188% Increase In Unit Sales Results In Partnership Upgrade With Rabbitohs

The TCL Group, along with its smartphone brand Alcatel, has entered into a major dual agreement with the South Sydney Rabbitohs until 2020, after doubling its local revenue in 2018.

This year, Alcatel introduced a wide range of sub-$200 devices that has clearly resonated with Australian consumers, delivering the brand a record year locally with a massive 188% increase in unit sales and effectively more than doubling its local revenue in 2018.

Having sponsored the club for the past seven years, the new major partnership will see Alcatel move to the front of its jersey for all away games for the 2019 and 2020 NRL seasons, while the parent company TCL, will be visible on the lower back of home game jerseys.

Other benefits will include LED signage, corporate hospitality and other money-can’t-buy benefits that will enable Alcatel to further drive its marketing initiatives associated with this partnership, including involvement in the club’s extensive community and charity work.

VP and Regional Managing Director, South East Asia & Pacific, for Alcatel, Sam Skontos, is thrilled with the growth of the partnership.

“This is an exciting day for Alcatel and the broader TCL Group in Australia as we grow our partnership with the Rabbitohs into one that will see the team proudly wearing our brand across their chest for at least the next two seasons,” Skontos said.

“While brand exposure may seem like the most obvious benefit, our long-term relationship with the club means that we have also seen first-hand the crucial role this club plays in their local community.

“The unheralded work behind the scenes with Souths Cares, their youth and indigenous initiatives is also very important to us.”

“Our brand fits the rugby league market perfectly, and our journey as an organisation mirrors in many ways that of Souths over the better part of the last decade.”

Rabbitohs CEO, Blake Solly, is excited about the possibilities this partnership with Alcatel can bring to both organisations.

“Alcatel have been a highly valued partner of the Rabbitohs for eight years now and their commitment to our Club is nothing short of outstanding,” Mr Solly said.

“To see them increase their involvement through the away jersey partnership is a real boon for our Club, as we share so many of the same values and vision for our businesses.”

2019 will mark the eighth consecutive year that Alcatel has sponsored the iconic NRL club and today’s announcement marks the start of the next phase for the Alcatel brand locally.