CBS Launches College Sports Media Online Ad Network

CBS Corp on Wednesday announced the launch of an online ad network focused on college sports, in a move to entice media buyers to spend more money with the television broadcaster by offering them a way to more effectively target young, male fans.

The creation of CBS College Sports Media will offer media buyers the opportunity to advertise on college basketball coverage websites, including CBS’s CBSSports.com, CBS College Sports Network’s 215 college partners and NCAA.com. Those sites reached more than 10 million unique visitors in March.

Over the past year, more companies have begun to offer targeted ad networks — such as ones focused on finance or women — for media buyers used to buying ads in bulk through intermediary firms, said Jason Kint, senior vice president and general manager of CBSSports.com and CBSNews.com. Basketball and college sports offers access to a mostly male audience, ages 18 to 49.

“It’s for ease of buying for the media buyer,” Kint said in a telephone interview. “The agencies who want to target the college sports fan across CBS, they can easily buy across all of our online businesses that have an affinity with the college sports fan.”

Kint said media buyers are spending tens of millions of dollars online with CBS in an effort to target college basketball fans, and the new ad network should only help CBS boost that amount.

For example, a video streaming product for the NCAA college basketball tournament in March generated about $23 million in online ad revenue alone, he said. The new platform will allow CBS, which has the rights to cover all NCAA championships, to more easily serve media buyers in the other 11 months.

CBS officials also pointed out that media buyers can bundle the new ad platform with CBS sports coverage on television.

“CBS College Sports Media will allow us to streamline the process of selling our digital collegiate properties while offering clients packages to be bundled with television assets from CBS Sports and CBS College Sports Network, giving advertisers multiple platforms from which to deliver their message,” said Jo Ann Ross, president of network and interactive sales at CBS.

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Nike Hires New Jordan Brand CEO

Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand, a division of Nike, announced that they hired a new CEO to lead Jordan brand in a new era. Keith Houlemard has been named President of the Jordan Brand. Houlemard will be responsible for driving continued market leadership and growth for all aspects of the Jordan Brand. Houlemard replaces Garry Cook.

Houlemard, 43, has been with Nike for more than 19 years working in various leadership roles including Apparel Director for Jordan Brand, U.S. Sales Director and U.S. Footwear Director.

Most recently as U.S. Director for Footwear Merchandising, Houlemard developed a growth strategy across Nike’s key categories and re-aligned the merchandising organization which resulted in significant business growth. In his new role, Houlemard will report directly to Craig Zanon, head of global basketball for Nike.

“Keith brings strong brand experience and a deep understanding of the basketball consumer,” said Nike Brand President Charlie Denson. “The Jordan Brand is strong and has tremendous global potential. We look forward to his leadership as we continue to grow the Jordan Brand and connect with consumers worldwide.”

Michael Jordan, commenting on Houlemard’s appointment, said: “Keith has solid experience and a keen understanding of the consumer market. As the Jordan Brand enters a new era, we welcome his return and look forward to his leadership.”


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Nike’s first Air Jordan shoe was launched to great acclaim in 1985, Michael Jordan’s rookie year in the NBA, and instantly became the industry’s best-selling basketball shoe. The Jordan Brand was created in 1997 as a division of Nike and today is one of the game’s premium global brands on and off the court. The Air Jordan is one of the world’s most recognizable franchises, known for its signature Jumpman logo, innovative technology in basketball and forward-thinking fashion. Earlier this year, Jordan Brand unveiled the Air Jordan XX3, celebrating 23 years of a legacy started by the most revered basketball athlete in history.

About Jordan Brand
A division of NIKE, Inc., Jordan Brand is a premium brand of footwear, apparel and accessories inspired by the dynamic legacy, vision and direct involvement of Michael Jordan. The Jordan Brand made its debut in 1997 and has grown into a complete collection of performance and lifestyle products for both men and women. The Jordan Brand remains active in the community by donating a portion of its proceeds to Jordan Fundamentals, an education grants program for teachers. For more information on Jordan Brand, visit www.Jumpman23.com.

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Yahoo Sports Executive Editor Dave Morgan

Dave Morgan, Executive Editor, Yahoo Sports

While Yahoo! seeks to emerge from some public and painful turnover among its executive leadership ranks, the portal’s sports division quietly is making a legitimate name for itself. Morgan, former sports editor for the Los Angeles Times, is a primary reason why, as he brought to Yahoo! serious journalistic credentials to supplement the company’s traditional strength in fantasy sports. Under Morgan, Yahoo!’s editorial team broke several elements of the ongoing Reggie Bush cash-and-gifts saga, and gained entry into the AP Sports Editors Association, a first for an online sports site.

 

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Online Sports Executive Shannon Terry

Shannon Terry

Shannon Terry

CEO Rivals.com

Shannon Terry serves as CEO and President of Rivals.com, overseeing the corporate strategy, new product development and day-to-day management of the leading internet site in college sports, high school sports and college recruiting. Through his influence and vision, Terry has led the rapid growth of Rivals.com to more than 180,000 active subscribers and 2.5 million unique visitors per month via a national network of 300 college, high school and recruiting reporters generating in excess of 500 content items per day. Rivals.com has achieved more than 50% annual growth revenue since the company’s inception in 2001. Terry was named to the SportsBusiness Journal’s Forty Under 40 in 2006 and 2007 and was named to the trade publication’s 20 Most Influential People in Online Sports (ranked No. 11) list in February 2007.

Terry spearheaded Rivals.com expansion and delivery via other outlets syndicating a variety of its content to major media outlets such as Yahoo! Sports, AOL Sports and Sirius Satellite Radio. In 1996, Terry co-founded AllianceSports, the first premium subscription network of college team and recruiting sites – which was subsequently acquired by then Seattle-based Rivals Networks. In May 2001, after Rivals Networks ceased operations, Terry led the effort to purchase and license most of the remaining assets of that company and relaunched the network under the market-leading Rivals.com brand. A 1992 graduate of Lipscomb University, Terry also was co-Captain of the University’s basketball team where his senior class posted more total wins during its 4 years than any class in the history of college basketball with 145.

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