Nation�s largest wireless carrier to offer exclusive SEC mobile content
ATLANTA--(COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Aug. 16, 2006--Cingular Wireless will become the exclusive telecommunications sponsor of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as part of a multi-year deal with HOST Communications. This agreement will be considered a landmark sponsorship of one of the premiere collegiate athletic conferences by the largest wireless carrier in the country.
As part of the relationship, Cingular will provide exclusive video content from key SEC events, which may include game highlights and press conferences, through its Cingular Video wireless service. In addition, Cingular will become the exclusive presenting sponsor of www.SECsports.com, the official athletic Web site of the conference. The portal has been re-branded as �SECsports.com powered by Cingular,� and Cingular will present all SEC Video on Demand content available on the site.
Through HOST, which manages the corporate sponsorship program for the SEC, Cingular is poised to deliver up-to-the-minute SEC sports scores and highlights, features, news and information to its wireless customers.
"The Southeastern Conference and its member institutions are grateful for Cingular�s vision and commitment to the conference's intercollegiate athletics programs through this significant initiative,� said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. �The SEC is excited about Cingular's sponsorship as we work together to showcase the student-athletes in the Southeastern Conference."
�Cingular�s sponsorship with the Southeastern Conference will be another example of our commitment to college athletics,� said Steve Sitton, President, Southeast Region for Cingular Wireless, which also is an NCAA Corporate Champion. �Cingular is dedicated and eager to assist the SEC in its efforts to provide quality and beneficial opportunities to student-athletes on and off the field. And, through the SEC video content available on a wireless phone, SEC fans can stay close to the action no matter where they are.�
�We are delighted Cingular has decided to become a corporate sponsor in the telecommunications category for the SEC,� added Tom Stultz, president and chief executive officer of HOST. �We look forward to welcoming them to the family and helping them to provide added value to their customers through coverage of SEC sports.�
Through this deal, Cingular will gain branding presence during key SEC Championship competitions and other SEC events, including football and basketball. Financial terms of the sponsorship were not disclosed,
About Cingular
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 57.3 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation � the ALLOVER� network � and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover�, the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at www.cingular.com.
About the SEC
The Southeastern Conference was formed in 1933 and consists of 12 member institutions: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. The league currently sanctions championship play in nine men�s sports and 11 women�s sports. Its headquarters has been located in Birmingham, Ala., since 1948. For more on the conference, visit www.SECsports.com.
About HOST
In addition to its relationship with NCAA Football, Host Communications, Inc. also has marketing agreements with seven universities as well as the Southeastern Conference. The Lexington, Ky.-based company also manages five associations, more than 30 Web sites and has a printing and publishing division that produces more than 700 publications annually including all of the NCAA championship game-day programs. Additional information may be found online at www.hostcommunications.com.
HOST is a subsidiary of Triple Crown Media, Inc. TCMI owns and operates five daily newspapers with a total daily circulation of approximately 120,000 and owns and operates GrayLink, a wireless communications company based in Tallahassee. TCMI is a public company traded on NASDAQ and based in Lexington, Ky. Additional information can be found online at www.triplecrownmedia.com.
Contact:
Caroline Crowe
Cingular Wireless
[email protected]
678-867-4330 (office)
404-808-8254 (wireless)
or
Kim Livesay
HOST Communications
[email protected]
859-219-3581 (office)
