TSN AND FORZANI GROUP PARTNER IN ONLINE EFFORT
By Adnews Staff
Toronto-based sports network TSN and Calgary-based sports retailer The Forzani Group have announced a three-year $3 million partnership scheduled to begin this fall in conjunction with the launch of The Forzani Group's as-of- yet unnamed Web site. The Forzani Group operates its sporting goods stores across Canada under the banners Sports Chek, Forzani's and Sports Experts. The Group also operates franchised locations under the banners Sports Experts, Intersport, RnR and Econosports. Adam Ashton, TSN's director of marketing, said essentially the $3 million partnership covers three areas including a media component, a marketing component and an ecommerce component. When the Forzani Web site launches this fall, the site will feature links to TSN's Web site (http://www.tsn.ca) for the latest sports news and information. In return for providing sports news and information to its site, Forzani Group will act as an ecommerce engine for TSN, making sporting goods available to buy on the network's site. Awareness of the Forzani site will include an on-air campaign on TSN beginning in October. The 52-week campaign will be supported with an online campaign on TSN.ca. Both the on-air and online initiatives will focus on the 2000 pre-Christmas, 2001 spring and 2001 back-to-school seasons and will be created in-house by TSN. The Forzani Group will promote TSN in its stores this fall with the network's TSN.ca logo featured on computer terminal kiosks, store front signage, bags and cash receipts.