz Observed
6:25 AM Fri | Gas prices are way down, DVD sales are sliding, Kaiser gets four-star rating, and no progress in SAG talks.
5:07 PM Thu | WSJ reports that Citigroup executive are looking into the possibility of selling the financial giant or auctioning off pieces.
Native Intelligence
TJ Sullivan | Without referencing its recent layoff, the Ventura County Star's editor says the suburban LA paper is now "more streamlined and, in many ways, much more efficient."
Deanne Stillman | We stripped the Indians of their ponies, and now we're doing it to ourselves.
TJ Sullivan | When the sun looks like that, there's a big fire somewhere regardless of whether we see or smell smoke.
Bill Boyarsky
Lee Abrams, Tribune Company's chief innovation officer, doesn’t seem too impressed with the Los Angeles Times. That’s the feeling I got when he appeared at the Los Angeles Press Club.
Jenny Burman
This Was Pacific Electric.
Here in Malibu
Making our bed, lying in it.
Sponsors
Jewish Journal logo
California Wellness Foundation
Playa Vista ad
Premium Blogads

 
Books, Blogs & Events