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- the weekly AP Top 25 college football and men's and women's college basketball polls will transition from the traditional wire announcement as part of the AP's shift to focusing on marketing dollars
- the weekly AP Top 25 college football and men's and women's college basketball polls will transition from the traditional wire announcement as part of the AP's shift to focusing on marketing dollars
The Associated Press' marquee sports assets, some of which were created up to fifty years ago, will be associating its business partners with those assets for the first time ever. Branded and media opportunities will be offered by the AP to the general marketplace under one umbrella. Partners are anticipated to include those in the categories of media/networks, automobiles, financial institutions, non-alcoholic beverages, telecommunications and sporting goods and apparel.
No partners have ever been associated with the AP assets that will soon be exploited. Opportunities are fresh for corporate partners to come on board in connection with the AP Polls (men's and women's college basketball and football), pre and post season All-America teams, nationally recognized coach of the year, and men's and women's player of the year awards. Additionally, the weekly AP Top 25 college football and men's and women's college basketball polls will transition from the traditional wire announcement as part of the AP's shift to focusing on marketing dollars .
The AP's interest in exploiting its assets comes in conjunction with an announcement that it has signed a multi-year extension with DSA Media Group, which keeps the company as the AP's sports marketing agency of record. Particular terms of the extension were not revealed; however, the extension became effective as of yesterday.
DSA Media Group, an independent strategic brand development and communications agency based in New York, will work with the AP to secure strategic partners and sponsorships for the described assets. DSA has helped
"DSA brings proven strategic and integrated marketing expertise that will help us build on our most recognized sports platform to deliver innovative creative work that will resonate with sports fans and help us stand apart in the marketplace," said Ted Mendelsohn, AP vice president for commercial and business development.
Together with brand, broadcast and digital partners, the AP will be heavily integrated with the college sports fan base, which the AP says is 250 million people strong.
Darren Heitner is a lawyer and the Founder of South Florida-based HEITNER LEGAL, P.L.L.C., which has a focus on Sports Law and Entertainment Law.
