TV News: Cartoon Network and Kids Foot Locker Reward Shoppers this Holiday Season with Ben 10: Alien Swarm Crossover Promotion

World Television Premiere of Live-Action/CGI Movie to Air Nov. 25, 7 p.m. on Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network is aligning super marketing powers with sports retailer Kids Foot Locker this holiday season to reward shoppers with a limited edition Ben 10: Alien Swarm movie poster gift with the purchase of Converse Chuck Taylor shoes. The high profile on-air, online and in-store co-branded promotion builds upon the anticipated world television premiere of Cartoon Network’s all-new live-action/CGI movie Ben 10: Alien Swarm on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. The gift-with-purchase promotion is featured in-store and at kidsfootlocker.com starting Nov. 18-Dec. 6, 2009. *

Throughout the promotional period, Cartoon Network will drive awareness for the co-branded Kids Foot Locker campaign with custom on-air spots driving consumers to their local Kids Foot Locker store to find out more about Converse shoes and the Ben 10: Alien Swarm movie poster gift-with-purchase program. The promotional spot featured on-air at Cartoon Network will also stream online at the video section on CartoonNetwork.com.

“Expanding the Ben 10 brand off the small screen and into a retail giant like Kids Foot Locker is monumental—especially during the holiday shopping season,” said John O’Hara, executive vice president and general sales manager of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim Ad Sales and Marketing. “It’s a strategic marketing alliance that not only continues to increase the property’s exposure, but also rewards fans through an immersive experience.”

“Ben 10 is Cartoon Network’s most successful original property here in the U.S. and around the world,” added Jill Shields, Cartoon Network senior vice president of marketing and promotions. “We are tactically marketing the much-anticipated premiere of Ben 10: Alien Swarm across kids television, throughout popular online gaming sites, in print, on radio, at movie theatres, on billboards, via publishing and at retail. The film is one of our most ambitious projects this year so we’re thrilled that a partner such as Kids Foot Locker will elevate our promotional efforts to reach out to kids and families.”

Across more than 300 Kids Foot Locker retail stores, Ben 10: Alien Swarm tune-in and co-branded promotion details will be featured through in-store displays. In addition to reaching in-store shoppers, the posters will be made available to online purchasers of Converse products made at kidsfootlocker.com. The campaign will be recognized in the Kids Foot Locker VIP loyalty club communications, distributed to over 300,000 homes through both opt-in e-mail and direct mail distribution.

Throughout November, Cartoon Network’s international operations in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Poland, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Mexico and the Philippines will host premiere events and screenings in 26 languages to support the global broadcast premiere of Ben 10: Alien Swarm. The film follows 16-year-old Ben Tennyson as he breaks ranks from the Plumbers (a secret organization that battles alien forces) to help a mysterious young woman from his past uncover an alien threat to our world. The live-action/CGI movie is directed and executive-produced by Alex Winter, who also directed Cartoon Network’s first Ben 10 live-action movie, Ben 10: Race Against Time, which attracted more than 13 million viewers during its Thanksgiving weekend premiere in 2007.

Ryan Kelley (Prayers for Bobby) stars as Ben Tennyson, with industry veteran Barry Corbin (No Country for Old Men) starring as Grandpa Max. Galadriel Stineman (Junkyard Dog) is Gwen, Ben’s super-powered cousin, and Nathan Keyes plays Kevin Levin, who has joined Ben’s team for the good of the universe, but still seems to have a scheming side. Alyssa Diaz (Red Dawn) plays Elena, a long-time friend of Ben.

The Ben 10 Alien Force animated television series currently premieres new episodes on Cartoon Network Friday nights at 8:30 p.m. (ET, PT) with replays throughout the week. Ben 10: Alien Swarm will be released on both DVD and Blu-ray Disc domestically on Dec. 1 through Warner Home Video.