Telecoms
KPN head of sponsorship: ‘Our strategy is to sponsor national properties’
Mark Versteegen, head of corporate sponsorships at Dutch telecoms company KPN, explains why the company decided to stop sponsoring speed skating and focus on football, and how it is incentivising amateur clubs to sell its fibre broadband
Support Someone Else – Three & Chelsea FC
Over the 2020-21 Christmas holiday, Chelsea teamed up with shirt sponsor Three for a pandemic support initiative that encouraged UK sports fans to support each other over the festive season.
Call Luis Enrique – Finetwork & the RFEF
Telecoms newcomer Finetwork activated its partnership with the Spanish football federation around the climax of the 2021 Uefa Nations League via a press conference stunt involving Spain national-team Luis Enrique.
Fortnite Stadium – Verizon & the NFL
In February 2021, the NFL restricted the live stadium attendance for the Super Bowl, so Verizon sought to keep fans connected via a 5G experience mash-up inside the Fortnite battle royale game.
Virtual Kit Launch – Three & Chelsea FC
In July 2020, as the pandemic curtailed live events, new Chelsea shirt sponsor Three worked with the club and its kit supplier Nike on an augmented reality kit launch campaign.
2nd Chance Charlie – 2degrees & New Zealand’s Super Rugby clubs
Last year, New Zealand telco 2degrees leveraged its sponsorships of the country’s Super Rugby clubs via a branded reality show that gave five Kiwis a second shot at playing professional rugby.
We Connect for Good – BT & The FA/FAW/SFA/IFA
BT abruptly pivoted its activations to digital after the pandemic struck just a month after it launched a new, five-year ‘4-3-3’ Home Nations soccer sponsorship strategy in February 2020.
Netball v Football Exhibition Match – Telkom & Netball South Africa
To promote its new title sponsorship of South Africa’s Netball League in 2019, Telkom set out to grow support, attendance and awareness through an event-based campaign.
5G Stadium Experience – Verizon & NFL
At 2020’s Super Bowl LIV in Miami, NFL telecoms partner Verizon showcased the capability of 5G with an immersive experience.
Team of Us: Everyone In – Vodafone & the IRFU
Launched ahead of Ireland’s 2019 Guinness Six Nations defence and running through to the autumn Rugby World Cup in Japan, the multi-phase ‘Everyone In’ campaign was the latest iteration of Vodafone’s Ireland’s long running ‘Team of Us’ Irish rugby activation.
Ireland’s Ball – Vodafone & the IRFU
In the lead-up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the IRFU’s principal partner activated via a unique rugby ball that linked the fans at home to the players in Japan.
Be Their Armour, Wear the Rose – O2 & England Rugby
Running September through November 2019, O2’s activation of its England Rugby partnership around the 2019 Rugby World Cup spanned television, OOH, social, in-store, in-stadium, event experiences and screenings.
The Team That Wouldn’t Be Here – Verizon & NFL
In January and February 2019, Verizon leveraged its rights around the NFL Playoffs, Championship Games and Super Bowl via a multi-phase, multi-platform activation that honoured America’s first responders.
Purple Couch – T-Mobile & UFC
In 2018, T-Mobile US’s Metro by T-Mobile brand activated its UFC rights through a live 90-minute brand-owned social broadcast which set out to fill the pre-fight content void.
Month of May 5G – Verizon & IndyCar
Around the 2019 Indy 500, Verizon leveraged its IndyCar assets to showcase its 5G Ultra-Wideband through a month-long campaign.
#ChampionsSofa – Sony & Uefa
Sony boosted the profile of its Xperia smartphones via its 2017-18 Uefa Champions League sponsorship that featured a Gogglebox-style activation called #ChampionsSofa.
AR Giant Soccer Player Stunt – Orange & LaLiga
LaLiga media partner Orange teamed up with Google Assistant for an augmented reality stunt at the 2019-20 season opener between Celta Vigo and Real Madrid.