[February 09, 2010] Journal Broadcast Group Selects Hipcricket as the Exclusive Mobile Marketing Solution for its 46 Television and Radio Stations in 12 States Tweet KIRKLAND, Wash. --(Business Wire)-- Hipcricket today announced that Journal Broadcast Group, a division of Journal Communications, Inc. (NYSE:JRN), has selected the mobile marketing leader to be its exclusive partner corporate-wide. The companies have done business since 2007 with six stations currently employing Hipcricket to drive sales, engagement and time spent listening and watching. The group has 33 radio stations and 13 television stations in 12 markets. Hipcricket has conducted more than 50,000 mobile marketing campaigns for some of the world's biggest brands including Rite Aid, HBO, Coca Cola and Staples as well as hundreds of radio and television stations nationwide. Hipcricket equips clients with superior technology and services that enable them to create mobile advertising and promotional campaigns in minutes. The Hipcricket platform includes powerful analytics tools that allow stations to comprehensively monitor campaigns, measure and analyze results and make campaign or program changes in real time for the best possible results. Milwaukee's WTMJ-AM and WTMJ-TV (NBC) use Hipcricket to power their School Closure Alerts program. More than 18,000 audience members currently receive text and e-mail alerts when schools close due to inclement weather. "Hipcricket really sets the standard for mobile marketing by generating new revenue and engagement with an opted-in audience via mobile phones," said Steve Wexler, executive vice president of television and radio operations at Journal Broadcast Group. "It's so much more than just sending out text messages it's truly changed the way we communicate with our audience, one that can be easily measured to ensure the successful use of our marketing dollars and those of our advertisers." Journal Broadcast Group's Knoxville operations utilized some of the features that Hipcricket mobile marketing software and advertising strategies afford to develop considerable revenue during a one-day sale window. "You can make real money with text and mobile marketing using the platform," said Bill Berry, Journal Broadcast Group Knoxville operations' general sales manager. "It's outstanding." "Journal Broadcast Group is one of the country's most respected ownership groups for the autonomy it provides to each of its local stations. By equipping them with Hipcricket's mobile marketing platform and superior customer service, they take this to the next level," said Ivan Braiker (News - Alert), Hipcricket's CEO and himself a three-decade veteran of the media and broadcast industry. "Hipcricket will further partner with the Journal Broadcast Group stations to increase audience loyalty, heighten sponsor satisfaction and improve non-traditional revenues. At a time when the broadcast industry is looking for new ways to bolster the bottom line, mobile marketing is a true game changer." "We're excited to partner with Hipcricket across our Journal Broadcast Group markets. This is another tool to provide an option for our listeners and viewers to engage with our core brands along with the new media opportunities we're creating at our stations," said Jim Thomas, vice president, marketing, programming and interactive media at Journal Broadcast Group. "Our partnership with Hipcricket means we can offer our advertisers real interactive touch points with users." About Journal Broadcast Group Journal Broadcast Group owns and operates 33 radio stations and 13 television stations in 12 states and operates an additional television station under a local marketing agreement. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it is the broadcast business of Journal Communications Inc., a diversified media company with operations in publishing, radio and television broadcasting, interactive media and printing services. About Hipcricket Hipcricket, Inc. drives new revenue and customer loyalty for consumer brands, agencies and media companies through strategic, creative and measurable mobile marketing interactivity. Recognized as a pioneer by CTIA (News - Alert), the preeminent wireless association, the mobile marketing software and solutions company has delivered more than 50,000 successful campaigns for customers including Coca Cola, Staples, Hershey's, Jameson, Clear Channel (News - Alert) Radio, Premiere Radio Networks, Sandusky Broadcasting and NBC. With its unique technology and experienced, customer-focused team, Hipcricket produces interactive campaigns through SMS, Mobile Web/WAP, and mobile advertising and now connects brands with audiences they desire to reach via the first comprehensive Hispanic Mobile Marketing Network. The company is based near Seattle with additional operations in New York and Mexico City. More information can be found at www.Hipcricket.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]