Ad Sales Tally

Cable World, Sept 11, 2000 by Rani Long

NBC last week said it sold out its advertising for the 2000 Olympic Games, reaching a record high of $900 million in gross network sales for NBC's 441.5 total hours of coverage and ensuring a profit for NBC's 2000 Olympic coverage.

Brian Hunt, director-affiliate advertising sales at NBC Cable says, "We did get Comcast and Time Warner, so we're about 98% cleared in the country, which is great."

Sal Tofano, director-sports sales for National Cable Communications (NCC) says, "We've had obstacles with the cable companies signing on late, and actually Comcast signed on as of this week."

A spokesperson for Comcast says only that the sales executives for the MSO are "out there selling and getting some deals into place."

Tofano remains optimistic.

"The Olympics are an emotional sell," he says. "It's more about the athletes and events that it is about ratings. The Olympics are certainly going to be one of the largest-viewed sports events in the world, and we have had some obstacles with coverage and clearance -- but many markets are sold out or tight based on their aggressive selling."

Practice will make perfect -- Hunt feels ad sales efforts will sail much more smoothly during the next Olympic Games.

"I think next time's going to be a big hit for a few reasons," he says. "One, it's Salt Lake -- it's a domestic Olympic product. Two, it will be the second time going around, so they're going to have some familiarity with how to sell Olympics. Third and most crucial, all the cable operators will have signed on board so there won't be any of these issues with multiple MSOs going forward. So on a national spot level, NCC will have a much easier time going after national spot dollars."