NBC Owned Stations, Comcast Sports Group Strike Ad Sales Partnership

Station group to sell national advertising for Comcast SportsNets in four markets

By Lindsay Rubino -- Broadcasting & Cable, 4/16/2012 2:21:31 PM

NBC Owned Television Stations and Comcast Sports Group have struck a new national advertising sales partnership in which NBC Owned Television Stations group will sell national advertising for four Comcast SportsNets (New England, Mid-Atlantic, Northwest and Philadelphia).

The partnership will be phased in across the four markets over the next few months, beginning this month in New England.

The deal follows NBC Owned Stations' partnership with New England Cable News (NECN) last summer that gave the group oversight of national advertising on behalf of NECN, which is also part of Comcast Sports Group.

"We used NECN as a test for this new model and it worked so well that we decided to expand this relationship to more markets," said Ray Warren, executive VP and chief revenue officer for Comcast Sports Group. "Our regional sports networks have delivered a lot of value to advertisers because of the hard-to-reach male demos we attract.  By combining selected regional sports networks with the NBC-owned stations, we're now able to create a complete local package with compelling cross-demo appeal for advertisers that is unprecedented in its reach."

In addition, Joseph Gallagher has been named vice president of national sales for the Regional Sports Networks, working with both Comcast Sports Group and NBC Owned Stations' national sales organizations nationwide. Gallagher most recently served as VP and general manager of national ad sales for ReelzChannel.

"Teaming up with Comcast Sports Group combines our winning sales organization and strong local stations with their unmatched and passionate fan base," said Frank Comerford, chief revenue officer and president of commercial operations, NBC Owned Television Stations.  "This addition to our national sales portfolio boosts our appeal to advertisers who are trying to reach consumers in some of the nation's biggest markets."

Home Team Sports will continue to represent the Comcast Sports Group for all unwired sales.