General Motors has been a sponsor of the Olympic Games since 1997, but it won’t renew its contract with the Games and television network NBC when it expires after the 2008 Beijing Games. The contract was worth over $900 million when it was signed ten years ago, but GM says that its return on investment for the 17 day media exposure isn’t worth the money.
The contract had been divided into two parts: $300 million secured GM as the official vehicle provider of the games; $600 million gave them exclusive rights to NBC’s U.S. television and online coverage.
GM said it was difficult to carry out its on-site sponsorships at the venues and that it didn’t do much at the Turin or Athens games.
GM of Canada will continue as the official vehicle for the ‘12 games in Vancouver on a separate contract.
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08/08, 9:03 AM
posted by:
55amg
advertising in transformers is better then
08/08, 9:38 AM
posted by:
55amg
or advertising using GM_SALES
08/08, 9:41 AM
posted by:
400horseSS
good move nobody watches the olympics anyway they are better off advertising on the WNBA
08/08, 9:53 AM
posted by:
snork
WNBA…nah, I’d think they’d get atleast 20 viewers on the olympics compared to the 12 that watch the WNBA. LOL
08/08, 11:05 AM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
New Olympic event. pushing a broken-down 4 year-old honda from the offramp on which it breathed its last onto a side road where the junkyard truck can tow it away. Teams limited to four members, including a “driver.”
Olympics only has one good event, the 100 meters. Although i do have a crush on summer sanders
08/08, 11:37 AM
posted by:
Jazz
The Olympics suffers in America just like the FIFA World Cup: there is no American broadcasted feeder series that keeps Americans interested year long.
Good call GM. Stop wasting money on things that don’t work and make better products.
08/08, 12:05 PM
posted by:
davebo
I love the Olympics but the USA is definitely not the place to be spending big bucks advertising in them. Movies with big robots and explosions? Yeah, that sounds more up our alley.
08/08, 3:16 PM
posted by:
Commodore
55 AMG..Its worth paying 900 mil for GMSALES NOT to try to help them. This is smart though, Olympic games are declining in viewers so good idea to pull the ads. Also GM, if your the official car of Mrs Universe, pull that too.
08/08, 4:17 PM
posted by:
musclemustang94
They should advertise during the x games!
08/08, 6:58 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
No! I can’t wait for the x-games to go away, and if people advertise them, they’ll continue to exist.
08/08, 7:07 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Yes, Transformers was a MUCH better move for GM. And b.t.w, the Autobots kick ass!
08/08, 11:45 PM
posted by:
Deanster
They’re not renewing the contract because they can’t finance 900 million on advertising at this moment.
08/09, 6:31 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
GM has decided to not advertise in the olympics and instead pay GM_Sales one billion dollars to annoy the crap out of everyone on LLN. Rumor has it GM_Sales thus sold his Aveo and upgraded to a Yaris with his newfound wealth.
08/09, 7:57 AM
posted by:
Get Real
Not go to “Chery” country and give them money ???
Maybe GM finally found the balls it lost in the 60’s.
08/09, 8:36 AM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
“R-head: the only way you can “upgrade to a yaris,” is if you have a tercel or echo
08/10, 11:22 AM
posted by:
BLISS
A WAY TO ECONOMIZE