VIZIO to Serve as New Presenting Sponsor of the Rose Bowl Game

IRVINE, Calif., PASADENA, Calif. and BRISTOL, Conn., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- VIZIO, the Tournament of Roses and ESPN announced today that a four-year agreement has been reached establishing VIZIO as the presenting sponsor of the Rose Bowl Game through 2014, as well as the title sponsor of the 2014 BCS National Championship Game.  The Rose Bowl Game will be known as the "Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO" and the 2014 BCS National Championship game to be hosted by the Rose Bowl in Pasadena will be named the "2014 VIZIO BCS National Championship Game."

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The deal consists of the multi-media integration of VIZIO as part of ESPN's season-long college football coverage, including a new game mark that will be incorporated into all Rose Bowl Game and BCS-related materials. VIZIO also secures logo rights for product packaging, and on-site integration for all Rose Bowl related events. VIZIO's deal ensures the brand will be a part of the Rose Bowl Game's 100th Anniversary celebrating an unprecedented milestone in college bowl game history.

"Sports fans, particularly football fans, are a critically important audience for our brand as it continues to grow and expand," said Randy Waynick, VIZIO Chief Sales Officer. "Serving as presenting sponsor of the 'Granddaddy of all Bowl Games' provides a rare opportunity to reach a captive audience on New Year's Day. It also provides tremendous marketing potential leading up to the game during the critical holiday buying season."

VIZIO, America's HDTV and Consumer Electronics Company, and ESPN have worked together since 2006.  The brand is currently the official HD sponsor of SportsCenter and ESPN College Football and will maintain these positions throughout the term of the deal. VIZIO believes the agreement with the Tournament of Roses and ESPN will provide an even greater platform to promote its ever-expanding line of consumer electronic products.

Initiative was the media agency responsible for brokering the Rose Bowl agreement on behalf of VIZIO and has helped the brand develop several high visibility partnerships including Super Bowl VLIV, the Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2010 NHL Winter Classic.  The Rose Bowl sponsorship represents the latest evolution in VIZIO's sponsorship strategy.

"Since 1989 the Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl Game have been proud partners with ESPN," Executive Director Scott McKibben said.  "We are thrilled VIZIO has signed on to sponsor The Granddaddy of Them All for the next four years and look forward to a successful future in promoting postseason college football at its finest."

Added Ed Erhardt, President, ESPN Customer Marketing and Sales: "Taking an enhanced and major stake in college football will give VIZIO significant new opportunities to connect with the college football fan.  Together with the Tournament of Roses, we look forward to working with VIZIO to maximize their new sponsorship throughout the season and especially with the Rose Bowl Game itself."

The Rose Bowl Game is the oldest bowl agreement in college football between two major conferences, the Big Ten and the Pac-10.  The game has been home to 17 Heisman Trophy winners, produced 29 national champions, featured 190 consensus All-Americans and honored 98 college football legends by inducting them into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.  Outside of the BCS National Championship Game, the Rose Bowl Game continues to annually be the top-rated televised bowl game.  In 2014, VIZIO's partnership will share in another milestone for the Tournament of Roses as it hosts the 2014 VIZIO BCS National Championship Game and 100th Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO in a newly renovated, iconic, Rose Bowl Stadium. 

The Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO is one of five BCS Bowl games, which take place annually in four locations: South Florida, Pasadena, Calif., the Phoenix area and New Orleans. All five games will be televised on ESPN as part of a new agreement. The schedule for the BCS Bowl games on ESPN follows.

About VIZIO

VIZIO, Inc., "Entertainment Freedom For All," headquartered in Irvine, California, is America's HDTV and Consumer Electronics Company. In 2007, VIZIO skyrocketed to the top by becoming the #1 selling brand of flat panel HDTVs in North America and became the first American brand in over a decade to lead in U.S. TV sales. Since 2007 VIZIO HDTV shipments remain in the TOP ranks in the U.S. and was #1 for the total year in 2009.  VIZIO is committed to bringing feature-rich consumer electronics to market at a value through practical innovation. VIZIO offers a broad range of award winning consumer electronics. VIZIO's products are found at Costco Wholesale, Sam's Club, Walmart, Target, BJ's Wholesale, and other retailers nationwide along with authorized online partners. VIZIO has won numerous awards including a #1 ranking in the Inc. 500 for Top Companies in Computers and Electronics, Fast Company's 6th Most Innovative CE Company of 2009, and made the lists of Ad Age's Hottest Brands, Good Housekeeping's Best Big-Screens, CNET's Editor's Choice, PC World's Best Buy and OC Metro's 10 Most Trustworthy Brands among many other prestigious honors. For more information, please call 888-VIZIOCE or visit on the web at www.VIZIO.com.

The V, VIZIO, TruLED, Extreme VIZIO Technology XVT, VIZIO Internet Apps, 480Hz SPS, 240Hz SPS, Thin Line, Smooth Motion, Razor LED, Smart Dimming, Entertainment Freedom For All names, phrase and symbols are trademarks or registered trademarks of VIZIO, Inc. All other trademarks may be the property of their respective holders.

About the Rose Bowl Game

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade® presented by Honda, Rose Bowl Game® presented by VIZIO and various associated events. The 122nd Rose Parade presented by Honda, themed Building Dreams, Friendships & Memories, will take place Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, at 8 a.m. (PST) featuring majestic floral floats, high-stepping equestrian units and spirited marching bands. Following the parade, the 97th Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO will kick off at 2:10 p.m. and feature an exciting match-up between two of the top collegiate football teams in the nation.  For additional information on the Tournament of Roses please visit the official website at www.tournamentofroses.com.

About ESPN, Inc.

ESPN, Inc. is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of six domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Classic & ESPN Deportes), ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU & ESPNEWS HD simulcast services, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (46 networks, syndication, radio, web sites), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN PPV, ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN3.com (Broadband, formerly ESPN360.com), ESPN Mobile Properties, ESPN on Demand and ESPN Interactive.  Based in Bristol, Conn., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.  The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.

SOURCE VIZIO, Inc.