SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CSN Bay Area and CSN California (@CSNAuthentic), part of the NBC Sports Group, today unveiled “Authentic Fanuary,” an unprecedented month-long initiative that celebrates the many passionate, authentic sports fans throughout Northern California and their devotion to their beloved hometown teams.
The multi-faceted “Authentic Fanuary” campaign is highlighted by the network giving away over 100 extraordinary sports experiences and prizes throughout January, including two tickets to the Coaching Corps “Game Changer Awards” ceremony and dinner on January 26th, featuring reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry and other Bay Area sports stars. The “Authentic Fanuary” campaign will utilize television, online, social media (specific details listed below) and on-site fan engagement at Bay Area sporting events.
The “Authentic Fanuary” initiative, developed in-house at CSN, builds on the “Home of the Authentic Bay Area Sports” brand campaign that the regional sports network first introduced in 2008, which later grew to include the “Home of the Authentic Fan.” The multi-year enterprise is aimed at communicating the network’s core message: “We Connect Fans with the Teams They Love.”
The network will debut a series of 30-second spots that embody the essence and passion of Bay Area sports fandom, capturing what rooting for the local teams – win or lose – looks and sounds like in Northern California. The first two spots will premiere on January 1, with additional spots to be released throughout 2016. CLICK HERE to view the spots.
“The Bay Area is home to some of the most passionate sports fans in America. This campaign celebrates the many authentic sports fans in the region and their unwavering loyalty to and love for their hometown teams,” said Tom Pellack, Vice President of Marketing, CSN Bay Area and CSN California. “Teams get hot and cold, players come and go. But the fans are always here, especially the authentic ones, displaying Cheer Cards in their windows or proudly wearing ‘Authentic Fan’ jerseys, t-shirts or hats as the badge of a true fan. Our duty and pleasure is to celebrate and serve them.”
Since 2010, CSN Bay Area and CSN California have been developing and executing fan programs in partnership with all eight professional teams in the region. Pellack added, “The idea of turning the first month of the year into ‘Authentic Fanuary’ gives us an opportunity to highlight our New Year’s resolution – our commitment to them not only in January but all year long. So when January ends, the good news for fans is that the network will continue awarding prizes throughout the year as a part of its regular fan engagement.”
“Authentic Fanuary” Sports Experiences & Prizes:
CSN will award over 100 prizes throughout January, including two tickets to the Coaching Corps “Game Changer Awards” on Tuesday, January 26 at The Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. The event will feature Stephen Curry of the 2015 World Champion Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence, Oakland A’s catcher Stephen Vogt, Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith, Stanford University women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer and other Bay Area sports luminaries. CSN Bay Area will air the Coaching Corps “Game Changer Awards” on Sunday, January 31 at 7:30 p.m. Please note: Athlete attendance is subject to change.
Additionally, fans will have a chance to win Warriors, 49ers, Kings and Sharks tickets – including tickets to the final Sacramento Kings regular season game at Sleep Train Arena – autographed sports memorabilia, an invitation to a VIP Warriors Watch Party at the CSN studios with Greg Papa and Garry St. Jean, behind-the-scenes access to watch Kings Pregame Live and Sharks Pregame Live from the CSN studios, and many more exciting prizes. CLICK HERE for additional information.
How to Win:
Online: Fans can see a complete list of prizes, including a calendar with prizes/events by day, and enter to win HERE.
Social: Follow CSN’s social channels, all listed below, for reminders and additional opportunities to win.
Television:
CSN will run a 30-second spot highlighting “Authentic Fanuary” promotion details, including what prizes are available and how fans can enter to win. CLICK HERE to view the spot.
“Authentic Fanuary” related content will be featured on many of CSN’s high-profile programs, including Warriors, Kings and Sharks game telecasts, Pregame Live and Postgame Live, SportsTalk Live and SportsNet Central.
Online:
“Authentic Fanuary” banner ads will run on CSN’s website: www.CSNBayArea.com
Social Media:
CSN will promote the “Authentic Fanuary” campaign – using the hashtag #AuthenticFanuary – on its various social media accounts, including:
Facebook: CSN Bay Area’s Facebook account (https://www.facebook.com/csnbayarea/) will provide users with “Authentic Fanuary” news and updates, sharable images and videos;
Twitter: @CSNAuthentic (https://twitter.com/CSNAuthentic) will provide real-time “Authentic Fanuary” news, photos and video;
Instagram: @CSNAuthentic (https://www.instagram.com/csnauthentic/) will engage fans throughout the month with captivating and sharable imagery and video; and
Snapchat: CSN Bay Area will showcase “Authentic Fanuary” via Snapchat (@CSNAuthentic) with a series of behind-the-scenes content throughout the campaign.
Plus, CSN will utilize its substantial database to provide Bay Area sports fans with weekly “Authentic Fanuary” updates via email.
On-Site Fan Engagement:
CSN will be on-site at Levi’s Stadium for the final 49ers home game of the season on January 3 (vs. St. Louis Rams), with 49ers Pregame Live broadcasting live from the Faithful Mile; at the SAP Center in San Jose on January 7 (vs. Detroit Red Wings) and January 14 (vs. Edmonton Oilers) for Sharks Authentic Fan Thursday; and at Oracle Arena in Oakland on January 22 for Warriors Authentic Fan Friday, as the Warriors host the Indiana Pacers.
Fans will have the opportunity to receive free Sharks, Warriors and 49ers prizes and “Cheer Cards” at each arena event.
Plus, CSN will visit various locations (TBD) in San Francisco, Oakland, the South Bay and the Peninsula and will give away free “Cheer Cards.”
Since the re-launch of Comcast SportsNet (from Fox SportsNet) in 2008, the “Home of Authentic Bay Area Sports” mantra has been a mainstay of the network’s on-air and online coverage. To establish a connection with local fans, the network has partnered with the Giants, A’s, Warriors, Kings, Sharks, 49ers and San Jose Earthquakes to host game-day fan events at the teams' stadiums and arenas. These relationships have naturally evolved into the original mantra of “The Home of the Authentic Fan." Annually, CSN executes an average of 150 events for fans. Year-to-date, CSN has given out nearly 160,000 premium items and over 3 million “Cheer Cards.”
CSN Bay Area and CSN California, both part of NBC Sports Regional Networks, serve more than four million households in Northern California, Nevada, Southern Oregon and Hawaii. CSN Bay Area, the television home of MLB’s San Francisco Giants, NBA’s Golden State Warriors, and the official regional sports network of the San Francisco 49ers, also features a robust lineup of Emmy Award-winning news, analysis and original programming. CSN California offers live coverage of MLB’s Oakland Athletics, NBA’s Sacramento Kings, NHL’s San Jose Sharks, MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes and is the official regional sports network of the Oakland Raiders. Collectively, these networks deliver more than 600 live sporting events per year, over 1,500 live studio shows, including SportsNet Central, SportsTalk Live, Pregame Live, Postgame Live, Press Conference Live, as well as compelling digital content, up-to-the-minute scores, highlights and breaking news via www.CSNBayArea.com and www.CSNCalifornia.com. Follow both networks on Twitter via @CSNAuthentic.
