Just got this in from the National Hockey League which seems to be doing quite a few things right as far as marketing this last few months. The NHL and NBC Sports have announced they’ll be using social media for the NHL Winter Classic between Washington and Pittsburgh. Facebook will be used to hand out prizes such as a new car, a trip to a Florida theme park as well as tickets to this season’s NHL All-Star Game. We have details on just how these prizes will be handed out during the game so read and pay attention.
NHL AND NBC SPORTS LAUNCH UNIQUE INTEGRATION OF FACEBOOK AND BROADCAST TELEVISION
Interactive “NHL Winter Classic Fan Challenge” Contest Integrates Facebook® Into NBC Sports’ New Year’s Day Broadcast (1 p.m. ET) And Gives Entrants Chance To Win Great Prizes Such As An All-New Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid CoupeNEW YORK (December 23, 2010) – The National Hockey League and NBC Sports today unveiled a unique promotional campaign that integrates Facebook into the New Year’s Day broadcast of the 2011 NHL Winter Classic® (1 p.m. ET, NBC). The “Watch And Win” promotion will allow viewers a chance to win great prizes such as a Honda CR-Z sport hybrid coupe, and trips for four to both Universal Orlando Studios and the 2011 NHL® All-Star Game.
This year’s NHL Winter Classic features two of the game’s biggest stars as Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins take on Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field.
HOW IT WORKS:
- Beginning today, fans register to play by can signing up at www.Facebook.com/NHL and clicking on the “Watch And Win” tab.
- At various times during the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic broadcast on NBC, a Facebook message will appear on screen selecting a lucky winner.
- The winner will immediately be called by an NHL representativeto answer questions related to the broadcast.
- If the winner answers correctly, he/she wins one of the prizes.
- For Official Rules and complete details, go to http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=66699.
The NHL Winter Classic Challenge is open to US and DC residents only. Canadian and American fans can watch the 2011 NHL Winter Classic and get in on additional fun and prizes by following the NHL on Twitter on January 1. The campaign was developed in partnership with RocketXL, a leading North American social media marketing agency.
Social Media Key Component of NHL Audience Development
According to syndicated research, NHL fans are younger and more tech-savvy than fans of other professional sports. With more than 50 percent of NHL fans living away from their favorite team’s home market, and the dialogue around sports being ideal for exploiting the consumer trend toward social media consumption, the NHL’s strategy to shorten the distance between the League and fans via social media marketing is a natural. In just one year, the League has grown its reach on Facebook to more than 1.2mm, and Facebook has become one of the largest sources of referred traffic to NHL.com. Historically, the NHL Winter Classic has dominated the social media conversation and in 2009 and 2010 ranked among the top trending Twitter topics on New Year’s Day.
That is it.
