FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 04, 2007
Business
Pioneer Bob Johnson’s
Our Stories Films Strikes Marketing Alliance with Cricket
Communications
Deal Includes Brand Integration
in Our Stories Films and Cross-promotions of Future Movie
Releases
Bethesda, Md.—December
4, 2007— In
a move to further enhance branded entertainment strategies,
Our Stories Films (OSF), the film studio of BET Founder and
Charlotte Bobcats owner Robert L. Johnson, announced today
that it has entered into a multi-year marketing partnership
with Cricket Communications, the operating subsidiary of
Leap Wireless International, Inc. [NASDAQ: LEAP], and a leading
provider of unlimited wireless services. The breakthrough
alliance will leverage each brand’s core target audience
of urban consumers.
“Our partnership with Cricket will enable OSF to promote
new movie releases to millions of moviegoers through their
cell phones,” said Robert L. Johnson, Chairman and
CEO of The RLJ Companies, the parent company of OSF. “As
wireless devices continue to become the information and entertainment
source of choice for many people, we are excited to create
a footprint for OSF with Cricket.”
The multi-layered partnership will
include the integration of Cricket wireless products into
OSF films and events, along with exclusive promotions designed
for Cricket customers. Cricket
will leverage its growing national retail network to execute
in-store OSF promotions. The Cricket and OSF partnership
will kick off with the release of the next OSF film, which
is scheduled for release in 2008.
“Movies are an important part of the lifestyle of
our Cricket customers and our partnership with OSF will allow
Cricket to deliver exclusive Hollywood insider access to
our customers,” said Doug Hutcheson, CEO and President
of Leap Wireless International, Inc. “From exclusive
film content to Hollywood premiers, the OSF and Cricket alliance
will deliver a one-of-a-kind experience to our customers.”
In addition to the Cricket partnership
OSF announced a major marketing alliance with The Ford
Motor Company in July. Both
partnerships were negotiated by Maven Strategies, the marketing
agency of record for The RLJ Companies.
About Our Stories Films
Our
Stories Films, created in 2006 by Robert L. Johnson in partnership
with Bob and Harvey Weinstein of The Weinstein Company, is
focused on the development and production of comedies for
African American and urban audiences. The studio’s
first release “Who’s Your Caddy?” debuted
in theaters nationwide on July 27, 2007.
About The RLJ Companies
The RLJ Companies, founded by Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment
Television, is a diverse portfolio of companies in the financial services,
asset management, real estate, hospitality, professional sports, film production,
and gaming industries. An innovative business network, The RLJ Companies
seeks to target undiscovered or underserved markets; then exercise solid
management to achieve results. The RLJ Companies is headquartered in Bethesda,
Maryland, with operations in Charlotte, Los Angeles, Florida, New York and
Puerto Rico.
About Cricket
Cricket is a simple, affordable wireless service offering consumers and local
businesses a flat-rate unlimited service over the latest technology, high-quality,
all-digital CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO wireless network. Designed for customers
whose basic and advanced wireless needs have not been met by traditional communications
companies, Cricket is the pioneer of unlimited services with no long-term commitments
or credit checks required. Cricket offers customers access to a variety of
the latest devises and feature-rich mobile applications such as unlimited text,
instant and picture messaging, Mobile Web, popular games, ringtones and wallpapers.
For more information on Cricket, visit www.mycricket.com.
Cricket is offered by Leap Wireless International, Inc., headquartered in San
Diego, Calif. For more information on Leap, visit www.leapwireless.com.
Our Stories Films Contact:
Xina Eiland
703-785-4358
xina@mavenstrategies.com
Cricket Contact:
Greg Lund
858-882-9105
glund@cricketcommunications.com
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