The Boston Globe
The Kraft Sports Group, which owns the New England Patriots, is selling local advertising for the new ESPNBoston.com, a partnership that some media analysts say could create a conflict of interest.
ESPN has launched several new websites in markets, including Chicago and Boston, and has ones planned for Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York. In these other markets, ESPN is using its local radio sales force to sell regional advertising for the new websites. But ESPN does not have a local sales group in Boston, so the sports media company has teamed up with the Kraft Sports Group, which also owns the New England Revolution.
“They’re utilizing a sales force to provide to fill a void they didn’t have in this market place,” said Stacey James, a spokesman for the Kraft Sports Group.
But some media analysts say the partnership could create a conflict of interest between the Patriots and ESPN, which televises some Sunday afternoon football games. More…