NEW YORK /PRNewswire/ - General Motors and Discovery Communications recently unveiled a multifaceted GM advertising sponsorship of "Planet Green," the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle network coming to 50 million homes beginning June 4.
For GM, the partnership includes premier sponsorship of the network's landmark series "Greensburg," various vehicle and program integrations, short-form content and an online component. The deal also provides GM exclusive automotive sponsorship at the national level and offers GM an opportunity to demonstrate its broad commitment to offer customers more choices, cleaner vehicles and improved fuel economy.
"It's a great way for GM to educate and inform consumers about all we are doing in the area of sustainable transportation," says Betsy Lazar, executive director, GM advertising and media operations. "Planet Green programs will attract consumers who also want to know what GM has to offer in terms of fuel-efficient cars and trucks, hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles."
"Advertisers have long recognized the strength of the Discovery Communications brand, and the addition of Planet Green to our portfolio of networks provides another top-notch opportunity to reach target audiences," notes Joe Abruzzese, president, advertising sales, Discovery Communications. "Our partnership with GM is a perfect match of two brands relating to a growing population of eco-conscious viewers and consumers."
"Greensburg," a 13-part documentary series produced by Leonardo DiCaprio's production company, Appian Way, along with Craig Piligian's Pilgrim Films & Television, follows the story of a community coming together and facing the task of greening their small Kansas town after being hit by an EF5 tornado in May 2007 that destroyed 95 percent of the town. Included among the many stories of re-building featured in the series will be the documentation of the new, environmentally-conscious Dwane Shank Motors Inc. Chevrolet dealership after the Shank family's previous dealership in Greensburg was destroyed by the tornado.
GM also donated three Chevrolet E85 FlexFuel Suburbans to the South Central Community Foundation, which the Foundation allocated for use by the local school. It also provided, through Discovery, three Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid SUVs and one Silverado FlexFuel pickup to the Greensburg city administration.
In addition, GM is one of the first advertisers to sign on for a new production service offered by Discovery Studios—the full-service production division of Discovery Communications—which has established a production arm dedicated to the creation of original, short-form video content. GM will utilize this service as an extension of its core advertising needs, and beginning in the next two months, short-form content created for GM by Discovery Studios will air on Planet Green. The short-form content will convey GM's environmental efforts through the images and voices of key executives and employees.
Moreover, vehicle and content integrations in select Planet Green programs and online properties will complement GM's advertising on the network and introduce viewers and users to its numerous fuel-efficient vehicles, hybrids and biofuel vehicles. GM's commitment to Planet Green extends to other platforms, including support for Discovery Education Live Green Teacher Grants, which was custom-created for GM.
GM has committed to displace petroleum use in the auto industry through a range of propulsion alternatives. GM's "Gas-Friendly to Gas-Free" advertising campaign encourages customers to consider GM vehicles that get more than 30 mpg highway fuel economy, those that can operate on biofuels, and its growing line of hybrids. The campaign also informs the public that GM is working on advanced technologies such as plug-in hybrids, extended-range electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications is a leading nonfiction media company, reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery, and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
About GM
General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
Source: Discovery Communications
For additional information, contact Alison Rudnick of Discovery Communications, [email protected]; or Kelly Cusinato of GM Communications, [email protected].
