Good morning. It’s Friday April 12, 2019 and this is your first early morning Sports briefing.

Opening night of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs proved fruitful for NBC Sports as the company’s’ four-game coverage on Wednesday delivered the best overnight rating for an Opening Night in three years, according to Nielsen, with contests across NBCSN, USA Network, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app combining for a 0.39 overnight rating, the best for an Opening Night since 2016 (0.47) and up 3% vs. 2018. Game 1 of the Penguins/Islanders series on NBCSN produced a 0.52 overnight rating to tie for the best Opening Night overnight rating in five years.

 

 

PROGRAMMING

Meanwhile, networks and contests for the NBA postseason are locked in with play beginning Saturday on ESPN with matches featuring the 76ers/Nets at 2:30p, Magic/Raptors at 5p, and Spurs/Nuggets at 10:30p, while ABC offers Clippers/Warriors at 8p. Sunday’s action includes TNT’s coverage of Pacers/Celtics at 1p, Pistons/Bucks at 7p and Rockets/Jazz at 9:30p, with ABC offering Thunder/Trail Blazers at 3:30p.

 

Overall, ESPN and ABC will combine to televise up to 44 games from this year’s NBA Playoffs, including the NBA Western Conference Finals. NBA Countdown will tip off Saturday’s game coverage at 1:30p on ESPN and 8p on ABC, and Sunday’s game coverage at 3p on ABC with host Michelle Beadle, alongside analysts Jalen Rose, Paul Pierce and Stan Van Gundy.

 

TNT serves up more than 40 NBA Playoff games, including the exclusive presentation of the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Finals presented by Google Pixel. TNT’s NBA Playoffs coverage will feature the studio team of host Ernie Johnson alongside Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal and two-time NBA Champion Kenny Smith providing analysis during the TNT NBA Tip-Off Presented by Autotrader pregame show and the American Express Halftime Report, with extensive postgame coverage on Inside the NBA presented by Kia.

 

Meanwhile, NBA TV carries up to nine originally produced first round NBA Playoff games presented by Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, along with extensive nightly NBA GameTime studio coverage, and the new daily preview show, NBA TV Playoff Central Live. The network’s live game schedule will begin April 16, with the Spurs/Nuggets in Game 2 of the series at 9p.

 

Monday sees NBC Sports offer live coverage of the 123rd annual Boston Marathon at 8:30p on NBCSN. Paul Swangard calls the action on NBCSN, joined by analysts Craig Masback, Carrie Tollefson, and reporter Trenni Kusnierek. Swangard will also host the Boston Marathon Preview Show, joined by Masback, Tollefson, and Kusnierek.

 

The 2018-19 college basketball season officially concludes tonight with the College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendy’s, live at 8p on ESPN2. The 90-minute show will feature the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s (Player of the Year – Men), John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s (Player of the Year – Women) and John R. Wooden Award (Legends of Coaching), as well as five Basketball Hall of Fame positional awards. Host Maria Taylor, with analysts Jay Williams and Chiney Ogwumike will interview winners, present awards and look back at some of the season’s best moments.

 

NBC Sports announced a slate of new broadcast elements for its coverage of the 2019 Notre Dame Football Blue-Gold Game on NBCSN this Saturday at 12:30p. Production will feature cutting-edge production elements to provide viewers with access to additional sightlines and analysis of the scrimmage. A dual SkyCam will be utilized, including a sideline SkyCam that will follow the line of scrimmage for every play, marking the first time in television history that a sideline SkyCam will serve as the primary play-by-play camera. In addition, the game will be produced in collaboration with members of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Media staff and current Notre Dame students from the Notre Dame Studios at Corbett Family Hall within Notre Dame Stadium.

 

Alianza de Futbol locked in a four-year partnership with Univision Deportes, to serve as Alianza’s official Spanish-language media partner. The new multi-year partnership gives Univision Deportes exclusive access to cover the 2019 Alianza de Futbol tour in ten cities across the country and showcase Alianza content across the Univision Deportes portfolio beginning with the organization’s May 25 event in Atlanta. At the end of the 2019 season, Univision Deportes will also create a special one-hour program to show the highlights of Allstate Sueno Alianza.

 

FOX Sports announced that WBC Interim World Middleweight Champion Jermall Charlo joins Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and host Chris Myers to call FS1 PBC Fight Night: Peter Quillin vs. Caleb Truax on Saturday at 10p. On FOX Deportes, blow-by-blow announcer Adrian Garcia Marquez is joined by Jaime Motta to call the fights in Spanish. Saturday’s PBC programming begins at 4p on FOX with FOX PBC Countdown: Danny Garcia vs. Adrian Granados, following the two fighters through their camps as they preview their April 20 headliner.

 

The National Lacrosse League is adding a new pregame show called NLL Playoffs Pre-Game LIVE and will be expanding NLL Wired to include the 2019 NLL Playoffs. NLL Playoffs Pre-Game LIVE will serve as a 10-minute commercial-free pregame show before every playoff game. Coverage will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the game and will be available on B/R Live to subscribers and will be simulcast to the NLL’s social channels. Following the first-season success of NLL Wired, the league has added live audio of the head referee to capture conversations between the crew chief, other referees, players and coaches on the broadcast. In addition, audio between the crew chief and the replay operator will be broadcast live during coaches’ challenges.

 

SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION

Another big deal for NHL, as the league and the NHLPA forged a partnership with Great Clips in a multiyear deal. Through the partnership, Great Clips will become the Official Hair Salon of the NHL, while receiving brand exposure during all US and Canada Stanley Cup Playoff game broadcasts as well as at tentpole NHL events, including NHL All-Star Weekend, NHL Winter Classic, NHL Stadium Series and the NHL Gaming World Championship. For the second straight year, Great Clips is bringing back an online and socially-sharable voting campaign - LegendHairy Greats of the NHL, which will be featured in 4,400 Great Clips salons across the two countries.

 

 

DIGITAL, DATA & TECH

With the NBA regular season in the books, the league announced multiple benchmarks from the season, including NBA League Pass setting a record for global digital subscriptions with a rise of 21% over last season’s record while the league established new records across social media this season with 918 million actions (up 14%) and 11.5 billion total video views (up 5%). For the third consecutive year, NBAStore.com established a new record for sales during the regular season, with overall sales up 10% over the 2017-18 season. Meanwhile, attendance for the regular season finished even with last year’s record mark. 

 

Bleacher Report is touring that March Madness drove the site to finish the month ranked #1 in social conversation, clocking 155 million, according to CrowdTangle and Sprinklr. B/R March Madness Highlights include: 40 million engagements on social YoY for the month of March; and growing 21% in total unique stream visitors to B/R CBB streams, while video views grew 59% in the in B/R app for the March Madness stream.

 

 

ESPORTS

FOX Sports locked in US television and streaming rights to the finals of multiple EA Sports FIFA19 Global Series events, anchored by the season-ending FIFA eWorld Cup 2019 where coverage continues this weekend with the first-ever FIFA eNations Cup from London. In addition, Caffeine, a social broadcasting platform for live gaming, esports and sports, has secured global streaming rights to all events. All rounds stream live on Caffeine’s dedicated EA Sports FIFA esports channel. Additionally, U.S. viewers on Caffeine are able to live-host their own streams of the tournament to watch with friends and fellow fans.

 

Chipotle is rolling up spicy plans in the esports district, announcing a partnership with ESL and DreamHack to launch the Chipotle Challenger Series, described as “a unique onsite amateur esports competition that gives attendees at DreamHack Dallas and DreamHack Atlanta the opportunity to compete in the world’s most popular game titles for prizes.” In addition, the deal will see Chipotle serve as an official partner of DreamHack Masters Dallas as well as as the presenting partner of DreamHack Open Atlanta with an additional presence at of ESL’s Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Chicago. Activations will also include player and VIP hospitality programs and digital content surrounding the events.

 

As the inaugural TwitchCon Europe gets underway this weekend, Gillette mapped out its activation plans for the news event, which runs April 13-14 in Berlin. Promotion will include two streaming stations for Gillette Gaming Alliance members (a team of 11 Twitch streamers from 11 countries) and a shave station for grooming touch-ups where both GGA members and fans can get shaves with SkinGuard razors. The activation will also feature a curing station, a machine used as part of RZR MKR to finalize customization on razors, plus some demos of the Gillette Lab’s heated razor. Additionally, Gillette will be sampling razors to fans, with products such as Gillette Fusion Proglide with Flexball.

 

 

THE MAIN EVENT

The Masters concludes on Sunday on CBS starting at 2p.

 

ON THIS DAY in 1980: The USOC endorses a boycott of the Moscow Olympic games.

 

In the Know: Masters week! Which hole at Augusta National is nicknamed “Tea Olive”? (Email chris-sports@cynopsis.com with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city.)

 

Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question: Who is the only player to record 500+ birdies at The Masters?  Answer: Jack Nicklaus. Kudos: John Ferlazzo/London; Denis Barry-CBS/NY; Rick Dascher-Turner Studios/Atlanta; Paul Brewer-TV Talent Agents/North Augusta; Matt Sautter-WideOrbit/Harrisburg; Joe Lyons-ESPN/Dallas; Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Larry Hutchings/Nipomo; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union/Burbank; Brian Robin-Pechanga Resort Casino/Temecula

Later -- Chris

ACCOUNT SERVICES REP/NCM/NYC: Asst acct directors w/all aspects the sales process and responsibilities as needed. Exc presentation, computer, written/verbal skills. Knwldg of the nat’l video and digital ad sales marketplaces. Exp 3 - 5 yrs of working within a sales and mktg envir or an agency. Full info HERE (4/26)

WRITER/PRODUCER/YES Network/Stamford:  Responsible for writing and producing daily topical promo and image spots for the NY Yankees, Brooklyn Nets, New York City FC, & episodic promotion for other prgrmng. 5+ yrs exp in On-Air Promotions or similar agency/prod co. Full info HERE (4/26)

MGR, INTEGRATED MARKETING/AMC/NY: Solutions based account manager for cross platform sponsorships; manage RFPs, executions and communication with sales, clients and internal departments. Create pitch materials to monetize our original series and branded franchise offerings. Full info HERE (4/26)

STRATEGIST, VIDEO MONETIZATION/A + E/NYC: Oversee all rev driven AVOD content creation & release strategy across YouTube, Daily Motion, FB watch, Twitter & Snapchat. Partner w/Preditor to strategically greenlight content to max rev & support linear priorities. 4-6 yrs exp working w/digital video strategies at brand/publishing level. Full info HERE (4/26)

STRATEGIST VIDEO MONETIZATION/History/NYC: Oversee all rev driven AVOD content creation & release strategy across YouTube, Daily Motion, FB watch, Twitter & Snapchat. Partner w/Preditor to strategically greenlight content to max rev & support linear priorities. 4-6 yrs exp working w/digital video strategies at brand/publishing level. Full info HERE (4/25)

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR/Nickelodeon/NY: Review scripts & provide copywriting direction to writer/producers. Must have 5+ years of experience writing on-air promotional/brand content. Must be proficient creating brand content for social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Full info HERE (4/25)

SALES RESEARCH ANALYST/Ion Media/NYC: responsible for supporting Sales organization. 3-8 yrs work exp in media or advertising analytics, i.e. TV network, advertising agency or client experience positioning data for ad sales teams and clients; ability to "tell a story" with data. Full info HERE (4/25)

DIRECTOR, MARKETING INSIGHTS (Primary Research)/Viacom/NYC: Join the Marketing & Media Insights team for Viacom. Conceptualize and conduct proprietary quantitative and qualitative studies resulting in strategic reports and actionable insights for key stakeholders. 5-7 yrs exp. Full info HERE (4/25)

ACCOUNT SERVICE REP/Crown Media Family Networks/NY: Train/mentor sales planners & sales assts. Present new prgrmng & mktg opps to clients & new bus. prospects. Negotiate scatter deals & build targeted sales pitches. Min 2 yrs sales plan’g or buying exp. Ability to create flowcharts & PP pres. BA/BS req. Full info/apply HERE (4/18)

SALES PLANNER/Crown Media Family Networks/ATL: Provide sales and support to the Ad Sales team for Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries & Hallmark Drama. Maintain media schedules, build sales plans, manage added value. BA/BS & min 1 yr exp. req. Apply HERE (4/18)  

DIGITAL RESEARCH ANALYST/Crown Media Family Networks/LA: Analyze subscriber behavior for SVOD, Hallmark Movies Now.  Create, maintain & present daily, wkly &monthly reports. Track/analyze Hallmark Channel Podcast data. BA/BS & min 1 yr exp. translating complex data into bus. insights req. Apply HERE (4/18)

MGR, AD SALES PARTNERSHIPS/A+E Networks/NY: Serve as ad sales partnerships resource & thought leader in the sales dept, managing ideation & response to RFPs, creating prod knwldg one sheets based on assigned network & disciplines, knowledgeable in digital/social mktg products & tools, effectively demonstrating how they can be leveraged in strategic 360 campaigns. Full info HERE (4/18)

 

SOCIAL MEDIA PRODUCER/Fox News Channel/NYC: Help produce content for all of our social media platforms. Team player with a positive attitude a must & comfortable working under pressure in a fast-paced envir. Your passion for news is bar none! Exc writing skills & 3+ yrs of exp in news, TV or web. Full info HERE (4/17)

ACCOUNT SERVICES REP /Weigel NTWRKS/CHI - Responsible for maintaining all aspects of account management for the Chicago advertising sales team and providing timely and accurate info to the sales team and to the client. BA deg or previous media exp pref’d.  MS PP, Excel, word exp a must. Full info HERE (4/16)

ACCT EXEC, SALES DEVELOPMENT (Consumer Tech)/ION MEDIA/NY: Seeking sales professional to generate new advrtg accts and revenue for ION’s linear television platform.  Dedicated category focus on companies which specialize in consumer technology, social media, e-commerce and OTT. Self-starter with 8-10yrs of TV selling or related adv sales exp. Full info HERE (4/13)

SALES-MARKETING COORD/AMERICAN TARGET NETWORK/NY: Ideal Candidate will work closely with sales managing client relationships and processing requests, inputting order and traffic. Be able to create mktg sales decks and promotional materials. Manage internal process for credit applications, monthly billing and weekly budget reports. Full info HERE Send resume and salary requirements to info@americantargetnetwork.com (4/13)