Sharp '08 MLB Campaign Enters 9th Inning

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 10/8/2008

Mahwah, N.J. — Sharp Electronics said it is rolling out an assortment of promotions and activities to celebrate the final month of the 2008 Major League Baseball season.

The company, whose Aquos brand has been the league’s official HDTV for the past two years, is winding down the second season of the largest integrated sports marketing effort in the company’s history. The latest effort began during the 2008 All-Star Game in New York City.

This year’s effort employed sweepstakes, a retail blitz and multiple live activations in and around MLB, leading to the postseason and 2008 World Series.

Since last year, Sharp said it has expanded its efforts in integrating MLB into its core marketing strategy and signed on a roster of MLB athletes to represent the Aquos brand in the marketplace.

“We’re really hitting our stride this year in our sponsorship of Major League Baseball,” stated Judah Zeigler, Sharp Electronics retail and consumer marketing associate VP. “Last year’s program was a big success for us, and we’re excited to have started it at this year’s All-Star Game in New York and to be bringing the sponsorship activation to a whole new level, throughout the season.”

“Throughout their partnership with Major League Baseball Sharp has demonstrated a tremendous commitment to activating its platforms and its current integrated campaign is gaining tremendous momentum throughout this postseason,” stated John Brody, MLB corporate sales and marketing senior VP. “Sharp’s innovative marketing programs are effectively reaching the tens of millions of baseball fans that attend and watch games, which is the definition of an activated and committed partner.”