LG Electronics Extends NCAA® Corporate Partnership

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics USA, an official NCAA Corporate Partner, has extended its alliance with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, under a new agreement that runs through August 2015.

Through this new agreement, negotiated with CBS Sports and Turner Sports, LG Electronics will continue as an official NCAA Corporate Partner and have exclusive category marketing and promotional rights related to all 89 NCAA championship events across 23 different sports, including the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship and NCAA Football Championships.

Working with the NCAA, Turner and CBS, all LG Electronics consumer products divisions will leverage LG's relationship with college sports through integrated marketing programs, promotional activities, retailer tie-ins, and print, broadcast and online advertising. This is designed to strengthen consumers' emotional ties with the LG brand across the company's major product categories in the United States – Home Entertainment, Home Appliances and Mobile Phones, according to James Fishler, senior vice president, marketing and go-to-market operations, LG Electronics USA.

"LG is proud to build on our role as an Official NCAA Corporate Partner," said Fishler. "Similar to the NCAA's talented student-athletes and coaches across nearly two dozen college sports, LG focuses on excellence in electronics, appliances and mobile. Through this alliance, we unite all three major product categories to build a common feel for the brand, capturing the essence of LG's famous 'Life's Good' slogan."

The multi-faceted LG campaign, aimed at connecting with the NCAA's extensive network of collegiate sports fans across the country, helps bring the LG brand to life in the minds of LG's target consumers. The partnership provides LG with the opportunity to speak to more than 100 million passionate collegiate fans and alumni across 50 states, to show how LG's stylish design and smart technology can enhance their lives.

"LG has been a key member of the NCAA Corporate Partner family for three years now, and we're thrilled that this industry leader has committed to a long-term relationship," said Greg Shaheen, NCAA interim executive vice president of championships and alliances. "Our primary goal is high standards in academics and athletics, which is compatible with LG's leadership and high standards in business principles and products."

"CBS Sports and Turner Sports are thrilled to announce this extension of our NCAA Corporate Partnership with LG," said Chris Simko, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, CBS Sports. "Over the past three years, LG has demonstrated a unique creative vision and willingness to support new NCAA Championship initiatives across their product lines and retail network, making them an invaluable marketing partner of ours."

"LG's renewal of its NCAA partnership underscores the power and growth of the NCAA as a marketing platform, and we look forward to working with the company to develop customized activations to support its consumer electronics, appliance and mobile businesses," said Will Funk, senior vice president of NCAA Partnerships and Branded Programming, Turner Sports Ad Sales. "LG's continued support of all 89 men's and women's NCAA championships will allow NCAA fans to experience and engage with LG's innovative products across television, digital, mobile, online and live events."

LG's Fishler explained that, under its new agreement, the company plans LG-themed events and initiatives across the country, including retailer promotions, throughout college sports seasons, with special emphasis on the NCAA March Madness® men's basketball championship.

While LG's plans for the 2012 Men's Final Four have not yet been announced, 2011 Men's Final Four fan-engagement activities included the LG CINEMA 3D TV shootout, Smart TV and Smart Phone interactive kiosks, and the LG Coaches' Cook-off™ with NCAA coaches competing head-to-head in the LG Kitchen for charity. LG's 2011 "Do March Right" sustainability projects included helping the NCAA "go green" through the LG Electronics Recycling Program and ENERGY STAR® promotions to encourage local residents and fans from across the country to help save the planet.

The NCAA has a multi-media agreement with both CBS and Turner Sports under which they collaborate with the NCAA to offer the NCAA's corporate marketing program.

About the NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led non-profit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 400,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaa.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes. The NCAA is proud to have the following elite companies as official Corporate Champions—AT&T, Capital One and Coca-Cola—and the following elite companies as official Corporate Partners—Buick, Enterprise, Infiniti, LG Electronics, Lowe's, Northwestern Mutual, Reese's (Hershey's), Unilever, UPS and Wheat Thins (Kraft).

About LG Electronics USA
A proud Corporate Partner for the NCAA, LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $48 billion global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative home entertainment products, home appliances, mobile phones, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and solar energy solutions, all under LG's "Life's Good" marketing theme. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

SOURCE LG Electronics USA