FOX Sports North Honors Military with “Operation Home Base” – 7 Week Campaign

In support of the First Lady’s national “Joining Forces” campaign, FOX Sports North launched a seven-week campaign in August, designed to pay tribute to local military. FOX Sports North also encouraged fans to show their support of the troops by sending “messages of thanks.” The finale aired on the ten year anniversary of September 11.

The seven week campaign was presented by Miller High Life and included the following:

• Eight military themed broadcasts from eight different locations in the FOX Sports North region

• Finale on Sunday, September 11 with a special tribute from the Minnesota National Guard Headquarters, the Minnesota State Capital and from a National Guard base in Kuwait.
• Numerous “messages of thanks” recorded by Twins players and coaches
• Endorsements by the Minnesota Governor, North Dakota Governor and celebrity Josh Duhamel

Operation Home Base was embraced across multiple platforms. FOX Sports North departments worked together to make the military tribute a success, highlights from each week of the campaign are outlined below.

FSNorth Troops Working Together

• Production:  Custom "Operation Home Base" in-game billboards, gameflow and lower thirds created. Multiple pregame interviews, in-booth interviews, features and in-game look-ins incorporated into telecasts.
• Marketing/OAP: Custom “Operation Home Base” promos and in-game drops created. Ran the national “Joining Forces” PSA.
• Website: Custom “Operation Home Base” webpage created on FOXsportsnorth.com, included link for viewers to submit “messages of thanks” to the military
• Social Media: Multiple weekly posts via Facebook and Twitter, encouraged fans to tune in to special telecasts and submit their “messages of thanks via FOXsportsnorth.com

Week 1: Aug. 7 from Duluth, MN, 148^th Fighter Wing

• Pregame interview: Members of the 148^th Fighter Wing talk about what it’s like to serve, WATCH
• Live look-ins:  In-game coverage of Twins viewing party at Duluth, MN military base 
•  In-booth interview: Doug Bley, Minnesota Patriot Guard
• Affiliate Involvement: Charter Communications attended viewing party, distributed ice cream to military members and family
• Messages of Thanks: Twins Manager, Ron Gardenhire-WATCH

Week 2:  Aug. 14 from North Dakota Air National Guard Base in Fargo, ND

• Pregame footage: Coverage of drill, airplanes, equipment and staff working at Air Base
• Look-ins: In-game coverage of Twins viewing party at Fargo, ND base
• Interview: North Dakota GovernorJack Dalrymple thanks the ND National Guard-WATCH
• Pregame Feature: Beyond the Yellow Ribbon organization-WATCH
• Messages of Thanks: Twins pitcher Nick Blackburn-WATCH

Week 3: Aug. 21 from Target Field

• Pregame Interview: Head of 135^th Agricultural Team, preparing to depart to Afghanistan-WATCH
• Pregame Interview: Miller High Life representative-WATCH  
• In-booth Interview: Pat Harris, Serving Our Troops
• Postgame Coverage: Military kids participate in postgame instructional -WATCH  

Week 4: Aug. 28 & Aug. 30 from the Minnesota State Fair

• Pregame Interviews: Military members at the Minnesota National Guard booth from the 2-147 Attack Battalion & 1/34^th BCT-WATCH
• Footage: “Military Appreciation Day” at the State Fair
• In-booth interview: Bill Popp, Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund
• Banner: Thousands of fans stopped by the FOX Sports North building  to sign a banner expressing their “messages of thanks" to military members

Week 6: Sept 4 & 5 from Minot, ND

• Pregame Interviews: Multiple people in Minot, ND who lost their homes earlier this year due to extreme flooding, organizer of “Minot Rising” benefit concert, etc.-WATCH
• Endorsement from celebrity Josh Duhamel: Appeared on Dan Patrick Show to talk about “Minot Rising” benefit concert, mentioned FOX Sports North’s involvement-LISTEN (3:05 mark)
• Live look-ins: Coverage of Black Eyed Peas  benefit concert in Minot, ND to help flood relief efforts-WATCH

Week 7: Sept. 11 from Minnesota National Guard Headquarter, Minnesota State Capital & National Guard Base in Kuwait

• Special one-hour pregame show:  Live coverage from Minnesota National Guard Headquarters, including multiple interviews with military members remembering 9/11-WATCH 
• Pregame Interview: General Nash of the Minnesota National Guard and Governor Mark Dayton talk about the importance of our local military 
• Special Footage:  Numerous live talk backs held throughout the telecast with soldiers stationed in Kuwait-WATCH
• In-game coverage: Look-ins of 9/11 anniversary ceremonies happening at the MN State Capital
• Feature: Tee it up for the Troops golf tournament-WATCH