Re: Game Show Network, Cox Communications, Sony Electronics Inc. and Circuit City......
"Thursday April 26, 8:06 am Eastern Time
Press Release
Game Show Network, Cox Communications, Sony Electronics Inc. and Circuit City Work Together for Strategic Broadband Alliance in Phoenix
Promotion Marks the First Time a Broadband Provider Has Teamed With a Cable Network, Electronics Giant and Retail Chain to Attract New Business and Deliver More Value to Broadband Service Customers
CULVER CITY, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--April 26, 2001-- Game Show Network (GSN), Cox Communications - Phoenix, Sony Electronics Inc. (SEL) and Circuit City have joined to form a quad-branded relationship creating a unique strategic business alliance.
Unifying a cable operator, a cable network, a major electronics company and a leading consumer electronics retail chain, this alliance is designed to promote sales and awareness of Cox and its related broadband services available at Circuit City Superstores in a select geographic area.
GSN, Cox, SEL and Circuit City are offering Phoenix Valley residents a Cox@Home sign-up promotion with a $75 Circuit City Merchandise Card as an incentive. The intention of this promotion is to creatively market and differentiate Cox within the Phoenix area.
``Teaming up with GSN, Sony Electronics and Circuit City enhances Cox's ability to deliver its customers unparalleled value in this highly competitive market,'' said Steve Rizley, vice president and general manager, Cox Communications - Phoenix. ``We are committed to finding innovative ways to make our customers' lives easier and more convenient. This partnership underscores that commitment.''
``This is the first time a broadband communications provider has leveraged a major electronics brand to create an acquisition plan for a broadband provider to drive sales in the retail channel, in this case for Cox@Home sales,'' explained Anne E. Droste, senior vice president, sales, GSN.
Added Dena Kaplan, senior vice president, marketing, GSN, ``Through the success of this innovative four-pronged marketing approach, we hope the Cox model will serve as a prototype for MSOs nationwide.''
``Based on our relationship with Circuit City, we at Sony Electronics are excited to bring together Cox and GSN to create this dynamic retail promotion in Phoenix,'' said Bill Fox, senior vice president, Sony's Consumer Sales Company. ``It gives us another opportunity to demonstrate our leadership in digital home entertainment.''
The promotion also will further position Circuit City as the leader in providing broadband products and services at retail. ``We are enthusiastic about this promotion and believe it creates another incentive to explore the benefits that broadband products and services deliver to consumers,'' said Mike Ryan, vice president of merchandising for Circuit City.
``Circuit City has offered Cox@Home at its eight Phoenix stores since March 2000, enabling customers to `test-drive' the cable modem and find answers to their questions about service and connections.''
GSN, Cox, SEL and Circuit City have created unique offers for Phoenix residents. Under one retail incentive, Cox, GSN and Sony are offering a $75 Circuit City Merchandise Card as incentive to new Cox customers who purchase a modem, a Cox@Home High-Speed Internet kit and sign up, online, for Cox@Home service at Circuit City. Phoenix-area consumers will be alerted to this promotion via a special section in the Sunday Circuit City circular and a GSN/Sony/Cox in-store presence in Phoenix-area Circuit City locations.
Cox Communications contributes nearly $10 million annually in cash and in-kind contributions to community-based organizations, including local education, youth and development programs. Cox is owned and operated by Atlanta-based Cox Communications Inc. (NYSE:COX - news) and is among the nation's largest operators of broadband communications.
Approximately 75% of Cox's 12,000-mile hybrid fiber coaxial cable network upgrade is completed throughout the greater Phoenix area, providing high-speed Internet access, digital telephone service and digital television.
Cox Communications is investing more than $750 million to upgrade its network, which serves approximately 605,000 customers in 23 communities throughout the Valley. Additional information about Cox Communications in Phoenix is available at www.cox.com/phoenix.
Game Show Network (GSN) is the premier programming service exclusively dedicated to the exciting world of games, game playing and game shows. Game Show Network is jointly owned and operated by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Digital Inc. Game Show Network offers a wide array of programming including game-show favorites from its diverse library, and new interactive game shows where viewers can become contestants in their own homes. Game Show Network can be found on the World Wide Web at gameshownetwork.com.
With 594 Circuit City Superstores and 34 mall-based Circuit City Express stores, Circuit City (NYSE:CC - news) operates more consumer electronics specialty superstores in more markets than any other retailer. Circuit City's online presence, CircuitCity.com, offers an integrated clicks-and-mortar experience with a comprehensive selection of consumer electronics, personal computers, movies, music and games as well as extensive product information. Circuit City's headquarters are located in Richmond, Va.
Liberty Digital Inc. is a diversified new-media company focused on the development of interactive television programming with interests in interactive television technology, e-commerce and content businesses. Liberty Digital's Series A common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ``LDIG.'' For more information, visit libertydigital.com.
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a division of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corp. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web spe.sony.com.
Sony Electronics Inc. has headquarters in Park Ridge, N.J., and has more than 26,000 employees in the United States and Mexico. Sony is the co-developer of CD and DVD technologies, and is noted for such recent developments as Memory Stick® removable media, the MiniDisc digital audio system, Digital 8(TM) Handycam® camcorders and flat-screen FD Trinitron® televisions and computer displays.
Sony Electronics had record sales exceeding $12 billion for fiscal year 1999. For more information, see the company's Web site at sel.sony.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Game Show Network, Culver City
Carrie Gerlach, 310/244-8897
carrie_gerlach@spe.sony.com
Jennifer Johnson, 310/244-8732
jennifer_johnson@spe.sony.com"
biz.yahoo.com |
