Oct. 12, 2004

The UCLA Department of Athletics has reached an agreement with ISP Sports, a national leader in the collegiate sports marketing industry, that provides the North Carolina company with multi-media rights to Bruin Athletics effective July 1, 2005.

The partnership, which guarantees the university an annual rights fee plus additional considerations based upon revenue generated by ISP, will encompass all sales and marketing opportunities associated with UCLA sports, although all items will not be included immediately.

Beginning next summer (2005), ISP Sports will manage and produce all signage and game promotions at university athletic events, along with the university's official athletic website.

Print advertising and the management of various athletic department publications such as game programs will be included beginning in fall 2006. Broadcast rights for radio and television will be added to the overall agreement at a later date as well.

"Partnering with a third-party for our media and corporate rights broke new ground for UCLA, so it was important to be methodical and comprehensive in our analysis," Dan Guerrero, director of athletics for UCLA, says.

"After researching and speaking with a number of highly qualified candidates, we are pleased to announce an association with ISP, a company with vast experience and impeccable references who shares our operating philosophy. We look forward to a mutually beneficial collaboration."

UCLA is the 19th major NCAA athletic program to align itself with ISP Sports. Other schools that currently partner with the company include Auburn, Cincinnati, University of Central Florida, Georgia Tech, Houston, Marshall, Ohio, Southern Mississippi, Syracuse, Tulane, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Additionally, ISP is a joint venture partner with Learfield Communications of Jefferson City, MO, as the multi-media rightsholder for Alabama, Clemson, Miami (FL) and South Carolina.

"Our company's growth to this point has not included partnerships on the West Coast but it has long been a part of our plan to do so," ISP Sports president and CEO Ben Sutton says.

"Given the incredible leadership team in place at UCLA, headed by athletics director Dan Guerrero, and the tremendous athletic and academic tradition at the university, we are thrilled to be a part of the Bruin family for what we hope will be a long, long time."