Kia Motors Expands NBA Marketing Partnership With New Multiyear Agreement

NEW YORK, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Kia Motors America, Inc. (KMA) today announced an extension and expansion of their marketing partnership through a new multiyear agreement.  

Returning as the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA, Kia Motors is now also the Official Automotive Partner of NBA All-Star, an Official Automotive Partner of NBA Cares, and the title partner of the Kia NBA All-Star MVP award. Kia also will increase its commitment to existing NBA platforms it supported as the presenting partner and become the title partner of Kia NBA Tip-Off and the Kia NBA Performance Awards.

During Kia NBA Tip-Off '10, Kia Motors is hosting a variety of activities to celebrate the start of the 2010-11 NBA season, including a pair of two-hour television shows on ESPN. The first Countdown to Kia NBA Tip-Off special aired on Sunday, Oct. 17 with another episode scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 24 at 9:00 p.m. ET.  Each Countdown to Kia NBA Tip-Off special includes an ESPN studio show and special original programming created with exclusive NBA content produced by NBA Entertainment.

Kia Motors will be prominently featured throughout Kia NBA Tip-Off '10 via media, promotions, and local and national NBA game broadcasts.  Kia and the NBA launched a countdown clock on NBA.com and have created a tip-off hashtag (#KiaTipOff10) on Twitter. Kia NBA Tip-Off will be promoted via tagged NBA brand spots, courtside signage and social media integration. Kia will also break a new NBA-themed commercial during Kia NBA Tip-Off '10, which will feature NBA game footage and introduce the all-new 2011 Kia Optima(1), the Official Vehicle of the NBA.  

"Over the past three years our relationship with the NBA has significantly raised awareness and consideration for the Kia brand and exposed our exciting lineup of vehicles to basketball fans across the country, and we are pleased to not only return as the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA but to expand our partnership to include new platforms such as NBA All-Star and NBA Cares," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing and communications, KMA. "At Kia, we are true fans of the game, and we will continue to provide innovative and engaging programming and activities to help fuel our fellow basketball fans' passion for the sport and the Kia brand."

"As part of our expanded partnership, Kia will be deepening its commitment to the NBA and providing incredible opportunities to bring our fans closer to the game throughout the season," said NBA Executive Vice President of Global Marketing Partnerships Mark Tatum.  "In addition to the strong presence that Kia has established on the court with the Kia NBA Performance Awards, the company will help make a huge difference in the lives of many people in the community by becoming a partner of our NBA Cares initiative."

The first Countdown to Kia NBA Tip-Off special included a 30 minute review of the memorable moments from last season - from Kobe Bryant's string of buzzerbeaters to Kevin Durant's breakout season to an epic seven-game NBA Finals – along with a special recognition of the 2009-10 Kia NBA Performance Award winners.  The second special, on Oct. 24, features an hourlong preview of the upcoming 2010-11 season - an all-access pass to training camps around the league; a look at the long-awaited comebacks of Yao Ming, Blake Griffin and George Karl; plus other top storylines to watch out for in the upcoming year.

As part of the automaker's activities around NBA All-Star and NBA Cares, it will serve as an associate partner of an NBA Cares event annually during NBA All-Star.  Kia will also become the title partner of the Kia NBA All-Star MVP award, which the league presents immediately following the NBA All-Star Game.

Also as part of this new agreement, the NBA Performance Awards,  which include four of the league's most prestigious year-end honors - Most Valuable Player, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man Award, and Defensive Player of the Year, along with the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month – will be renamed the "Kia NBA Performance Awards."  As part of the Kia NBA Performance Awards, Kia will continue to donate a brand-new vehicle to the charity of the player's choice on behalf of the four season-end award winners.  

Throughout the partnership, Kia will continue to develop innovative programming, advertisements, sweepstakes, and activities during key points of the NBA season, including the NBA Playoffs and The Finals.

About the NBA

The NBA, founded in 1946, is a professional sports league and global business that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada.  During the 2010-11 season, NBA games will reach 215 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.  Last season, NBA rosters featured 79 international players from 35 countries and territories.  NBA merchandise is sold in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents.  NBA.com averages more than 26 million page views per day, with more than 50 percent of the site's visitors coming from outside of North America.  Through NBA Cares, the league, its teams and players have donated than $145 million to charity, completed more than 1.4 million hours of hands-on community service, and created more than 525 places where kids and families can live, learn, or play.  

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 725 dealers throughout the United States. For 2009, KMA recorded its 15th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share and recently achieved its best quarter of sales ever in 2010. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Kia Motors America is the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

(1) 2011 Kia Optima expected to arrive in retail showrooms November 2010

SOURCE Kia Motors America