Cingular Wireless has pulled millions of dollars worth of upfront media commitments it placed with FOX and has moved its dollars to other networks, according to news reports.
Industry executives said the commitments, which range in prices from $3 million to $25 million, were part of a deal to purchase airtime on Fox sports programming, news reports said.
One executive close to the situation said the dropped commitment boils down to politics, news reports said, including Cingular’s inheritance of two media agencies after its buyout of AT&T Wireless.
The withdrawal has no affect on Cingular’s sponsorship of American Idol, one of FOX’s top-rated shows, reports said.
