Infiniti Named as an Official Corporate Partner of the 2010 NCAA(R) Division I Men's Basketball Championship and CBS Sports

FRANKLIN, Tenn., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Infiniti continues to expand its substantial presence in men's college basketball with the announcement that Infiniti is an "Official Corporate Partner of the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship and CBS Sports."  The agreement with CBS Sports follows Infiniti's recent multi-level, multi-platform sponsorships with ESPN, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the SEC (Southeastern Conference) and the Big Ten Conference.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080506/INFINITIBADGELOGO )

Infiniti also is creating, in conjunction with CBS Sports, original-content custom on-air features that bring inspired college basketball and coaching stories to viewers during CBS Sports' broadcasts.

"This is our second year of involvement as a major sponsor of college sports through individual conference partnerships and now, what we believe is one of the most exciting sporting events of the year, the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship on CBS Sports," said Ben Poore, vice president, Infiniti Business Unit.  "The tournament on CBS Sports is also the ideal showcase for the broadcast debut of our all-new 2011 Infiniti M performance luxury sedan and our message, 'Inspiration changes the game.'"

As part of its ongoing relationship with CBS Sports, Infiniti is the exclusive sponsor of CBSSports.com's marquee "Infiniti Bracket Challenge," which attracted 1.1 million players in 2009.  The winner of "CBSSports.com Bracket Challenge presented by Infiniti" will be awarded a new 2011 Infiniti M sedan.  Fans can sign up now for their bracket challenge at CBSSports.com.

Infiniti also supports NCAA.com's "March Madness on Demand" throughout the NCAA Championship Tournament (7.5 million unique visitors in 2009)."We're bringing together the strong consumer interest in the all-new 2011 Infiniti M, which goes on sale at Infiniti retailers nationwide on March 18th, with the large national audience for the tournament," said Poore.  "The timing and synergy of the two events couldn't be better for the launch of the latest and most advanced addition to the Infiniti lineup."

The Infiniti M, which features inspired technology such as the world's first Blind Spot Intervention™ System, is available in M37 and M56 model designations and with rear-wheel drive or with Infiniti's Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system.  

About Infiniti

Infiniti offers a full-line of luxury performance automobiles, including the G Coupe, Sedan and first-ever Convertible, M sedan, EX and FX crossovers, and the QX full-size SUV.  More information about Infiniti and its Total Ownership Experience® can be found at www.InfinitiUSA.com.

NCAA and March Madness are trademarks owned or licensed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

SOURCE Infiniti