Among the teams are champions Miami Heat. The programme also includes partnerships with five local-market broadcast stations that carry NBA action.
It represents the motor manufacturer’s largest sports marketing effort to date in the US, and is the company's first-ever direct involvement with franchises from one of the four major sports leagues in the US.
Kia has been named an official partner of the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Seattle SuperSonics, and will serve as a ‘proud partner’ to the Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns. Kia is also an advertising partner of the Chicago Bulls.
In addition to its NBA franchise partnerships, Kia also has formed media partnerships with local broadcast carriers of five NBA teams, including FSN regional sports networks in Cleveland, Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles, and Comcast SportsNet in Washington, DC.
Said Len Hunt, executive vice president and COO of Kia Motors America: “This marketing initiative firmly establishes Kia as a leader in terms of professional basketball involvement with a foothold in nearly half of the NBA's markets.
“These team and media arrangements provide an opportunity for one-on-one interaction with consumers linked to one of their passions, and allows for ongoing involvement with our dealers in their local markets.”
Kia is currently the major sponsor of the Australian Tennis Open and an official worldwide sponsor of the Davis Cup, and from 2007 to 2014 will be an official automotive partner of soccer’s world governing body FIFA.
