While the poor economy has many potential advertisters delaying decisions, NBC expects plenty to line up for the 2010 Winter Olympics from Vancouver.
SportsBusiness Journal reports tight budgets for ad buyers, combined with the economic recession, are keeping buyers from committing until the Winter Olympics gets closer. The Games are scheduled to begin in February.
Coming off a successful Summer Games, NBC is confident advertisers will support the Winter Games.
“If we were doing the Games now--if it were this year--we would have been eviscerated, just stopped in our tracks,” said NBC’s Seth Winter, senior vice president for ad sales. “Most people feel that by the time we get to Vancouver, we’ll be in a pretty good part of our recovery.”
I tend to think NBC will receive the advertising it expects for the Games. I think smaller sporting events may feel the pinch more.