NHL, College Football Business Highlight the Final "Sportfolio" of 2013 on Bloomberg TV

NEW YORK - Dec. 18, 2013 - PRLog -- The holiday season spotlights some of the most popular and lucrative events on the sports calendar, including the NHL Winter Classic and college football bowl games. This week's Sportfolio focuses on the NHL's global and local business strength, and the evolving business of marketing college bowl games in the final original show of the series for 2013.

NHL Chief Operating Officer John Collins joins host Rick Horrow to discuss the league's recent $5.2 billion agreement for Canadian media rights with Rogers Communications, and the strategy for growing the NHL's visibility and brand value around such events as the New Years Day "Winter Classic" and the expanded outdoor "Stadium Series."

The NHL San Jose Sharks are celebrating their 20th season as Silicon Valley's first and only pro sports franchise, and their financial success has far outstripped their expansion counterparts. Horrow visits the "Shark Tank" in San Jose and sits down with Chief Operating Officer John Tortora to discuss the team's business plan and outlook

With attention focused on the BCS Championship match-up in January, is there still a viable market for the other 34 college bowls leading up to the title game? Chris Lencheski, President of Comcast-Spectacor subsidiary Front Row Marketing, shares insight into the challenges and opportunities Bowl executives face in trying to make their events profitable.

Finally, a panel of regular Sportfolio contributors submits their picks for the top sports business people, deals, and stories of 2013. Seth Abraham, Andy Dolich, Mike Principe, and Horrow nominate the best of the year from around the industry.

"Sportfolio," the only weekly show dedicated to sports business, airs Thursday night at 9:30 PM and 12:30 AM ET Friday on Bloomberg TV (DirecTV353, check your local cable systems for the channel near you). The show reaches more than 270 million households through first-run and syndicated airings.

Completing its third season, "Sportfolio" has now produced 89 original episodes with almost 200 guests ranging from elite athletes to the biggest names in sports business.  The guest list has included: NBA Commissioner David Stern, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, MLS Commissioner Don Garber,  MLB Executive Vice President for Business Tim Brosnan, American Athletic  Commissioner Mike Aresco, Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman, Big 10 Commissioner Jim Delany, Pac 12 Commissioner Larry Scott, Ivy League President Robin Harris, Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette McGlade, Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross, Dodgers and Warriors co-owner Peter Guber, Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris and CEO Scott O’Neil, Wasserman Media Group CEO Casey Wasserman, Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren,  Atlanta Falcons GM Rich McKay, Cubs general manager Theo Epstein and owner Tom Ricketts, Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, 49ers president Jed York, Los Angeles Angels GM Jerry DiPoto, San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer, Brooklyn Nets CEO Brett Yormark, NASCAR’s Brian France, Carl Edwards and  Jeff Gordon, the N.Y. Knicks Carmelo Anthony, the L.A. Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, NBA Hall of Famer Earl Monroe, Masters Champion Bubba Watson, New York Yankees star C.C. Sabathia, Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, golf hall of famers Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, and many, many others.

All episodes can be viewed at bloomberg.com/video/sportfolio

Contact: Joe Favorito/917-566-8345 Fatherknickerbocker1@yahoo.com