Entertainment

Animation Dance E-Sports Entertainment/Celebrity Film Music Radio Restaurants Sports Television Theater Video Virtual Reality
News Release Digital Asset Direct

LevLane Advertising Announces SVP, Partnerships and Development

LevLane

LevLane Advertising, a full-service, award-winning advertising agency based in Center City, Philadelphia, has announced Carl Cherkin, former Vice President of Communications and Business Development at Philadelphia Union, as the agency’s first Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Development. LevLane is a nationally recognized agency which offers creative services, brand planning, social media strategy, public relations, analytics, and more. It was founded almost 40 years ago and has grown to employ more than 75 full-time employees today. Bruce Lev, LevLane’s CEO, Chief Creative Officer, and co-founder, said that while driving in new business and expanding the agency’s presence in the region are primary goals for Cherkin, he fully expects him to step in and contribute in areas outside of partnerships and development. “That’s just who Carl is, and the exact reason we brought him onto our team.” In his previous role at Philadelphia Union, Cherkin was a member of the executive team responsible for launching Philadelphia Union, the city’s successful Major League Soccer team, where he remains a consultant, now in his 13 th season with the club. In addition to the ground-breaking launch, he established a number of successful relationships with corporate sponsors, Chambers of Commerce, and a vast and varied array of businesses, while continuing to generate a continuum of profitable business development opportunities at all levels for the club. Prior to his work in business development and communications, he had a successful career spanning decades in journalism and public relations. For Cherkin, the transition from Emmy Award-winning television sportscaster to business development executive was natural. “I’ve spent my entire career making connections and building relationships, it’s what I love to do,” he said. “I am looking forward to being a part of the team that pushes LevLane into its next phase of growth. We have incredible talent here and my hope is that our reputation for attracting creative powerhouses and impressive clientele makes us the number one agency in Philadelphia and mid-Atlantic region.” The agency has experienced steady growth throughout the past several decades—the decision to bring on a senior vice president for partnerships and development ensures that the agency as a whole remains energized. ‘‘This is an exciting time for LevLane and for me as well. I’ve been given a unique opportunity to work in an environment where the culture, already created, is so vitally important. That my lifelong friend Bruce Lev has been the driving force behind that culture, makes it that much more meaningful,” said Cherkin. “It’s incredibly motivating and at the same time challenging, to know that any and all of contributions I make to this extraordinary group of people will continue to enhance the growth and success of LevLane and its clients.” About LevLane LevLane is an award-winning, full-service, independent advertising agency in Philadelphia, PA, that has been building brands that people love for nearly 40 years. Contact Details Lauren Stralo +1 610-401-4825 lstralo@levlane.com Company Website https://www.levlane.com

March 01, 2022 08:07 AM Eastern Standard Time

Image

Tim Hortons Roll Up To Win™ is here and this year, every Roll is a win

Tim Hortons

This year, Tim Hortons iconic Roll Up To Win promotion is all digital and every Roll is a win. From March 7 through April 3, 2022, Tim Hortons guests will earn one digital Roll for every eligible menu item purchased when scanning for Tims Rewards using their Tim Hortons app, physical Tims Rewards card or placing an order online. * Eligible menu items include any Hot or Cold Beverage (excluding espresso shot, fountain drinks and Ready to Drink beverages). Guests can reveal their Rolls to win great prizes on their Tim Hortons app or at the Roll Up To Win website. “We’re so excited to introduce the all-digital Roll Up to Win this year,” said Ricardo Azevedo, Regional President for Tim Hortons U.S. “By making the promotion entirely digital, we’re able to offer bigger and better prizes for our valued loyalty guests.” This year’s grand prizes include a 2022 Bronco™ Big Bend™, week-long stays at select Hilton® resorts in Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Curaçao, Samsung TVs and Galaxy Books, Skullcandy earbuds, PKG Daily Essentials and Xbox Series S gaming consoles. Guests also have the chance to win over 600,000 FREE Tim Hortons coffee and donuts offers, and Tims Rewards points. For the full list of prizes, details, and more promotion information, visit RollUpToWin.com. Roll Up To Win is open to registered Tims Rewards members in the United States (excluding Florida). *NO PURCHASE REQUIRED. Must have a free Tims Rewards account. Open to members in the 50 U.S. & D.C, except FL, ages 18+. Digital Roll can be earned through 4/3/22 (mail-in requests post marked by 4/4/22). Must use App or Rewards website to reveal prize by 4/24/22. See Official rules at rolluptowin.com for mail-in method of entry, all entry requirements, odds & prize descriptions. VOID IN FL & WHERE PROHIBITED. Sponsor: Tim Hortons USA, Inc., 5707 Blue Lagoon Drive, Miami, FL 33126. About Tim Hortons Tim Hortons® is one of North America's largest restaurant chains operating in the quick service segment. Founded as a single location in Canada in 1964, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of guest tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, teas and our famous Iced Capp® beverages), fresh baked goods, hot breakfast sandwiches, breakfast snacking items, and other food products. Tim Hortons has more than 4,800 system wide restaurants located in Canada, the United States and around the world. More information about the company is available at www.timhortons.com. Contact Details Alison Brod Marketing & Communications Adrianna Lauricella +1 212-230-1800 tims@abmc-us.com Company Website https://www.timhortons.com/

March 01, 2022 07:02 AM Eastern Standard Time

Image

Gio Nation Collaborates With Grammy Nominated Hit Maker Gemini

360PRWire

Rising pop musician & social media model, Gio Nation, recently had the golden opportunity to collaborate with Grammy-nominated producer, Gemini for his latest few projects. Together they co-produced & engineered four of Gio Nation’s highest rated songs including, “I Don't Need You Anymore” & “You Know What I’m Talkin’ Bout”. Gio’s music continues to engage diehard pop music fans worldwide while also appealing to fans who may not be familiar with his music. “From the moment I met Gemini, we just hit it off. We were definitely on the same wavelength. I feel seen, heard and understood by him and this is really important when you collaborate with someone, “ said Gio, talking about his experience working with the producer. Once again, Gio’s verbal gymnastics instantly impressed. With vivacious energy and a vibrant personality, he shocks pop music with a jolt of his signature electricity. The songs survey every corner of Gio’s heart where he gets real about the complications of falling in love. Becoming successful in the music industry requires a lot of hard work and struggles. With a history of vulnerable struggles and battles with mental health, Gio managed to find his way through hard times and produce music pulling through every step of his life. “Gio’s music is like something that doesn’t exist and that is why it’s unique. His music is similar to other hit songs but still has its own uniqueness so I think it has a good chance of blowing up,” commented Gemini Muziq on Gio’s musical talent and capabilities, while highlighting his experience collaborating with the art. Collaborating with one of the most famous personalities in the industry gave Gio a chance to showcase the worth of his music to the world. About Gemini Muziq Gemini Muziq, Aka Hagay Mizrahi is an American musician, record producer and songwriter. His professional music career began in Israel and expanded worldwide after which he relocated to Los Angeles in 2009. Gemini came into music prominence in 2016 when he engineered sound for Poo Bear ( Jason Boyd ) for the theme song “Purpose” and co-produced the song “blessing in a curse” on the album “Poo Bear presents Happy Bearthday Music”. The album was released under universal music and featured famous artists such as Justin Bieber, J Balvin, Jlo and more. About Gio Nation Gio Nation is an American singer-songwriter and producer from America. Growing up in a lower middle class family in Connecticut, Gio discovered his passion for writing and performing at the age of 7. He began songwriting at the age of 15 when he picked up his first guitar. Heavily influenced by pop culture, Gio made his music debut in collaboration with Gemini Muziq where he released three of his debut singles. FIND GIO NATION AT! Instagram: @gionationempire Facebook: Gio Nation Tiktok: gionationempire Twitter: @gionationempire YouTube Channel: gionationempire Website: www.gionationempire.com Gio Nation is an American singer-songwriter and producer from America. Growing up in a lower middle class family in Connecticut, Gio discovered his passion for writing and performing at the age of 7. He began songwriting at the age of 15 when he picked up his first guitar. Heavily influenced by pop culture, Gio made his music debut in collaboration with Gemini Muziq where he released three of his debut singles. Contact Details Gio Nation Gio +1 804-305-5501 gionationempire@gmail.com Company Website https://gionationempire.com/

February 25, 2022 06:20 PM Eastern Standard Time

Image

Swirl Films Announces New Leadership Additions Beginning in 2022

Swirl Films

Swirl Films, Inc., the leading independent film and television production company with a core focus in diversity inclusion, announces new leadership to start 2022. Gray Television, a broadcasting company with local television stations in 113 markets, is a majority investor in Swirl Films. “We are thrilled with the momentum we are building already in 2022, especially with these two fantastic additions to our team,” said Eric Tomosunas, CEO of Swirl Films. “Swirl Films is well-positioned for continued growth and to continue to deliver incredible content to our clients.” The new hires at Swirl Films include: Angela Plasschaert, newly appointed COO, joins Swirl Films from A&E Studios, where she focused on role-built processes and procedures across the company. Celebrating over three decades in the entertainment industry, Angela’s newest position will work to execute the overall strategy and growth plan for the company, while being very involved in creating original content for scripted and non-scripted productions. Before accepting her role at A&E, Angela obtained a wealth of experience in physical production, producing content that aired on many cable and TV networks. In the early 2000s, Angela’s talents were called on to navigate the world of reality TV, an unscripted environment that brought many new challenges. She began advising on mega hits such as Fear Factor, Jackass and Mythbusters. This new industry led her to start the very first Entertainment Risk Consulting firm in the United States, specializing in high-risk production. Abbey Sibucao (formerly MacDonald) is the new SVP of Scripted Development for Swirl Films where she will lead the development function for all original scripted programming that will play an important role in the continued growth of Swirl’s expansive slate of film and series across all broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. She was previously VP of Current Programming & Development at Bounce TV, where she oversaw projects from initial development through production and continued to service the content for current programming. Sibucao started her career at New Wave Entertainment where she focused on talent management and production. Sibucao also has her own firm, A10 Talent Management. She will continue to work with her current clients while working at Swirl Films. Both Plasschaert and Sibucao will report directly to Tomosunas. Swirl Films provides the full suite of production services from script to screen for movies, biopics, scripted series, award shows and documentaries. Networks and Streamers rely on the company for their efficient production services model and ability to adapt to the ever changing content landscape. Last year, Gray Television’s sport and entertainment production unit Tupelo Honey, purchased the majority stake in Swirl Films’ ATL Film Studios. “The recent investments we’ve made in Swirl Films are a reflection of our support and belief in the future of the film industry in Georgia,” said Hilton H. Howell, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Gray Television. “These new leadership additions allow Swirl Films to support its current and future client base.” Eric Tomosunas founded Swirl Films in 2001. Swirl Films has produced projects including the wildly popular original drama series, Saints & Sinners, and produced high-quality films and series for TV One, BET, Bounce, Lifetime, Hallmark, Reel One, Netflix & Up TV. Swirl Films provides services and content across various areas of production spanning from script to screen, for movies, biopics, scripted series, award shows and documentaries. Swirl Films owns and operates its own 100,000 square foot film studio, ATL Film Studios, outside of Atlanta. Gray Television, Inc. is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Gray is the nation’s largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets in the United States. Our television stations serve 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 36 percent of US television households. This portfolio includes 80 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first and/or second highest rated television station. We also own video program companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Honey, and PowerNation Studios, as well as the studio production facility Third Rail Studios. For additional information, please visit www.gray.tv. Contact Details Swirl Films Eric Tomosunas, CEO +1 470-355-0610 Gray Television Rick Burns, Vice President, Corporate Relations +1 323-493-0123 Company Website https://www.swirlfilms.com/

February 23, 2022 12:49 PM Eastern Standard Time

Image

QUARTER4 PARTNERS WITH PARLEH MEDIA GROUP TO ELEVATE CANADIAN SPORTS BETTING CONTENT

Quarter4

Quarter4, an AI-powered predictive sports data and analytics provider for media, affiliates and betting platforms, today announced a new partnership with Parleh Media Group, a digital media, content production and events company specializing in content for sports fans. Quarter4’s data analysis will inform content for The Parleh’s daily betting picks videos available on their owned and operated platforms and distribution partners. The one-year partnership begins immediately. “This partnership supports the much-needed progression in this industry. Two Canadian companies are advancing the content available to sports bettors and fans across North America,” said Kelly Brooks, Co-Founder and CEO of Quarter4. “Parleh Media Group’s business strategy is extremely innovative and demands diverse analytics to support their scaling operations. This is especially valuable in a market like Ontario, where advertising regulations prevent matching offers, the traditional method used to attract bettors.” Quarter4’s verified deep-learning neural network provides millions of insights for games and player matchups, including in-game probabilities that support micro-betting. This data is available via API, custom dashboard and most recently, embeddable products such as brackets, player-effect simulators and seeding-probability widgets. These diverse offerings ensure that companies at various stages can take advantage of the technology. “Now we can easily move beyond producing the obvious content for the games with the largest fan bases by leveraging Quarter4’s data and insights to prioritize our daily betting picks videos to truly cover the best global bets each day,” said Mark Silver, Parleh Media Group founder and CEO. “We’re also thrilled to be Quarter4’s first partner in Canada, who, like us, are making an impact far beyond Canada's borders." Quarter4 and the Parleh Media Group make it clear that while Canada is a priority market, the scale and vision of both digital companies is on a global scale. “Our Canadian nationality is not the only thing we have in common with the Parleh Media Group,” said Danijela Covic, Co-Founder and Chief Sales Officer of Quarter4. “We are both pushing the boundaries of innovation in this global industry. Parleh Media Group is incredibly unique and has made sports betting content accessible and applicable to a diverse and growing market. We are proud to partner with their team to provide Canadians and the world with the strongest sports betting content on the market.” ABOUT QUARTER4 Quarter4 is a revolutionary artificial intelligence platform that generates thousands of daily predictions called 4Qasts. The easy-to-use sports technology delivers proprietary insights, related to team and player performance, in just seconds. Quarter4 provides sportsbooks, data providers, media agencies and sports bettors with predictive data that is unique, personalized and non-biased. ABOUT PARLEH MEDIA GROUP The Parleh Media Group is a digital media, content production and events company specializing in content for sports fans. Founded in 2021 by Canadian digital media innovators, the company owns sports and betting brands that engage fans across social platforms, websites and live events. The mix of sports and entertainment content empowers sports fans with easy-to-understand, entertaining, informative and insightful content. Learn more at theparleh.com. Contact Details Bailey Irelan +1 614-795-3308 birelan@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://quarter4.io/

February 23, 2022 09:01 AM Eastern Standard Time

Simplifying Social Media for Small Business Owners: Tips on How Local Businesses Can Stand Out in 2022

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/mQc2Uxrk-EU Small business owners have already had to get creative in so many ways in the past few years. According to a survey from Adobe, 74% of small business owners are facing creative burnout. One way to reset and refresh their business is by improving their social media presence. For a small business owner who may already be feeling stretched creatively, social media can seem daunting or time intensive. Natalie Zfat partnered with Adobe Creative Cloud Express on a media campaign to provide small business owners with helpful tips to better reach customers and get their business back on its feet. No matter their budget or confidence level for graphic design, here are some of the tips she shared to easily create standout graphics, photos, and videos in no time: Inspiration can strike at the oddest times. Creative Cloud Express allows you to create quick, easy content on the fly – with thousands of high-quality templates to customize your Instagram Stories, video cover slides, timeline carousels and more. Carousels outperform single-image Instagram posts. According to research by SocialInsider, the average engagement rate increases by 2% when using all 10 carousel slides, and carousels with a mix of video and images see the highest engagement rate per post at 2.33%. Filling the carousel with gorgeous content is easy when you use Creative Cloud Express, which lets you easily search through Adobe Stock images and leverage more than 20,000 fonts. Did you know that social media posts with video have 48% more views? Creative Cloud Express makes it super easy to edit and customize videos (even if video editing isn't your forté). It's no secret that social media users scroll quickly, and it can be tricky to stand out. 82% of small business owners know that a creative design will drive business, but 45% cite that they don’t have either the time, tools or skills to bring their ideas to life. One way to “stop the scroll” is with compelling animation and imagery. Creative Cloud Express lets you incorporate animated elements easily and create beautiful, thumb-stopping imagery that will catch your audience's eye. Something as simple as a colorful, animated shape layered behind text - or a funny GIF or sticker - will help your message stand out and allow you to inject more of your personality. And the best part: You don’t have to be a designer to get it done. Use “Quick Actions” powered by Adobe Sensei to remove backgrounds from photos, trim and merge videos, convert videos to GIF, and more. Integrate your brand's aesthetic across multiple platforms for a cohesive experience. Creative Cloud Express allows you to build your brand by uploading logos, colors and more. This makes it easy to seamlessly adapt your brand creative for social media, email marketing, website and more. The Shared Libraries feature in particular makes it easy for anyone and everyone on your team to work from a cohesive bank of templates to achieve that brand consistency. The Instagram algorithm is ever-changing, but we know that content that inspires shares and saves does particularly well, especially when that content is in video form. 74% of small business owners acknowledge that they are facing major hindrances to their creativity right now. To maximize engagement, aim for content that is beautiful, funny or educational. Infographics and video tutorials (“How To’s”) are a great way to do this - and Creative Cloud Express offers stunning, customizable graphs, charts and other great visuals that lend themselves to shareable content. Think of your social media profile as your storefront. 55% of small business owners say their online presence is more critical to their success than a physical store. Is your bio fully fleshed out? Is it clear what you're offering your audience? Creative Cloud Express allows you to create beautiful, robust profiles, with thousands of high quality templates for banner images, profile photos, Instagram Highlight covers and more – all customizable with your brand colors and typography. Don't have a brand book (yet)? Dip into Creative Cloud Express’ Stock and Fonts database for thousands of unique, stunning imagery and font styles for marketing materials like logos, flyers, banners, and more. To learn more about Creative Cloud Express and its different graphic design features go to: adobe.com/express About Natalie Zfat: According to Mark Cuban, “Natalie Zfat doesn’t mess around.” Natalie Zfat is a social media expert, speaker and host who has partnered with some of the most iconic brands in the world, including Samsung, Facebook, CNBC and LinkedIn. Curating original social media content, strategy and campaigns, Natalie gains millions of impressions for the brands she advocates for. When she’s not with her clients, Natalie loves sharing her social media thought leadership in her Forbes column, on television and at conferences and universities, including the New York Times, CBS, Carnegie Mellon, NYU Stern School of Business, SXSW and CES. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 22, 2022 04:34 PM Eastern Standard Time

Video

NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball and Memorigin partners to launch new watch brand Melofaith LaMelo Ball's first-ever RARE Tourbillon watch

Memorigin

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 22 February 2022 - The 20-year-old NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball made his appearance in the NBA All-Star Game held on last Saunday February 20. Basketball fans are eagerly awaiting his impressive performance. LaMelo Ball is currently playing for the Charlotte Hornets, after embarking on his NBA career since 2020. In just two years, he has clinched numerous awards: ESPY’s Breakthrough Athlete of the Year, NBA Rookie of the Year, and NBA All-Rookie Team. He is the also the 4th-youngest player to appear in the All-Star Game, earning him widespread attention as an elite young star. NBA stars have always been looked to as more than just athletes, but instead as fashion faces which drive global trends forward. LaMelo Ball, who has always been passionate about fashion, launched his own designer lifestyle clothing brand LaFrance last year, and this year, he is adding another accolade to his resume by launching an international collaboration with Memorigin, a Hong Kong-based tourbillon watch brand, with the creation of a new high-end watch brand "Melofaith". Melofaith introduces its first high-end fashion item - the "RARE Tourbillon", designed in complete LaMelo Ball style. Using a strong fiery red as the primary color, the watch features a unique tonneau-shaped case and a stylish red camouflage rubber strap, breaking the tourbillon’s traditional notion of polished, genteel elegance. The skeleton dial is presented in street graffiti style and features numerous symbols of LaMelo Ball, including his first tattoo - the word "FEAR" and "GOD" on his wrist at the age of 16 - as well as a doodle of his name "Melo". There is also a silhouette of LaMelo Ball in profile and the “number 1 with wings” symbolizing him as the "Golden Child". The watch is available in two versions, the regular version with a more subdued PVD tonneau-shaped steel case in black and the diamond version with a tonneau-shaped steel case inlaid with 226 diamonds, making it a dazzling timepiece that suits different people. The watch is equipped with a hand-wound tourbillon movement with a 40-hour power reserve and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The word "MELOFAITH" is engraved on the tourbillon, which makes the watch stand out without compromising its stability. The brand, named "Melofaith", is coined from LaMelo Ball's religious beliefs - his faith is his source of strength, inspiring him to face the challenges of every game with determination and perseverance. LaMelo Ball hopes to share his philosophy with fans through the creation of his brand. With religion being his spiritual pillar, faith and confidence are two indispensable elements that have allowed him to develop into an outstanding athlete. About RARE Tourbillon Watch Retail price: USD 6,800 Model No. MO 0822 Case Black PVD coated barrel-shaped stainless steel case Watch size: approx. 58 x 46mm Watch thickness: approx. 18.25mm Both sides sapphire crystal Water resistance: 5ATM Movement Flying tourbillon 155 pieces of subassembly module and 18 jewels Frequency: 28800 oscillations/hour Features 40 hours power reserve The tourbillon located at 6 o'clock rotates at a speed of 60s for one circle Manual winding mechanism Dial LaMelo Ball-themed dial LaMelo Ball's tattoo design Graffiti style painting Strap Camouflage rubber strap About RARE Tourbillon Watch (Diamond version) Retail price: USD 20,000 Model No. MO 0822 Case Diamond-embedded barrel-shaped stainless steel case Watch size: approx. 58 x 46mm Watch thickness: approx. 18.25mm Both sides sapphire crystal Water resistance: 5ATM Diamond/Gem Setting White diamond quantity: approx. 226pcs approx. 1.9carats Movement Flying tourbillon 155 pieces of subassembly module and 18 jewels Frequency: 28800 oscillations/hour Features 40 hours power reserve The tourbillon located at 6 o'clock rotates at a speed of 60s for one circle Manual winding mechanism Dial LaMelo Ball-themed dial LaMelo Ball's tattoo design Graffiti style painting Strap Camouflage rubber strap About Memorigin Memorigin is the first Hong Kong brand which only produces Tourbillon. The marvelous oriental sculpture merging with western top art of watchmaking creates a Tourbillon watch which has strong Hong Kong cultural character and is a blend of oriental and western cultures. Memorigin uses its in-house movement with its production process strictly controlled so that craftsmanship and quality are sanctioned by international professionals. All Memorigin watches are used with high quality materials from different countries; it has been arranged meticulously from a small part to the complete watch. Memorigin Tourbillon watches are designed by Hong Kong top designers and collectors with innovative concepts. Besides the traditional elegant style, it also adds cultural elements into the design, leading the oriental art to be international. In additions, Memorigin has a unique word carving technology: words can be engraved on the movement and can be preserved forever that the watch becomes unique and memorable. Official web site: www.memorigin.com Tel: (852) 29760108 Address: Room 803-804, 8/F, Chai Wan Industrial City Phase 1, No. 60 Wing Tai Road #Memorigin Contact Details Ms. Ivy Kung +852 2976 0108 ivy_kung@memorigin.com Ms. Christie Chan +852 2976 0108 christie_chan@memorigin.com

February 22, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Image

Restaurant Industry Year in Review: QSR Average Check Soars, Traffic Lags

Revenue Management Solutions

Revenue Management Solutions today released its analysis of US quick-service restaurant (QSR) performance for 2021. Overall, traffic continued its post-pandemic decline, but the global data solutions provider believes double-digit increases in average check will remain — and demonstrate a fundamental change in consumer behavior. To accurately assess the underlying trends of restaurant performance, RMS compared 2021 sales and traffic to pre-pandemic 2019 data. On average, sales were up 8.1% over 2019, and average check increased by a remarkable 22.9%. Traffic, on the other hand, remains low, down 12% as compared to 2019, and continued a negative trend in the second half of the year. Surprisingly, 2021 traffic also was even with or slightly lower when compared to the highly volatile 2020. “Consumer habits are fundamentally different,” notes RMS Director of Research and Consumer Analytics Francois Acerra. “Traffic is down, but the relative increases in average check indicate that QSRs haven’t lost customer segments. Instead, we believe that quick-service restaurant customers have permanently changed their behaviors — visiting less frequently than pre-pandemic yet spending more per visit.” RMS is among the only restaurant data providers to deconstruct average check and the story it tells about how consumers dine now. In its estimation, sales and traffic data still matter, but average spend has emerged as a leading indicator for overall performance. “Given the intense pressure on margins caused by rising commodity prices and labor shortages, analysts may give credit to price increases for the overall rise in average check,” said Acerra. “But when we dug deeper into the numbers, it’s clear that a behavior change is also driving up average check. In short, consumers are ordering more food, and for larger parties. We’ve noticed that the increase in basket size is partly due to more guests being on the same check and that, in fact, the share of single-party orders has declined.” In 2021, the quantity per transaction — or how many items were purchased in a single order — was up 14.3% compared to 2019. Compare that to average net price, which was up 7.5%, and it’s clear that net sales performance was sustained by average check growth. “As QSRs make it increasingly easier to order off-premise with the rollouts of mobile applications and loyalty programs, they provide a convenience to customers that may take the sting out of higher prices,” said Acerra. This is true for efficient drive-thrus as well, notes RMS. In the company’s November 2021 survey of more than 800 US restaurant consumers, 76% reported making a restaurant drive-thru visit at least once a week, compared to 63% that reported dining in. Delivery, which has become a flashpoint for customers and operators, has steadily decreased since its peak in 2020. Just 49% of survey respondents reported using delivery at least once per week in November 2021, a steady decline from 60% in November 2020. “Wait times, poor customer service and order inaccuracy — not price — are being cited in our surveys as the top reasons for dissatisfaction,” said Acerra. “QSRs that can overcome challenges and deliver meals quickly, accurately and with a smile will deliver value to customers and potentially outweigh necessary price increases.” RMS has meticulously monitored consumer sentiment and behavior since March 2020, supplementing its 25-year experience and rich data insights with quarterly consumer surveys, university-sponsored research and anecdotal information. For more data insights and 2022 predictions, visit revenuemanage.com. About Revenue Management Solutions Now more than ever, Revenue Management Solutions (RMS) is committed to supporting restaurants through these ever-changing times. Today, more than 50 major brands in 40-plus countries trust RMS. Its data-driven analytics and tech-enabled solutions are designed to optimize sales, menus and a brand’s financial health. RMS provides actionable insights to more than 100,000 restaurant locations worldwide to help them make informed business decisions that drive profitability and combat inflation and increasing wages. The company holds five US patents on menu pricing and customer segmentation and supports ongoing academic research efforts. For more information on how RMS helps its clients, visit www.revenuemanage.com. Contact Details Tracy Henderson +1 720-989-3530 tracy@centerreachcommunication.com Rebecca Wilkins +1 214-437-9096 Company Website https://www.revenuemanage.com

February 17, 2022 08:05 AM Eastern Standard Time

Image

Spotlight Sports Group and Advance Local Announce Groundbreaking Sports Betting Monetization Partnership

Spotlight Sports Group

Spotlight Sports Group to provide select Advance Local Media Outlets with Local-Market-Specific Sports Betting Platforms; Advance Local’s Total Daily US Audience Exceeds 50 million Consumers through 12 Websites Nationwide; Partnership Already Live with Syracuse.com, NYUP.com, SILive.com, MLive.com Spotlight Sports Group (SSG), a world-leading technology, content and media company specializing in sports betting and fantasy sports, has announced a significant new partnership with U.S. media powerhouse Advance Local. The partnership will see Spotlight Sports Group provide national and localized sports betting content, including games, sports betting tools and latest scores, and integrated affiliation tools each customized to maximize SEO and revenue for a number of Advance Local markets. The partnership between Spotlight Sports Group and Advance Local is already live in New York through Syracuse.com, NYUP.com and SILive.com; in Michigan on MLive.com and, OregonLive.com is launching in Q1, 2022. Advance Local, one of the largest U.S. local media companies, serves over 50m people daily through digital and print media, and operates 12 digital websites with highly engaged audiences following local and national sports content. Spotlight Sports Group’s turnkey sports betting solutions will provide Advance Local’s audience with sports betting sections on their favorite local news websites, including: Feature articles for both casual and regular sports bettors Free bets and offers pages Scoreboards & betting tools with latest odds Custom-made sports betting event guides Smart content modules and free-to-play games “We are proud to be partnering with Advance Local as our teams align on a vision of content-rich, localized sports betting experiences that are more than just creating clickbait,” commented Rick Wolf, SVP, Spotlight Sports Group. "The addition of a turnkey sports betting content platform, uniquely tailored to each local market, will give fans in Syracuse, for example, access to highly localized sports betting content, tools and engagement that makes the games more fun to watch. We are excited to roll out localized versions of our partnership across multiple Advance Local outlets, and seeing the investment made by Advance Local into Spotlight Sports Group repaid in new revenue, and a deeper sports experience for their audiences.” Advance Local VP of Sports Betting & iGaming, Howard Kamen, said “Spotlight Sports Group provides national and local content to drive engagement, but creating community with games and tools to make sports fans smarter is the exciting part of this partnership. Spotlight Sports Group has relationships with regulated sportsbook operators in multiple states which means they are doing the heavy lifting, enabling us to concentrate on our audience and their needs.” In addition to turnkey sports betting platforms, Spotlight Sports Group’s partner offerings include the provision of betting intelligence and data, smart content modules, and the creation and activation of digital games. The betting intelligence offering provides partners with a targeted betting experience directly to their audiences, or through affiliated partners, that delivers customized editorial content in over 70 different languages. Smart content modules are powered by Spotlights Sports Group’s state-of-the-art content engine, Superfeed, which utilizes best-in-class AI, expert tipping advice and data analysis to further deepen the conversations with sports betting audiences. Finally, Spotlight Sports Group can provide partners with self-service free-to-play games that help build customer marketing databases, and consumer engagement tools that increase contact points with audiences. Each of the four core Spotlight Sports Group solutions are tailored to meet the specific goals of partners, and all are designed to increase revenue, audience engagement and growth. For more information on Spotlight Sports Group please visit SpotlightSportsGroup.com ABOUT SPOTLIGHT SPORTS GROUP Spotlight Sports Group (owned by Exponent Private Equity) is a world-leading technology, content and media business specializing in sports betting and fantasy sports. Evolved from the Racing Post Group, Spotlight Sports Group engages millions of people directly through Racing Post, Pickswise, Fantasy Alarm, Free Super Tips and myracing. The company also has decades of experience in powering growth and conversion for the world’s biggest sportsbooks and media companies, delivering best-in-class technology and expert scalable content experiences in more than 70 languages. ABOUT ADVANCE LOCAL Advance Local, one of the largest media groups in the United States, operates the leading news and information companies in more than 20 cities, reaching more than 55 million people monthly with its quality journalism and community engagement. Never resting on our laurels, our company is built upon the values of Integrity, Customer-First, Inclusiveness, Collaboration, and Forward-Looking. Always innovating and evolving, our mission is to strengthen and empower the communities we serve. Advance Local Media Groups include MLive Media Group, Advance Ohio, Alabama Media Group, NJ Advance Media, Advance Media NY, MassLive Media, Oregonian Media Group, Staten Island Media Group, PA Media Group; Headline Group, Advance 360, a marketing agency specialized in the education, healthcare, and travel industries; and ZeroSum, a leader in software, marketing, and data science focused solely on the auto industry. Visit Advance Local at www.advancelocal.com. Contact Details Red Knot Tom Webb +1 512-952-9369 tom@redknotcomms.com Company Website https://www.spotlightsportsgroup.com/en_us/

February 16, 2022 08:01 AM Eastern Standard Time

1 ... 189 190 191 192 193 ... 255