Advertising for Coach’s Show Goes Nutts
by July 26, 1999 12:00 am 73 views
Kevin Scanlon, president of Stephens Sports Management Inc. of Little Rock, has been swamped by advertisers trying to buy a piece of University of Arkansas football coach Houston Nutt’s weekly television show. For those interested advertisers who are not yet on board, good luck.
Two years ago, during former coach Danny Ford’s final season, the show televised statewide on KATV, the Little Rock ABC affiliate, and KPBI, the Fort Smith Fox affiliate, had 11 sponsors. Scanlon says excitement surrounding Nutt’s arrival for the 1998 season drew 10 additional sponsors and caused the show to be lengthened to one hour.
After that successful 9-3 campaign, Nutt already has 25 sponsors for 1999. Statewide sponsor packages sell for $35,000 and include one 30-second advertisement, an opening and closing billboard mention and numerous other perks throughout the year. Regional packages are also available.
Scanlon says all of last year’s sponsors renewed, and recently only eight additional spots remained.
“That might change before the end of the day, but that’s what we have now,” says Scanlon, who represents Nutt’s business interests.
“The dramatic interest has been due to Coach Nutt’s success and his willingness to share with the state by letting cameras in the pregame and post game locker room. That makes everyone feel like a part of the program.”
Nutt, whose base salary is $118,000, supplements his income with the TV show.