Magazine ticket deal leaves UT fans confused

That's what the University of Tennessee athletic department has been finding out from confused and sometimes irate callers.

UT season-ticket holders and the athletic department were both caught off guard this week by a mass-mail postcard announcing complimentary subscriptions to two magazines.

The athletic department entered a deal with magazines.com to include free subscriptions to The Sporting News and TV Guide for all 2005 season-ticket buyers, UTAD spokesperson Tiffany Carpenter said Wednesday.

However, the athletic department didn't know of this week's postcard informing ticket-buyers of the offer. The postcard also included information about how to cancel the offer and obtain a refund with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

"We did not anticipate or authorize the postcard,'' Carpenter said. "We have asked them (magazines.com) to send another postcard to explain and apologize.''

The UTAD also sent e-mails to season-ticket buyers to apologize for the confusion and clarify the offer. UT's e-mail stated that the athletic department "was guaranteed that the names will not be sold or used for any future mailings.''

Carpenter said UT's impression was that a flier explaining the offer would be included in the season-ticket mailing in August.

Magazines.com, however, asked last week for UT's data base of addresses.

"They said August was too late,'' Carpenter said. "But we did not anticipate this postcard.

"We saw an opportunity to provide an additional benefit to our season-ticket holders. We didn't see the downside at the time. We do now.''

Carpenter said anyone not wanting the free magazines may cancel by calling 1-800-MAGAZINE (624-2946).