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SPONSORSHIP & THE SPIEL

We offer two different sponsorship opportunities:

1. Sponsor an episode of The Spiel

2. Sponsor our GenCon or Essen convention coverage

SPONSOR AN EPISODE OF THE SPIEL

We produce 15 regular episodes of The Spiel each season. Each episode releases on Monday every other week. The ad rates below are based on a base audience of 5,000 listeners per show. Release dates for our 2015 Episode Schedule are here.

Our Audience

Many in our audience download & listen as soon as new episodes are released. This initial audience is at least 3,000 listeners within two weeks of release. In 2014, we averaged over 12,000 downloads each month.  This initial audience does not tell the whole story, though. Because episodes are always available and many listeners do not download each episode immediately and because new listeners continue to discover the show, the audience for each episode increases significantly over time, often doubling or tripling. To account for these listeners, on average each episode of The Spiel reaches at least 5,000 listeners.

This also means each ad has an extended lifespan (and value) well beyond its inital release date. Past sponsors like Time Well Spent and Starlit Citadel still receive orders on a regular basis from ads that ran several years ago. 

SPONSOR BENEFITS

AUDIO ADS

We mention you as a sponsor at the beginning of the show.

We do a 3-5 minute old-time radio commercial where we talk about your business, product or service  - OR -  we play a pre-recorded commercial you provide (your choice).

We thank you and mention you as a sponsor at the end of the show

WEB ADS (free)

We include a graphic ad on our web site (right here!) linked to your business.  

This ad is provided at no additional charge; no monthly or per/click fees!

TWITTER/FACEBOOK POST (free)

We will post one sponsor shout-out on Twitter and Facebook including links to your business.

INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION

We only accept 3 sponsors for the show at any one time. This means your ads are not lost among the crowds.  Being a sponsor on The Spiel gives your business an opportunity to stand out and insures we will give each ad the individual attention and service it deserves.

DIRECT, PERSONAL CONNECTION

Podcasts offer a more direct and personal way to connect with people. Sponsoring the Spiel gives you access to an active, responsive community of listeners with a shared passion for games including many people new to the hobby and plenty of lifelong enthusiasts.  Families, teachers, scientists, artists, professionals, students, and retirees all count themselves among our audience. This audience is global. 25% of our listeners are outside the United States. Put simply, if you are involved in the business of games, The Spiel reaches your customers in ways that traditional advertising cannot.

2015 EPISODE SPONSORSHIP RATES

We offer sponsorship rates ranging from a single episode to a full season of shows. Significant discounts are available, based on the duration of the sponsorship.  In most cases, payment for sponsorship is made in 2 installments: one prior to the sponsorship period and one at the end. 

For game retailers, we also offer a cash/store credit payment option. 70% of the rate is due in cash; 30% can be paid in store credit. Again, payments are made in two installments before and after the duration of the ads.

SPONSOR GENCON OR ESSEN
CONVENTION COVERAGE

We attend GenCon and Essen, the largest game conventions in North America and Europe, each year and record interviews live from the trade show floor during the event. From these recordings, we produce 28 interview episodes for each convention which are released over the course of a week (4 episodes per day for 7 days).  

Our convention coverage includes interviews with award winning game publishers and designers from around the world as well as new up-and-coming companies. The interviews delve into the design process and game development as well as the background and backstory of the people behind the games. 

Here's a link to our 2015 GenCon coverage and our 2014 Essen Coverage.

ATTEND THE CON WITHOUT LEAVING HOME

Our coverage gives listeners a way to attend the convention without being there. You get to learn about dozens and dozens of new games without the typical sales pitch or crowds to contend with. 

THE NUMBERS

In 2015, our GenCon coverage had 60,000 downloads within the first 3 weeks of release.

In 2014, our Essen week coverage had over 50,000 downloads within the first month of release.

We provide timely coverage for events that generate intense amounts of interest around the world.

SPONSOR BENEFITS

AUDIO ADS

Your sponsorship ad will appear in the first minute of the interview episode. 

The ad will be a 30 second spot mentioning your business and/or web site

You may provide ad copy (3-4 sentences).

We can help develop or write ad copy if you provide appropriate details.

WEB ADS (free)

We include a graphic ad on our web site (thespiel.net) linked to your business.

SOCIAL MEDIA (free)

We will post one sponsor shout-out to Twitter and Facebook, including a link to your business.

2015 GENCON/ESSEN SPONSORSHIP RATES

We offer sponsorship ad packages for 7, 14, or 28 ads for GenCon or Essen Week coverage. Significant discounts are available, based on the number of ads purchased. 

Convention sponsorship ads must be paid in full before the convention coverage airs. 

Because GenCon and Essen episodes are released over a single week, we are happy to divide up the 7 and 14 ad packages so ads will appear in episodes throughout the week. If you’d rather have an intensive burst with 7 or 14 ads in a row, that’s fine, too.

INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION

We only accept 3 sponsors for each convention episode. This means your ads are not lost among the crowds.  This gives your business an opportunity to stand out and insures we will give each ad the individual attention and service it deserves.

Questions? Contact us!

I am happy to answer any questions you might have about our show, our rates, or any of the above. We’re willing to work with you on a deal that best suits us both. Feel free to contact me any time. Thanks for your interest.

Stephen Conway 

email: stephen@thespiel.net 

phone: 317-843-9744 

twitter: @thespiel

boardgamegeek: sconway