newsbrief0201

SNICKERS: will host a handful of Olympic athletes at snowboarding competitions following the Winter Games this month in Torino. The four athletes are part of a Snickers-sponsored snowboarding team called The Collection; they’ll appear at post-Games competitions in March at the “Satisfied by Snickers” hospitality tent to sign autographs, give away goodies and compete with fans on a PlayStation 2 snowboarding videogame. The six-member team’s tour, dubbed “The Collection—Satisfied by Snickers tour” hits three competitions in March. The four Olympians are Gretchen Bleiler, Mason Aguirre, Andy Finch and Kelly Clark; the other two “Collection” members are Luke Mitrami and Ross Powers. Innova Marketing, Minneapolis, handles the tour for Masterfoods USA.

AMERICAN LEGACY FOUNDATION: is screening theater ads throughout Washington, D.C. encouraging African-American smokers to quit. The 20-week effort is funded by D.C.-based ALF and conducted with six organizations that comprise the African American Partners for a Tobacco-Free Society. Ads screened before feature films carry information on ALF’s local Legacy Learn to Quit Line, and are expected to reach 5 million moviegoers. ALF agency the ad*ditive, Philadelphia, handles.

PUMA NORTH AMERICA: has signed a three-year agreement with professional golfer Erica Blasberg. The agreement started Jan. 31. Under the agreement, Blasberg, the first female professional to sign with Puma, will wear Puma’s new performance golf apparel and footwear during this year’s Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. TV spots and print ads will support. Blasberg will also make appearances on behalf of the brand at national and international events.

MGM CONSUMER PRODUCTS: is out with a new collection of shirts and ties linked to this month's release of The Pink Panther. The new line by Thomas Pink includes slim fit shirts for men, three limited edition shirts for women with pink Swarovski crystal buttons and sterling silver mini Pink Panther cufflinks. The Pink Panther collection rolls out in Thomas Pink stores this week. The live action film The Pink Panther hits theaters nationwide on Feb. 10.

MARK BURNETT PRODUCTIONS: and AOL have signed a deal to develop a real-life reality treasure hunt on the AOL.com Web site. Under the deal, the show Gold Rush, will track challengers searching for hidden treasure across the U.S. The clues will be placed throughout the AOL network. TV spots and print ads will also support.