ESPY Awards Broadcast Highlights GMC Advertising

In it’s 20 year history, the ESPY awards have gone from a tag-a-long award show, to an industry-centric major ceremony attracting the best and brightest of Hollywood.

Even more, the ESPY awards have found way to provide those watching with a sneak peak into upcoming products and events, much like the Super Bowl. No other award ceremony draws the same menagerie of sports stars and Hollywood icons as the ESPY’s. And since a favorable percentage of the country tunes in, corporate sponsors use it as a platform to introduce us to whats new and hot.

This includes GM…

As the official vehicle of the ESPY’s, GMC fulfilled their duty by showcasing their newest features; the EcoTec3 engines, DuraLife brake rotors, and their two year scheduled maintenance protections plan. They also highlighted 2014 GMC Sierra as well.

GMC has developed the EcoTec3 engine to outperform Ford’s EcoBoost technology. And outperform Ford it does. Taking the highly respectable EcoBoost V6 and surpassing its miles per gallon efficiency was just a start. Available in the Sierra and the Silverado, GMC was wise to take center stage at the ESPY’s. Until now, the options for power and fuel efficiency were absolutely clear. You either went with a hybrid or you were stuck with Ford’s EcoBoost. Now, the 4.3 liter V6 from GMC has the best fuel efficiency rating on the market with a combined mpg (city/highway) of 19 mpg. GM, taking note that most pickups on the road are an average of ll years old, has created a 30% increase in fuel performance. And this is just in time for new buyers to finally move on from their decade plus current pickup truck. A cunning move for GMC. While Ford has done extraordinarily well with their EcoBoost, they had to wrangle owners out of trucks that were still in their prime. By GM releasing the EcoTec3 now, they have a chance to sweep the market. And rightly so. They have done their homework both on engineering as well as what people want, and giving it to drivers exactly when they need it. For their final act, they just needed to launch it at a respectable and fairly conservative Hollywood event. The ESPYs provided the perfect platform for a launch party.

While it is a party, it is not just an excuse to go out and party. The ESPYs are still a serious event. Each year someone is presented with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Ashe, the beloved tennis champion, was the first sports icon to lose a battle with AIDS in 1993. This year, the award for inspirational courage was presented to ABC’s “Good Morning America” host and journalist Robin Roberts, for her long-time, and so far successful, battle with cancer. Robert’s sister, cheered her to the stage where she delivered a heartfelt reception speech. One that made watch the ESPY’s worthwhile.