---

Goodyear's Introduction of S. American Airship Exceeds Expectations

16 February 1999

Goodyear's Introduction of South American Airship Exceeds Expectations    

    AKRON, Ohio, Feb. 16 -- Last year marked the introduction of
the world-famous Goodyear airships in South America.
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990216/CLTU002 )
    For the first time ever, the continent had its own blimp, the Spirit of
the Americas, which has already become a familiar sight on Brazilian
television.
    The airship was launched in Rio de Janeiro at about the same time Goodyear
was adding two new blimps in Europe.
    "We have been extremely pleased with the exposure we have received in the
major newspapers, radio and television," said John Polhemus, vice president of
the tiremaker's Latin America region.
    "This is due in no small part to a very dedicated team from Goodyear
Brazil that is maximizing its presence in our largest country."
    Like its North American counterparts, the Spirit of the Americas supports
television coverage the United States ships already provide on a global scale.
The South American aerial ambassador concentrates on major televised sports
such as soccer, golf, auto racing, and other highly visible events, as well as
other Goodyear marketing and community relations activities.
    "The Spirit of the Americas' entry into Goodyear's worldwide blimp armada
was extremely successful," commented Polhemus.  The Sprit of the Americas
spent 80 percent of its time in Brazil and the remainder in Argentina and
Uruguay.  Flying fewer than nine months in 1998, the airship aligned itself
with Brazil's top television network, TV Globo, and was a fixture at the most
important soccer games and social events the country had to offer.  The
airship also appeared on a prime time soap opera with an estimated audience of
more than 40 million people.
    "During the New Year's Eve celebration in Rio de Janeiro, the Spirit of
the Americas flew above the estimated 2.5 million people attending the event,"
said Wittman.  The blimp transmitted television images to the largest
Brazilian television network for more than 120 million viewers.