Emmis Radio and BAT Partner to Give Radio Advertisers New Endorsement Opportunities

Emmis Radio and BAT Partner to Give Radio Advertisers New Endorsement Opportunities

IRVINE, Calif. and INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Brand Affinity Technologies, Inc. (BAT), the company reinventing the business of endorsement marketing, and Emmis Radio, the diversified media firm with radio operations in the many of the nation's largest markets, today announced their partnership to offer advertisers access to over 3,000 athlete and celebrity endorsers for immediate activation across Emmis media channels.

The partnership leverages Emmis' expertise in radio programming and advertising and BAT's simplified endorsement process to give national and regional advertisers the ability to quickly and easily launch geographically and contextually relevant campaigns.

"Endorsements are a tried-and-true marketing strategy, but historically, have been hard for many of our advertisers to activate," said Aimee Bittourna-Kincl of Emmis Marketing Group - Los Angeles. "By partnering with BAT, we are giving our advertisers unprecedented access to superstars that consumers know and love. When people hear a name they recognize, they listen."

Prior to this announcement, Emmis tested BAT-enabled campaigns with several of its advertisers including SunTrup Pontiac in St. Louis, Mo., Nyle Maxwell Pontiac GMC in Austin, Texas, and Kinteco in Indianapolis, Ind. Using BAT's Platform, these Emmis advertisers were able to access and secure MLB pitching legend Lee Smith, football hall-of-famer Tony Dorsett, and Indianapolis Colts running back Mike Hart respectively for their local radio advertising campaigns.

"In a fraction of the time it takes for a traditional endorsement deal, local advertisers can be up-and-running with a cross-media campaign featuring Talent proven to resonate with target consumers," said Ryan Steelberg, President and CEO of BAT. "Partners like Emmis are helping to put the power of endorsements into the hands of advertisers who may never have considered it possible that an athlete or celebrity would endorse their brand. It is possible, and it is happening."

Advertisers use BAT's Platform and research to help determine the best endorsement talent for their campaigns. BAT's Platform then guides advertisers through every step of the automated agreement and approval process. Once an endorsement deal is offered and accepted, advertisers use BAT's video, still, and audio assets to build compelling creative. BAT-enabled advertising resulted in a 180% increase in brand awareness and a 27% increase in purchase intent when comparing campaigns featuring athletes to the same ads with no endorsement, according to an independent study.

About Emmis Communications - Great Media, Great People, Great Service®

Emmis is an Indianapolis-based diversified media firm with radio broadcasting, television broadcasting and magazine publishing operations. Emmis owns 21 FM and 2 AM domestic radio stations serving the nation's largest markets of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, as well as St. Louis, Austin, Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Ind. Emmis also owns a radio network, international radio stations, regional and specialty magazines, an interactive business and ancillary businesses in broadcast sales.

About Brand Affinity Technologies, Inc. (BAT)

Founded in 2007, BAT (http://brandaffinity.net/) is reinventing the business of endorsement marketing for the online world by making it easy and affordable for advertisers of all sizes to launch ad campaigns featuring athletes and celebrities. Advertisers use BAT's Endorsement Platform to identify, license, and activate the most effective talent for their campaigns, based on brand and targeting considerations. Currently, BAT's Platform features more than 3,000 top athletes and celebrities in markets nationwide, and is used by leading advertisers to build brand value and boost campaign performance. BAT's celebrity roster includes Olympic athletes and marquee active and retired players in nearly every sport, including Drew Brees (NFL), Matt Cain (MLB), Paul Pierce (NBA), Brooks Robinson (MLB - Hall of Fame), Emmitt Smith (NFL - retired), and Lennox Lewis (Boxing).

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Brand Affinity Technologies, Inc.

CONTACT: Tricia McKenna or Michele Fox of Louder Than Words for BAT,
+1-781-487-0002, bat@louderthanwords.com

Web Site: http://www.brandaffinity.net/

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Profile: International Entertainment