ALEXANDRIA, VA - February 25, 2000 - The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has selected the Minneapolis-based Fallon McElligott advertising agency to create a new positioning campaign and to work on paid-media planning and buying. The announcement was made today by Judy Braune, vice president of PBS strategy & brand management.
"PBS is a unique cultural and educational asset. We are looking forward to honing our positioning strategy and creating materials that reinforce the high regard and special relationship that people have for PBS programs and their local PBS station," explained Ms.Braune. "That's where Fallon McElligott comes in. They are known for both their strategic and creative strengths in reinforcing the strong emotional link between their clients and the public."
"We were attracted to PBS for all the reasons you can imagine. It's a great brand, with great programming and dedicated people," commented Mark Goldstein, chief marketing officer at Fallon McElligott. "We are proud to be able to highlight PBS's assets to the American public."
The new campaign and media plans will be developed and executed by Ms. Braune, John Ruppenthal, senior director of PBS creative services, Judy Diaz, director of PBS brand management and station communications, and the PBS communications & brand management staff. The team will also rely on the counsel of the PBS Communications Advisory Committee, a 12-member panel of station representatives from around the country.
PBS, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is a private, nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's 346 public television stations. A trusted community resource, PBS uses the power of noncommercial television, the Internet and other media to enrich the lives of all Americans through quality programs and education services that inform, inspire and delight. Available to 99 percent of American homes with televisions and to an increasing number of digital multimedia households, PBS serves nearly 100 million people each week. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org.
Fallon McElligott Minneapolis manages the consumer voice of some of the world's leading brands. With billings of approximately $575 million, the agency's clients include, among others: BMW of North America, drugstore.com, EDS, Holiday Inn, IBP, The John Nuveen Company, Lee Company, Navistar International, Nordstrom, QUALCOMM, Ralston Purina, Starbucks Coffee Company, Timex and United Airlines. Fallon McElligott is the newly formed second global network of Publicis Group, based in Paris.
CONTACTS:
Jan McNamara
PBS
(703) 739-5028
Julie Thompson
Fallon McElligott)
(612) 321-2533.