Marching to Record Reds Opening Day

From record ratings to direct interaction with tens of thousands of fans, FOX Sports Ohio hit a home run on Cincinnati Reds Opening Day. Leading up the big day, the network also prepared fans for the season with an expanded “March to Opening Day” campaign, offering more extensive programming and more events and fan engagement than ever before.

• Month-long preseason programming, presented by Tri-State Chevy Dealers, including new nightly show with call-in contest & social media interaction

• Twelve local events featuring games, contests, prizes, and FOX Sports Ohio Girls

• FSOhio stretched vehicle in Opening Day Parade with Reds broadcasters and FOX Sports Ohio Girls

• Hour-long Reds Live pregame show on Opening Day included special FOX Sports Ohio Girls and Opening Day Parade segment (click to watch)

• Record High Opening Day Rating – 21.25 HH rating in simulcast with WKRC Channel 12; 24% increase from previous record (17.2 in 2000)



March to Opening Day



• Expanded Programming

• Programming line-up, presented by Tri-State Chevy Dealers, included Reds Classic Rewinds, Reds-Indians Spring Training Game, and NEW nightly show, Reds Live – Spring Training 2012.
• Reds Live – Spring Training 2012 featured a call-in contest where fans could enter to win tickets to the Reds Spring Showcase game or Reds Opening Day as well as a ride in the FSOhio stretch limo. Show also incorporated Twitter using #RedsLive.

• Local Events

• Road Trip to Opening Day events – FSOhio invited fans to 3 lunches and 4 happy hours at local venues. Fans could enter to win tickets to the Spring Showcase game and a ride in the stretch limo to and from the game
• Reds Opening Week – FSOhio went to three local lunch spots in Cincinnati the week of Opening Day with the stretch limo and FOX Sports Ohio Girls
• Spring Showcase – FSOhio Girls and contest winners attended the game

• Marketing / PR

• Branded campaign promoted Reds coverage via promo spots, player and fan vignettes, outdoor digital boards, radio spots, opens, and additional elements
• Promoted all March to Opening Day elements via Facebook and Twitter; Invited fans to events and posted photos
• Garnered media coverage: Cincinnati.com, Better of Red, The Reds Report, Red Hot Mama, Mark my Word, Fangs Bites

Opening Day - CLICK for pictures!



• Participated in Opening Day Parade - Thousands of fans lined the streets of Cincinnati.

  

The branded stretched limo rode in the Parade with Reds Broadcasters Chris Welsh and Jim Day along with the FOX Sports Ohio Girls and 10 contest winners from Reds Live – Spring Training 2012 nightly show.

• Hosted Fan Cam at the Holy Grail where fans were asked Reds trivia questions on-air as part of a recorded postgame show segment.



• Hour-long Reds Live pregame show on Opening Day included special FOX Sports Ohio Girls and Opening Day Parade segment

• Record High Opening Day Rating – Simulcast production on local WKRC, Channel 12. Combined rating of 21.25