TBS is pulling out all the stops for next month’s extensive MLB Playoff coverage.
Broadcasting and Cable reports that Turner is teaming with cable-operator affiliates to provide interactive promotions for the upcoming playoffs on TBS. The promotions will take place in cities that are likely to be involved in the 2007 MLB postseason, including New York and Cleveland, and will include “larger-than-life-sized bobbleheads, each known as ‘Postseason Pete,’ outfitted in each city?s team?s uniform“. The bobbleheads will each be 10 feet tall and 600 pounds, and will be placed in “high-traffic locations and key advertiser locations in each city for a two-week period.”
Postseason Pete will evidently “heighten the excitement and spirit that each city has for its team“, or at least that’s the idea. Assuming they do not mistake the bobbleheads for bombs, fans can have their pictures taken with the monstrously large bobbleheads and “retrieve the photos online.” The bobbleheads will not be the only gigantic marketing tools TBS uses in big cities; other promotions include”two towering billboards in Times Square featuring larger-than-life images” of several MLB stars.
In addition to Postseason Pete, TBS is enlisting legendary Who’s The Boss actress Alyssa Milano to help with playoff coverage. Milano, who also blogs for MLB.com, will give viewers an “inside behind-the-scenes look at the playoffs“, and “will have a continual presence on TBS’ Hot Corner on mlb.com“. The TBS Hot Corner, similar to the TNT Overtime feature on NBA.com, will provide live coverage of TBS’ playoff games, complete with “continuous camera shots, possibly from cameras focused on pitchers or placed in dugouts or worn on catchers’ masks, that appear only sporadically on TV.”
Not satisfied with Milano and giant bobbleheads, TBS will also use music group Bon Jovi to help promote the playoffs on television. The network recently unveiled a “rollicking” new promo, in which the group performs “‘I Love This Town’ from their new Lost Highway album interspersed with action footage of some of MLB’s hottest postseason contenders“. The song will serve “as the primary musical bed for bumps and teases throughout the network’s 2007 MLB postseason coverage”, similar to manner TNT uses the Fort Minor song Remember the Name during the NBA Playoffs.
TBS will also air ads featuring analysts Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn, which will air across all Turner platforms. To get ready for the postseason, TBS will use its lead annoucning team of Chip Caray and Gywnn on an Atlanta Braves telecast September 23.
