The Hives to star in new Finish Line campaign

INDIANAPOLIS The Finish Line and Nike have teamed up for a new marketing campaign featuring the band The Hives. The campaign, launching Aug. 3, includes a national television spot running on MTV, ESPN, BET, Comedy Central and on Web sites such as YouTube, along with the opportunity to try Nike+, unique in-store signage including a new Nike+ fixture, a store window feature and 700,000 free Apple iTunes downloads for consumer try-ons.

The Hives will star in the TV spot, which highlights the features of Nike+, a program that enables consumers to track their performance using their iPod nanos.

"The spot allows us to literally put the consumer inside the Nike+ experience and showcases how combining music and sport is changing the face of running," said Kevin Flynn, senior vp of marketing at Finish Line. "This is one of the largest marketing efforts we have launched at one time with Nike, and we believe the campaign helps bring to life the comprehensive Nike+ experience consumers will have at Finish Line."

Launched last year in partnership with Apple, Nike+ enables the iPod nano to talk to Nike+ ready running shoes through the wireless Nike+iPod Sport Kit. Data on time, distance, calories burned and pace is stored in the nano and is easily downloaded through iTunes to nikeplus.com. Nikeplus.com users not only can track their own data, but also challenge others and participate in online forums.