Marketplace Roundup
TV WEEK's Jon Lafayette reports Versus is "launching promotional campaigns for its first season of IndyCar race coverage next month, as well as spots for the upcoming" NHL Playoffs. Versus' IndyCar efforts utilize the slogan "It's a New Race," and are "filled with edgy music and graphics." Versus Senior VP/Marketing Bill Bergofin said the images are selected "to bring attention to the speed and danger. It's a unique type of racing and a lot of great personalities." Subsequent ads will focus on several drivers, including Danica Patrick, Scott Dixon, Graham Rahal and Tony Kanaan. Lafayette notes the net is launching on its Web site "Indy Rock," which will "tie together racing with popular culture." Meanwhile, the net's new promo campaign for the NHL playoffs "uses the slogan 'Every Single Second'" (TV WEEK, 3/23 issue).
OPEN VACANCY: Travel company LSA Ltd., which "books hotels for 20 team sponsors and guests" for F1, said that the racing circuit "faces an 80[%] decline in corporate hospitality guests at some races because of the economic slump." BLOOMBERG NEWS' Alex Duff notes CVC Capital Partners, the majority owner of F1, "charges as much as $3,940 for a race-day VIP ticket that allows companies to entertain guests in an enclosure where they can drink champagne and rub shoulders with race drivers." LSA Managing Dir Lynden Swainston said that requests for hotel bookings "fell 80[%] compared with last year for a race in Barcelona on May 10 and 50[%] for the Monaco Grand Prix on May 24" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 3/26).
ROUNDUP: POCKETGAMER.biz's Stuart Dredge reported EA Mobile has announced a "big slate of iPhone games heading to the App Store during the rest of 2009," including "Madden" and "NBA Live," joining previously announced "Tiger Woods PGA Tour" (POCKETGAMER.biz, 3/24)....WWE Senior VP/Distribution & Affiliate Marketing Peter Clifford said that the company is "spending $10[M] in advertising value for cross-channel spots airing on such networks as ESPN, MTV and USA Network and including such shows as SportsCenter" to promote WrestleMania XXV, which will take place April 5 at Reliant Stadium (MULTICHANNEL.com, 3/21)....Diamond Foods will debut a new ad campaign for its Emerald snack brand during the '09 NCAA men's basketball Final Four and Championship games on April 4 and 6 (Diamond Foods).
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