Uber today is launching a new TV campaign in partnership with digital media company Uninterrupted in which ESPN’s Cari Champion becomes an Uber driver and hosts star NBA players in her car. The first spot in the “Rolling with the Champion” video series features Lakers rookie G Lonzo Ball and F Kyle Kuzma engaging in a candid conversation about their lives and careers. It debuted today during the noon ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” which Champion co-anchors, and will air again on Thursday in primetime. The 60-second TV spot, as well as a full featurette lasting nearly four minutes, will be housed on Uninterrupted.com, the site backed by Cavaliers F LeBron James. Uber over the next several weeks will introduce more NBA-themed spots with Clippers C DeAndre Jordan and former NBAers and current ESPN analysts Chauncey Billups and Paul Pierce, among others. Uber in September launched a series of local TV spots featuring NFL fan Uber drivers. This marks the rideshare company’s first national ad campaign under new Chief Brand Officer Bozoma Saint John. Uber has more than 75 partnerships with U.S. pro sports franchises.
