According to reports, Microsoft is going to spend $500 million in order to promote the Kinect motion sensing device. To put that in perspective, that’s just about as much as what they spent to launch the original Xbox in 2000.
“Kinect is the largest, most integrated marketing initiative in Xbox history, bigger than its launch,” said Robert Matthews, general manager of global marketing communications for Xbox. “We are going to be spending millions to launch this globally.”
Expect to see Kinect branding on 400 million cans of Pepsi and Diet Pepsi and 60 million cereal and snack boxes from Kellogg’s. Anticipate a YouTube homepage takeover, promotions on Nickelodeon and Disney digital properties, TV spots on Dancing with the Stars and Glee, print ads for People and InStyle and an outdoor event at Times Square. 7,000 retailers will open at midnight to sell the Kinect.
Source: New York Post {link no longer active}
