Sony’s High Definition ‘DNA’

NEW YORK, Aug. 16, 2007: Sony Electronics has launched its largest integrated marketing campaign in the USA, centreing on its high definition DNA known as “HDNA.” The campaign, featuring Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts and NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt, Jr., focuses on how Sony’s high-definition technology in a variety of product categories comes together to bring consumers unparalleled HD entertainment experiences.

From its professional cameras and projectors used by television networks and Hollywood studios, to BRAVIA high-definition televisions, Blu-ray players, camcorders, digital cameras and notebook computers, no other company in the consumer electronics industry has the amount or degree of high-definition expertise that can be shared across so many product lines. In addition, Sony’s “HDNA” extends to high-definition entertainment content produced and distributed by its sister companies in the motion picture, television, music and videogame arenas.

The “HDNA” logo appears at the centre of all of the communications surrounded by graphic molecules that symbolize DNA strands and the concept of HD knowledge transfer. The copy in every ad includes the line “High Definition. It’s in our DNA.”

The campaign, which breaks in September, was developed with support of Sony Electronics’ advertising agency 180 Los Angeles.

“HDNA is the core, the essence of all Sony HD products,” said Sony Electronics’ Chief Marketing Officer Mike Fasulo. “HDNA ensures an HD experience that you cannot have with any other brand.

”If a consumer is considering the purchase of an HD product, we believe that given our lineage and expertise in the category, Sony should be the only consideration. With this comprehensive campaign we will also demystify all of the fears associated with purchasing a high-definition product. ”

The campaign encompasses multiple consumer media outlets and platforms, including newspapers, magazines, television, radio, online, wild postings, in-store and out-of-home. The first flight of promotions will launch this weekend and extend through 2008, with initial on-line, newspaper and out-of-home creative focused on introducing the “HDNA” concept, followed by work telling individual HD product stories across multiple media.

Television spots entitled “Use It” and “Plug and Play” promote the full HD experience, and feature Manning and Earnhardt Jr., respectively. The television campaign will premier on network prime time, network sports and on national cable networks broadcasting in high-definition, including HDNet, Discovery HD and Universal HD, among others.

Print advertising focuses on specific knowledge transfer stories. For example, a print ad for the Sony HD Handycam camcorder draws a connection between the Sony Clearvid CMOS image sensors used in the company’s professional HD sports cameras and its HD Handycam consumer camcorders. The headline reads: “Shoot in high definition just like a network cameraman. On a Sony.”

The print component kicks off in September as well, with high-impact “HDNA” ads in such magazines as Rolling Stone, US Weekly, Men’s Journal and Entertainment Weekly.

“The HDNA concept will help Sony own the concept of high definition in the minds of people looking for the ultimate entertainment experience,” said William Gelner, executive creative director for 180LA. “It provides a meaningful platform that ties all of Sony’s products together under one theme, across every medium, in order to create excitement around the best HD products available.”

As part of the campaign, Sony has developed interactive content residing on its e-commerce site, www.sonystyle.com and also syndicated to its retail partners. This content demonstrates the advantages from product to product category that come from Sony’s HD knowledge sharing.

These product showcases include demos, articles and links to online tutorials about BRAVIA HDTV sets, HD home theater systems, Blu-ray Disc players, VAIO computers, Cyber-shot cameras, and Handycam camcorders.

The same information can also be found in Spanish at www.sony.com/espanol, which was launched last year in support of the fast growing U.S. Hispanic community. In addition, Sony’s “La Experiencia Sony™ Tour” will travel to different retail locations in Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Miami and Chicago in support of the “HDNA” campaign. There will be Spanish language TV and radio commercials in support of the campaign as well.

The “HDNA” campaign will be highlighted at all 40 Sony Style stores across the country as part of a comprehensive effort to extend the concept at retail. Special “HDNA” videos will be showcased on continuous high-definition loops in store windows and even on gift bags.

In addition, there are a multitude of in-store elements available to Sony’s authorized retailers allowing them to integrate the campaign in their stores.

Promotional items, such as shelf talkers, post wraps, end caps, hang tags and posters, are available for in-store merchandising, as well as ad mats, ad bugs and screen fills for retail circulars.