San Diego

Hoping to secure a television network contract, the Holiday Bowl Committee on Wednesday received tentative approval from a San Diego City Council committee for a $150,000 appropriation. Holiday Bowl Committee members told the council members that they will be negotiating with CBS executives on Friday to carry the annual football game on network television.

As part of those negotiations, Holiday Bowl backers have to persuade the network executives that there are enough advertisers to purchase significant air time during the broadcast. Bowl backers also said they wanted an additional commitment from the city to show CBS that municipal government supports the game.

Last year’s game was a last-minute thriller that saw Iowa outlast San Diego State, 39-38. The contest and pre-game festivities drew 12,000 to 15,000 visitors to the area, bowl backers said Wednesday. Council members on the Public Services and Safety Committee reponded by unanimously voting for a tentative $150,000 donation. No money is currently available for the network television drive, but council members said they would take the $150,000 from hotel tax revenues in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.