Business World

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Nov 26, 1997

Industry executives cited recent strong demand by advertisers for sports programming and a rush by movie studios to book promotional time for upcoming releases as reasons for the increased price. The game, which decides the champion of the National Football League each season, traditionally attracts the biggest audience of the year on television.

Ed Markey, a spokesman for NBC Sports, said the last available commercial slots were sold about three weeks ago. He said the sellout occurred earlier than last year. The game will be played Jan. 25, 1998. There are 58 half-minute commercial spots in the game itself, meaning that ads within the game will generate more than $75 million in revenue for NBC. In addition, NBC sells commercials in pre- and post-game shows and got another $5 million from Royal Caribbean International cruise lines to be the sole sponsor of the halftime show. Garth's lucky number NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Garth Brooks is hoping Sevens are his lucky numbers. Brooks' new album went on sale Tuesday, with Capitol Nashville shipping 5 million copies of Sevens, including 777,777 first edition-copies. His last album, Fresh Horses, sold more than 4 million copies. To get Sevens out, EMI Recorded Music had to replace the president of its Nashville office and commit itself to a huge marketing campaign in a shakeup attributed to Brooks himself. Roy's theme park TEMECULA, Calif. (AP) -- The proposed Roy Rogers and Dale Evans entertainment project RogersDale USA has ridden off to Riverside County, where it will be merged with an arena complex. Roy Rogers Jr. and promoter Zev Buffman are combining their proposed Western-theme projects in Temecula, about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Buffman plans a sports and entertainment complex. RogersDale USA, a retail and entertainment project, was originally supposed to be built in San Bernardino County. Rogers and Buffman hope to break ground within two months and hold concerts, Wild West shows, sporting events and other activities by early 1999. The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum will stay in San Bernardino County. VF gets its best form WYOMISSING, Penn. (Bloomberg) -- VF will buy closely held Bestform Group, maker of Bestform and Christian Dior lingerie, for an undisclosed amount of cash as part of a plan to double its U.S. lingerie sales by 2000. Bestform will boost VF's sales in department and discount stores and increase its international manufacturing capabilities, particularly in the Far East, the company said. Bestform makes intimate apparel under brands including Bestform, Christian Dior, Natori and Oscar de la Renta. Bestform, based in New York, had 1996 sales of $270 million. VF, which makes apparel under brands including Lee, Wrangler and Vanity Fair, had 1996 sales of $5.1 billion. Implosion eminent LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The Aladdin Hotel -- a Las Vegas icon with a checkered past -- closed Tuesday to make way for a newer, bigger $1.2 billion Aladdin resort. The Aladdin's 17-story tower is to be imploded next year, probably in February. Five major Las Vegas hotels -- the Dunes, Landmark, Sands and Hacienda -- have been imploded in the past four years. Linked in its early years to Midwest mob figures and co-owned briefly by singer Wayne Newton, the Aladdin has been cursed by financial problems. It was placed under bankruptcy protection in 1984 and again in 1989. The hotel began as the Tally-Ho, which was three years' old when Milton Prell bought it in 1966. He expanded it, added a casino, then reopened it as the Aladdin. Elvis and Priscilla Presley were married there in 1967. The Aladdin emerged from its second bankruptcy in 1992, with control given to Joe Burt and a management team. Burt, credited with turning the property around, was killed in a motorcycle accident in Arizona in 1993. The current owners, Jack Sommer and his Sigman Sommer Family Trust, bought the Aladdin for a reported $80 million in 1994. Replacing the current tower will be a new 2,600-room Aladdin, with 450,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and another 1,000- room music-themed hotel nearby. The project is a joint venture with Planet Hollywood International. The closing will affect the jobs of nearly 1,500 employees. Kitchenware by mail CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. (Bloomberg) -- Neiman Marcus Group will buy Chef's Catalog, a direct marketer of gourmet cookware and high-end kitchenware, for $31 million in cash, to expand its direct marketing franchise. Northbrook, Ill.-based Chef's Catalog, which has annual revenue of $55 million, had total catalog circulation of 30 million last year. Chef's Catalog also operates a Web site to market its product online. The acquisition fits with the Chestnut Hill-based retailer of luxury goods' direct marketing efforts, it said. Neiman Marcus's direct-mail operation had 1997 revenue of $259.4 million. Its catalog brands include Neiman Marcus, Horchow, Trifles and Grand Finale. Neiman Marcus Group consists of three operating units: Neiman Marcus Stores, NM Direct and Bergdorf Goodman. A Southwest dividend STILLWATER (JR) -- Southwest Bancorp has declared a cash dividend on common stock for the fourth quarter of 8 cents per share. The parent of Stillwater National Bank and Trust will pay the dividend on Jan. 2 to shareholders of record on Dec. 19. Royalty bets high tech RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- Saudi billionaire Prince al-Waleed bin Talal has acquired stakes in News Corp., Motorola and Netscape as part of a push into media and technology, his office said Tuesday. Al-Waleed bought 5 percent of News Corp., the media conglomerate controlled by Rupert Murdoch, for $400 million. The prince also purchased 1 percent of cellular phone maker Motorola for $300 million and a 5 percent share in Netscape Communications, the Internet software company, for $150 million. Al-Waleed, a nephew of Saudi King Fahd, is reportedly worth more than $12 billion and has stakes in several other companies including Apple Computer, Citicorp and Trans World Airlines. Avis expands DRUMRIGHT, Okla. (AP) -- Avis rental cars will hire 50 more workers to take reservations at its Drumright office. About 115 people work for Avis in Drumright, a Creek County town of 6,500. New hires would be made in February, the company said. "It is an economic boost in the arm," City Manager Paul Branch said. "Fifty additional employees in a community the size of Drumright is very important." Avis opened its Drumright reservation center two years ago with 50 employees. Off to give thanks BOSTON (NYT) -- A record 32.4 million people plan a getaway over the long Thanksgiving weekend, according to AAA. Coming attractions BOSTON (NYT) -- For all holiday shoppers and video hounds, here's a list of prospective video release dates. Dec. 2: George of the Jungle, Speed 2, The Heist, Tap Dogs. Dec. 9: My Best Friend's Wedding, The Land Before Time V, Con Air, The Champagne Safari, Box of Moonlight, Dec. 16: Cosi, Trojan War, Contact, Stranger in the House, How to Be a Player, A Simple Wish, The Creeps, Wedding Bell Blues. Dec. 23: Chasing Amy, Bliss, Spawn, 187, Air Bud, Till There Was You, Habitat, Valley of the Dolls, Orchestra Rehearsal, Operation Condor, My Favorite Season. Dec. 30: Out to Sea, Conspiracy Theory, Steel, Wedding Bell Blues, True Vengeance. Jan. 6: Masterminds, When the Cat's Away, Fire Down Below, Hercules & Xena -- The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus, Hoodlum. Jan. 13: Temptress Moon, Picture Perfect, Riverdance: Live From New York City, Career Girls, Buddy, Children of the Revolution. Jan.20: The Prophecy II, Nothing To Lose. Jan. 27: Brassed Off, Executive Target. Feb. 10: Air Force One.