New Network Wants To Lower Barrier To Entry For Digital Endorsements

Amplify Social, a San Francisco-based digital technology company wants to make brand and athlete connections more seamless for short-term digital campaigns, recently launching what it's calling The Virtual Fan Network. It says it already has exclusive contracts for over 300 active athletes in major sports including MLB's Tim Lincecum, the NFL's Marcedes Lewis, Mike Wallace, Michael Turner, and ...

USOC Lands Official Education Provider

The United States Olympic Committee announced today that DeVry Inc., a global provider of educational services, has been named an official education provider of Team USA. As part of the agreement, DeVry University and its Keller Graduate School of Management will provide higher education opportunities at undergraduate and graduate levels, including scholarships and a dedicated DeVry staff, for ...

MillerCoors May Look To Renegotiate NBA Deals

Now that a tentative agreement is in place, it's not only the players and teams that are rushing to make plans for the shortened season. Sponsors, too, are adjusting their strategy given the latest developments. One of the most active individual team sponsors is MillerCoors, which has deals in place with the Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, M...

This Brand Is Prepping For Tax Season With Three Different Bowl Deals

While you might think that tax season is in April, one tax prep business is getting an early jump by sponsoring three different bowls this holiday season. Back in September, it signed deals with Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, the BBVA Compass Bowl and Gator Bowl. College Students and Young Adults seeking affordable and reliable tax preparation services are the target audience for these deal...

Discover Opens Its Own Farm In FarmVille

Discover today announced it has partnered with the soon to be IPO'd social game developer, Zynga, to help launch the first-ever brand-sponsored FarmVille expansion. The new, customizable holiday farm called Winter Wonderland is the latest partnership for Zynga, which in the past has teamed up to promote artists and films with in-game environments with Lady Gaga (FarmVille), DreamWorks Animation...

Diageo Picks Up The Tab For NYE Travel With New Partnership

This year, New Year's Eve travel will be on Diageo. The Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) today announce a three-year partnership with Diageo to support free New Year’s Eve travel. The inaugural campaign includes responsible drinking promotion from December 9th until the New Year. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton will be the spokesperson for Diageo’s Responsibl...

Could Japan's 2020 Olympics Bid Be Going Up In Smoke (Sponsorship)?

So says the Washington Times, which writes that Japan Tobacco's sponsorship of World Cup Volleyball has the potential to derail the country's chances of landing the 2020 Olympics. A host of world organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for Japan Tobacco, the world’s third-largest cigarette maker, to end its sponsorship. Despite increased regulation against tob...

Wow. New Adult-Only Domain, .XXX, Uses Auto Sponsorship To Announce Availability

Florida-based, ICM Registry, the official registry for the new .XXX top-level domain, is using a curious marketing tactic to spread the word about its global availability, which starts December 6, 2011. It has sponsored the Race of Champions at Duesseldorf's ESPRIT arena this weekend. Here's the Palm Beach company's press release. "We are very excited about sponsoring this world class auto ...

Sprint Tacks Three More Years Onto NASCAR Entitlement

Sprint chief executive officer Dan Hesse said Friday during a NASCAR awards ceremony that the KS-based mobile telecommunications giant has extended its agreement with NASCAR through 2016. The original 10-year, $700 million contract between NASCAR and Nextel (acquired by Sprint in 2005) was signed in 2004 and set to expire in 2014. "I could not be more pleased than to announce and celebrate ...

Under Armour To Create New Tough Mudder Training Program

Tough Mudder and Under Armour today announced a multi-year partnership that will start in January 2012. The global partnership designates Under Armour as the “Official Outfitter” the 35-event worldwide Tough Mudder series and title sponsor of events in London and Maryland. The Tough Mudder powered by Under Armour events will take place in London, May 12-13, and in Fall 2012 in Maryland. Unde...