Dr Pepper Adds More Fizz to College Football Season With Third Major Conference Title Sponsorship

Dr Pepper Adds More Fizz to College Football Season With Third Major Conference Title Sponsorship

- Dr Pepper Grabs Title Sponsorship of New ACC Conference Championship Game - Will be a part of college football activity from season opener to the crowning of BIG 12, SEC and ACC Conference Champions

PLANO, Texas, April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr Pepper, a leading brand in the beverage portfolio of Plano, Texas-based Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (CSAB), announced today the expansion of its long-standing relationship with college football. A key element of this expansion includes an agreement with ABC Sports and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) to be the title sponsor of the ACC's first ever college football championship game, which will be aired on ABC on December 3, 2005.

"Through Dr Pepper's title sponsorship of BIG 12, SEC and now ACC football, we are helping to fuel excitement and passion for the sport throughout the season, culminating with the crowning of three power conference champions," said Andrew Springate, vice president of Dr Pepper marketing. "We are thrilled to bring ACC football fans, and frankly college football fans all across America, what is truly a mega conference championship."

In addition to being the title sponsor of the three championship games, Dr Pepper will support this major initiative by involving fans in college football activities throughout the year. Highlights of the sponsorship will involve media within the conferences' regular season games across the ESPN and ABC Sports family of networks as well as national consumer promotion sweepstakes including a chance to win $1 million during a half-time, on-field event at the championship events. Localized promotions are an integral component to Dr Pepper's strategy of connecting at a grassroots level with college football fans, especially around key rivalry match-ups. More details will be announced this summer.

"We are very pleased to have Dr Pepper as the title sponsor of our new ACC Championship football game," said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. "Dr Pepper is known for bringing college football to life by creating engaging and memorable experiences for fans. We are confident that this is the beginning of a great new tradition in ACC football and the annual hallmark of what will be one of the most anticipated and meaningful games of the year." The agreement will make Dr Pepper the title sponsor of the newly established ACC championship for the next five years.

Ed Erhardt, president, ESPN ABC Sports Marketing and Sales added, "This is an exciting new joint venture that is an authentic fit with our full portfolio, and we welcome a long relationship with Dr Pepper on college football, as it signifies the importance of ESPN and ABC Sports big event programming."

About Dr Pepper

Dr Pepper is a leading brand in the beverage portfolio of Plano, Texas- based Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (CSAB), a subsidiary division of Cadbury Schweppes plc (NYSE:CSG). CSAB is one of the largest producers of soft drinks and premium beverages in the Americas. CSAB's brand portfolio includes Dr Pepper, 7 UP, Snapple, Mott's Apple Juice, RC Cola, A&W Root Beer, Sunkist Soda, Canada Dry, Hawaiian Punch, Schweppes, Diet Rite, Slush Puppie frozen drinks, Clamato, Mr & Mrs Ts Mixers, Holland House Mixers, Rose's, Mistic, Yoo-hoo, Orangina, IBC, Stewart's, Nantucket Nectars and other well- known consumer brands. For additional information on Cadbury Schweppes and its products, visit http://www.cadburyschweppes.com/ .

About the ACC

Now in its 52nd year of competition, the ACC has long enjoyed the reputation as one of the strongest and most competitive intercollegiate conferences in the nation both academically and athletically. Since the league's inception in 1953, ACC schools have captured 93 national championships, including 48 in women's competition and 45 in men's. The conference had an immediate impact on the national college football scene in the fall of 1953 when the University of Maryland captured the first of what would eventually be five national football titles for the ACC. Clemson laid claim to the league's second national title in 1981 while Georgia Tech followed suit in 1990. Florida State pocketed national titles No. 4 and 5 in 1993 and 1999, respectively. In addition, one of the league's newest members -- Miami -- has laid claim to five national gridiron titles over the past 21 seasons. The ACC is also the nation's winningest bowl conference with league schools combining for a 132-115-5 (.534) record in post-season play.

About ESPN and ABC Sports Sales

ESPN ABC Sports Customer Marketing and Sales, the sports sales and marketing arm of The Walt Disney Company, is the world's leading integrated sports marketing and sales media entity. The company represents an unparalleled collection of multimedia sports assets and leads the industry in developing specialized programs designed to drive clients' marketing goals and initiatives.

Source: Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages

CONTACT: Cristina Alfaro of Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages, +1-972-673-7814, or Cristina.Alfaro@cs-americas.com ; or Brian Morrison of Atlantic Coast Conference, +1-336-851-6062, or bmorrison@theacc.org ; or Alison Lazar of ESPN and ABC Sports Sales, +1-212-456-0226, or Alison.lazar@espn.com

Web site: http://www.cadburyschweppes.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: The product name 7 UP is written in all caps with a space between 7 and UP.

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