Sony Launches New Marketing Campaign With Unlikely Comedic Duo

Aimed at reinforcing Sony as a leader in quality and spurring consumer demand for holiday shopping, Sony Electronics today launched its new integrated marketing campaign.

The campaign breaks with two 30-second commercials, Ping Pong (two versions) airing nationwide, along with a new campaign web site -- www.sony.com/experts. The campaign theme centers on Sony quality as a key point of differentiation that informs the decision-making process at retail, and ultimately leads consumers to purchase a Sony product.

"Consumers have questions when buying electronics -- that's why we put together a panel of experts," said Stuart Redsun, senior vice president, marketing at Sony. "Now not only can they be assured that they're getting quality when they choose the Sony brand -- they will know it's the right product for them."

Created by Sony's advertising agency 180, Los Angeles, the concept is an expansion of the company's 2008 HDNA campaign, featuring a "panel" of celebrity experts who serve as brand ambassadors. Situated in a retail environment, celebrity panelists assist consumers in choosing Sony products by pointing out how the brand differs from its competitors. Humor is consistently used to demystify electronics and connect with viewers.

The panel includes heavyweights in sports and entertainment such as Indianapolis Colts quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning and Grammy and Emmy -award winning Jive/Sony Music artist Justin Timberlake. Rounding out the list are: ESPN reporter, Erin Andrews; fashion photographer and "America's Next Top Model" judge, Nigel Barker; author and comedienne, Amy Sedaris; columnist and Web celebrity, Julia Allison; and award-winning cinematographer, Dion Beebe.

In one of the Ping Pong spots, Peyton and Justin play ping pong, bantering back and forth while speaking Chinese, while expert Erin Andrews espouses the benefits of a Sony BRAVIA HDTV.

"The campaign tells a simple truth," said William Gelner, executive creative director for 180 Los Angeles. "Behind all Sony electronics is a rich history of sports and entertainment. So we had two of the biggest icons from those two worlds, Peyton Manning and Justin Timberlake, tell that story."

The breadth of Sony product categories supported by the campaign expands to include the BRAVIA HDTV line, Blu-ray Disc™ home entertainment, Cyber-shot digital cameras, a (alpha) digital SLR cameras, Handycam camcorders and Sony professional high-definition camera systems, VAIO notebook computers and Sony Reader digital books.

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SOURCE: Sony Electronics

CONTACT: Jon Piazza, +1-858-942-3825, jon.piazza@am.sony.com, or Yolanda
Hunt-Boes, +1-858-942-4174, yolanda.hunt-boes@am.sony.com, both of Sony
Electronics Inc.; or Michelle McSorley of 180LA, michellem@180la.com

Web Site: http://www.sony.com/news