LEXINGTON, Ky., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Host Communications, Inc., a
wholly owned subsidiary of Bull Run Corporation (Nasdaq: BULL) and major
player in the collegiate sports marketplace for 26 years, announced its line
up of on- and off-campus marketing initiatives designed to promote college
football in cities across the U.S. during the 2000-01 season.
During last weekend's college football kick off, Aug. 26 and 27, Host's
Broadcast Services Division debuted its NCAA Football(R) "Game of the Week"
Radio Network, with the Eddie Robinson Classic (Iowa vs. Kansas State), The
Pigskin Classic (Brigham Young vs. Florida State), The Kickoff Classic
(Southern California vs. Penn State) and The BCA Classic (Georgia Tech vs.
Virginia Tech), which was canceled due to inclement weather. In conjunction
with Westwood One, Host produces, distributes and oversees advertising sales
for these broadcasts. These four "kick off" games were broadcast to
approximately 150 stations across the U.S., although more than 300 stations
are expected to be on the network by the end of college football season.
"Our company remains dedicated to the college football fan and to
delivering the best possible game 'over the airwaves.' Our audience is those
who hold a unique affinity for a particular school, and we're committed to
providing them with the highest quality of programming," said W. James Host,
CEO of Host Communications, Inc.
Host Broadcast Services also handles the broadcasts for schools such as
University of Kentucky, University of Texas, Florida State University and
University of Notre Dame. Host is the marketing partner for these and seven
other highly recognized institutions and five conferences. The company also
creates programming for NCAA Football and has represented the NCAA for 26
consecutive years.
In addition to its NCAA Football "Game of the Week" radio debut on
Aug. 26, Louisiana Tech introduced the "Take a Kid to the Game" campaign,
which is in its sixth year (third for NCAA football) and is geared to
attracting more of the nation's youth to collegiate games.
At the Louisiana Tech home opener, approximately 1,000 kids
(ages two - 18) attended the game and participated in the sideline activities
planned. More than 175 universities are committed to hosting the "Take a Kid
the Game" program by promoting free or special ticketing for youngsters, and
incorporating a community or non-profit tie in. Host created the "Take a Kid
to the Game" campaign, which remains one of NCAA Football's key national
promotions annually during both football and basketball season.
Today, at Grambling State University, Host kicks off the 3rd Annual HBCC
Black College Campus Tour, which travels to 10 historically black colleges and
universities. The three-day tour stops include interactive games, product
sampling and other events geared to the students. A similar tour will take
place in the Spring.
Additionally, Host and its affinity events division, Streetball Partners
International, will be under way with the NCAA Football Skills & Drills Campus
Tour in September. In collaboration with NCAA Football, the Skills & Drills
Campus Tour travels the Pepsi ONE(TM) Field Goal Challenge, KFC(TM)/Pizza
Hut/Taco Bell(R) Obstacle Course, Chevy Truck Bungee Run Challenge, Pennzoil
Quarterback Challenge and EA Sports NCAA Football 2000 Entertainment Zone to
five campuses. The tour kicks off on Sept. 9, with the Arizona vs. Ohio State
game, and also includes the following game-day stops: Virginia Tech vs. West
Virginia (Oct. 12), Alabama vs. Ole Miss (Oct. 14), Penn State vs. Illinois
(Oct. 21), and Colorado vs. Oklahoma State (Oct. 28). These interactive
events, which are free and open to fans of all ages, will travel to the
respective school stadiums on these particular game days.
For the television audience, Host produces, edits and assembles NCAA
Football's "The Slant" for the fourth consecutive year. Appearing for 16
episodes on FOX Sports Net, "The Slant" covers NCAA Football with game
highlights, statistics, team features and others in an entertaining format.
The show appears from Sept. 4 - Dec. 18, 2000. For college football fans who
prefer to learn about their favorite team or NCAA Football over the Internet,
Host has recently redesigned NCAA Football's home web site,
http://www.ncaafootball.net, where students, fans and alumni can access the latest
information about any of these national initiatives and site visits.
"It's second nature for us to want to better our collegiate initiatives year
after year to reach as many people as possible," said Host. "We anticipate
looking back at the end of the 2000-01 college football season feeling great
about the programs we produced to bring more exposure to collegiate athletics
and more fans to the games."
SOURCE Bull Run Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.ncaafootball.net
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/232438.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 232438
CONTACT:
Jennifer Duncan of Host Communications, Inc.,
972-392-5795
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