NBA, Cartoon Network Ink Co-Branding Apparel Deal for Ben 10

ATLANTA, July 14: The
National Basketball Association (NBA) and Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE)
have teamed up to create a joint consumer products and promotion campaign based
on the hit series Ben 10: Alien Force.

A youth apparel line,
which integrates Ben 10
characters with NBA league and team logos and mascots, will launch at the 2009
NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix. The range will include long and short-sleeved
T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies, and will be available at the NBA Store
inside NBA All-Star Jam Session and the NBA Store in New York City as well as
online at NBAStore.com and CartoonNetworkShop.com, with additional expansion
planned.

Ben 10: Alien Force is the next chapter in the franchise, picking up
five-years later when 15-year-old Ben discovers that his Omnitrix has been reconfigured
and he can now transform into ten new aliens.

“It is a privilege to
partner with the NBA on our first co-branding project,” said Christina Miller,
the VP of consumer products for CNE. “With this partnership, we are able to
fuse the popularity of the NBA with the power of Ben 10 to create a synergy between two fan favorites and
offer even more ways experience both brands."

“The NBA is always looking
for unique ways to connect with our fans,” added Lisa Piken, the senior
director of apparel and accessories for NBA Global Merchandising Group.
“Partnering with the Cartoon Network and Turner on this program for youth
apparel reaches our young fans in a fun way and also provides us with an
opportunity to reach new fans with a character they love in Ben 10: Alien
Force.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski