Taco Bell Corp.’s newly expanded marketing partnership with the NBA will include a digital and social media effort that will highlight game-winning shots.
“The NBA has been an incredible teammate in helping us connect with basketball fans,” said Chris Brandt, chief marketing officer of the Irvine-based fast-food chain. “When fans see amazing moments on the court, it definitely syncs with our Live Más attitude and we’re inspired to celebrate with them. Whether you were there in person or you’re hearing about it via social or TV, we can showcase amazing athletic achievement for people in a relevant way and extend the fun and the conversation.”
The multiyear deal also calls for NBA-themed promotions to be featured in restaurants across the country.
Taco Bell, in turn, will get its marketing materials prominently displayed during NBA national game telecasts, as well as on NBA, WNBA, and NBA D-League digital and social media platforms, according to a press release.
It also noted that Taco Bell, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc., will continue in its 4-year-old role as the league’s “Official Quick Service Restaurant Partner,” a deal that includes title sponsorship of the skills challenge during NBA All-Star games and associate sponsorship of the NBA All-Star Jam session.
Marketers Forum Planned
Rhythm Interactive, an Irvine-based digital marketing agency, will host the OC Ad Federation’s 2013 Integrated Marketing Forum on Nov. 7 at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin.
Joe Pulizzi, founder of the Content Marketing Institute of Cleveland-based ad agency Z Squared Media LLC, will be the keynote speaker.
Other speakers will include Tricia Todd, vice president of marketing for Irvine-based Edwards Lifesciences Corp.; David Matathia, director of marketing communications for Costa Mesa-based Hyundai Motor America; and Kelly Castady, marketing director for Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa.
The forum speakers will explore content marketing-related topics, such as managing content for various channels and using social media monitoring and search analytics to get data.
“Content marketing is a very hot topic for marketers these days,” said Craig Cooke, Rhythm Interactive’s chief executive, in a news release. “We plan to … provide our attendees with the tools and tips to implement effective content marketing strategies that help them achieve their business goals.”
Oomba Gets Help With Launch
An Irvine-based sports and gaming media company that has the founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese’s restaurant chain as a co-owner has hired KemperLesnik in Chicago as its public relations and sports marketing agency.
Nolan Bushnell and Oomba Inc. co-owner Michael Williams, whose prior endeavors included Planetwide Games and Tremor Entertainment, tapped the PR shop to generate awareness of oomba.com and of oomba.tv, a live streaming platform for sports and games.
One of the agency’s first assignments included working with Oomba on the 2013 Speedgolf World Championship, scheduled for Oct. 26 and Oct. 27 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore. The event was slated to be broadcast live on oomba.tv.
The company’s technology also will be used to live stream post-game press conferences for the 2013 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational basketball tournament Nov. 25-27 in Hawaii.
Media Firm Markets Self
Adaptive Media Inc. in Irvine hired Chicago-based marketing agency Sprouse Marketing Group LLC to play the role of its “chief marketing officer.”
The content monetization company, which changed its name from Mimvi Inc. last month, helps website owners, app developers and video publishers attract advertisers via its multichannel ad delivery and content platform.
Adaptive Media’s chief executive, Qayed Shareef, and Sprouse Marketing founder, Mike Sprouse, met while at El Segundo-based Epic Media Group.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Mike and his team,” Shareef said in a news release. “With the rebranding of Mimvi as Adaptive Media, now is the perfect time to bring them on to lead our own brand marketing and public relations efforts. I’ll be looking to Sprouse Marketing Group to help lay a strong foundation and help position us as a leader in the video, mobile and display advertising industry.”
Adaptive Media’s market value is about $12.23 million.
