Expanded programming and features offer Olympian opportunities for advertisers
Gold-medalist Dan O’Brien will join Yahoo!’s London Olympics team
There are legendary Olympic athletes whose very names symbolize excellence in their events---like Jesse Owens in sprints and Nadia Comaneci in gymnastics. Yahoo! is already earning a gold-medal reputation for peak performance in the event of-online Olympics coverage.
For the last three Games, Yahoo! has been the world's leading online destination for Olympics news and features. At the last Olympics, the 2010 Winter Games, the Yahoo! Olympics site drew more than 32 million unique users, outdrawing both NBCOlympics.com and ESPN.com, which drew 19 million uniques apiece.
Now Yahoo! is expanding its efforts even more for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London this October. And that spells Olympic-sized opportunities for advertisers.
"Yahoo! dominates Olympics coverage with our unique storytelling; this year will be no exception, and we will be bigger and better than ever before," said Ross Levinsohn, Yahoo! executive vice president, head of global media.
"Our angle is to cover the stories behind the stories with our own exclusive talent, including multiple former Olympians - across screens, across the globe."
Yahoo!'s comprehensive 2012 Olympics coverage will include:
- Yahoo!'s Olympics home page will feature breaking news, daily recaps and the most up-to-date photo galleries from London
- Yahoo!'s "Memorable Moments" editorial series will celebrate the most compelling stories in Summer Games' history, such as Carl Lewis' four gold medals in Los Angeles and Michael Phelps' record eight gold medals in Beijing. The stories will be retold through video, photos and stories that live on Yahoo!'s Olympics hub; the series debuts in June.
- Original video programs such as "London Minute," featuring quick-hitting video snippets, and "Elite Athlete Workouts," which debuts in May. Levinsohn says Yahoo! will provide five times the video coverage of previous Games.
- Original reporting and expert analysis: Yahoo! is sending 25 people from around the world to cover the London Games---about twice as many as it sent to the Winter Games. Plus, it's strengthened its premier editorial staff with former Olympians Shannon Miller (gymnastics), Dan O'Brien (track and field) and Summer Sanders (swimming) as expert analysts.
- Social Experiences: New Yahoo! social programs, such as "London Pick 'Em," a new Yahoo! Sports fantasy game, will bring users closer to the Games and sharing experiences with their friends and fellow fans.
Advertisers can share in Olympic glory too
Did we say big opportunity for advertisers? Here are a few examples of the sponsorship opportunities that brands can take advantage of to align themselves with Yahoo!'s world-class Olympics coverage and custom programs:
- Olympics Home Page ownership: Yahoo! will be hosting an Olympics experience for tens of millions of our worldwide users, and your brand can own a part of the gateway to each of those sites. For example: Our "Medal Count Program" promises to be top-of-mind with viewers, a popular feature, and your brand can own this experience throughout the Games.
- Mobile and Tablet Apps: Yahoo! Olympics coverage will be on the move with fantastic mobile experiences that will keep our users updated on the latest from London on their iPhone, Android device and iPad.
- Yahoo! Sports Expert Editorial Package: There's no better way to connect your brand with the most dramatic and important stories of the London Games than with Yahoo! Sports original, exclusive content. Our stats prove it!
- Photo Galleries: Photo galleries are one of the biggest traffic hubs of every major sporting event that Yahoo! covers, offering tremendous reach and engagement.
Major brands are already aligning with Yahoo!'s Olympic coverage. Procter & Gamble is already running ads on Yahoo!'s Olympics page supporting its social media campaign that asks Facebook users what the American flag means to them. Visa, serving as a Yahoo! Olympics sponsor for the fifth time, will run advertising around social media elements tied to the event. Other brands have also jumped onboard to take advantage of Yahoo!'s offerings, and more are expected to join as the games get closer.
To learn how you can integrate your brand with our 2012 Olympics coverage, or to explore custom sponsorships opportunities, go here or contact your Yahoo! Sales rep.
-- The Team
