Kemo
03-04-2016, 02:55 PM
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WWE announced today that they had acquired a new corporate sponsor in the form of cellular service provider Cricket Wireless. Cricket is a prepaid mobile service provider owned and operated by AT&T and is one of the most popular players in that space, differentiated by their prices and being a rare prepaid provider to offer heavily discounted and free (after rebate) phones. They’re AT&T’s third tier brand, with the regular AT&T postpaid service being the first tier and the prepaid AT&T GoPhone service being the second tier (AT&T differentiates Cricket from GoPhone by offering lower price service, though with lower maximum data speeds.
WWE will promote Cricket on all of its platforms, from regular TV programming to WWE Network to social media. I honestly can’t remember the last time, if any, that WWE got a company-wide sponsorship like this, so this is a pretty big deal. There is a public perception that prepaid phone service is only for low income customers and those who need burner phones, and that may not be great for WWE given pro wrestling’s low status with advertisers. However, Cricket is trying to change that perception, and with good reason, as these days the prepaid providers often have the best deals and they’re often just the smartest buy.
Here’s the press release that WWE and Cricket sent out:
Cricket Wireless and WWE® Announce Integrated Multi-Year Sponsorship
Atlanta and Stamford, Conn., March 3, 2016 – Cricket Wireless and WWE (NYSE: WWE) announced today that the nation’s fastest growing prepaid wireless brand will team up with WWE in a multi-year agreement, providing Cricket significant visibility and consumer engagement at WWE’s biggest events of the year, including WrestleMania®, SummerSlam®, Royal Rumble® and Payback®.
WWE’s relationship with Cricket Wireless is highlighted by a sponsorship of WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 direct-to-consumer network, that includes all live pay-per-views, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library. WWE will also utilize its platforms including broadcasts on USA Network, the exclusive home of Monday Night Raw® and SmackDown®, as well as live events, digital and social media to generate awareness and exposure for Cricket Wireless. WWE Superstar John Cena®, the most-followed active U.S. athlete on Facebook, will serve as a Cricket brand ambassador and promote the sponsorship through social and digital media. Cena will also be featured in Cricket Wireless marketing materials and through custom branded content. Additionally, WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler®, who began serving as a brand ambassador last year, will continue his relationship with Cricket.
“Fans came to our stores in mass, showing incredible passion for the family-friendly entertainment WWE offers and the larger than life Superstars and Divas that ignite the kind of excitement only they can produce,” said Janna Ducich, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Cricket Wireless. “It’s time to take it to the next level. This sponsorship enables us to reach fans through WWE events that have been staples in living rooms for decades. We are in an incredible position to introduce the simplicity, transparency and dependability that sets Cricket apart from all of its competitors.”
“We are proud to unveil this new multi-year relationship with Cricket, an aggressive and fast-growing brand that provides its consumers with a tremendous value proposition and first-class customer experience,” said John Brody, WWE Executive Vice President, Global Sales & Partnerships. “Cricket’s sponsorship will provide them with tremendous opportunities to utilize WWE’s platforms and reach our passionate fan base.”
The relationship with WWE provides Cricket an important platform to educate WWE’s passionate fan base about a better choice in prepaid wireless. Retail promotions, celebrity store appearances, and special incentives, such as free trials to experience WWE Network, will give consumers an opportunity to engage deeply with the entertainment they love and a brand that will make their wireless experience better.
WWE announced today that they had acquired a new corporate sponsor in the form of cellular service provider Cricket Wireless. Cricket is a prepaid mobile service provider owned and operated by AT&T and is one of the most popular players in that space, differentiated by their prices and being a rare prepaid provider to offer heavily discounted and free (after rebate) phones. They’re AT&T’s third tier brand, with the regular AT&T postpaid service being the first tier and the prepaid AT&T GoPhone service being the second tier (AT&T differentiates Cricket from GoPhone by offering lower price service, though with lower maximum data speeds.
WWE will promote Cricket on all of its platforms, from regular TV programming to WWE Network to social media. I honestly can’t remember the last time, if any, that WWE got a company-wide sponsorship like this, so this is a pretty big deal. There is a public perception that prepaid phone service is only for low income customers and those who need burner phones, and that may not be great for WWE given pro wrestling’s low status with advertisers. However, Cricket is trying to change that perception, and with good reason, as these days the prepaid providers often have the best deals and they’re often just the smartest buy.
Here’s the press release that WWE and Cricket sent out:
Cricket Wireless and WWE® Announce Integrated Multi-Year Sponsorship
Atlanta and Stamford, Conn., March 3, 2016 – Cricket Wireless and WWE (NYSE: WWE) announced today that the nation’s fastest growing prepaid wireless brand will team up with WWE in a multi-year agreement, providing Cricket significant visibility and consumer engagement at WWE’s biggest events of the year, including WrestleMania®, SummerSlam®, Royal Rumble® and Payback®.
WWE’s relationship with Cricket Wireless is highlighted by a sponsorship of WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 direct-to-consumer network, that includes all live pay-per-views, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library. WWE will also utilize its platforms including broadcasts on USA Network, the exclusive home of Monday Night Raw® and SmackDown®, as well as live events, digital and social media to generate awareness and exposure for Cricket Wireless. WWE Superstar John Cena®, the most-followed active U.S. athlete on Facebook, will serve as a Cricket brand ambassador and promote the sponsorship through social and digital media. Cena will also be featured in Cricket Wireless marketing materials and through custom branded content. Additionally, WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler®, who began serving as a brand ambassador last year, will continue his relationship with Cricket.
“Fans came to our stores in mass, showing incredible passion for the family-friendly entertainment WWE offers and the larger than life Superstars and Divas that ignite the kind of excitement only they can produce,” said Janna Ducich, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Cricket Wireless. “It’s time to take it to the next level. This sponsorship enables us to reach fans through WWE events that have been staples in living rooms for decades. We are in an incredible position to introduce the simplicity, transparency and dependability that sets Cricket apart from all of its competitors.”
“We are proud to unveil this new multi-year relationship with Cricket, an aggressive and fast-growing brand that provides its consumers with a tremendous value proposition and first-class customer experience,” said John Brody, WWE Executive Vice President, Global Sales & Partnerships. “Cricket’s sponsorship will provide them with tremendous opportunities to utilize WWE’s platforms and reach our passionate fan base.”
The relationship with WWE provides Cricket an important platform to educate WWE’s passionate fan base about a better choice in prepaid wireless. Retail promotions, celebrity store appearances, and special incentives, such as free trials to experience WWE Network, will give consumers an opportunity to engage deeply with the entertainment they love and a brand that will make their wireless experience better.