Oct 3, 2008 6:05 AM, PROMO Xtra, By Richard Tedesco

Sharp Electronics is teaming with TBS to encourage fans to turn out their lights during the fourth game of the American League Championship Series, while offering them a shot at winning a big-screen TV.

Sharp is promoting its “Lights Out Challenge” with a series of 45-second TV spots that debuted during Wednesday night’s initial round of Major League Baseball playoff action on TBS. Those spots, which also highlight the electronic giant’s energy-saving LCD TVs, will continue running on the cable network until the ALCS fourth game on Oct. 14.

The spots direct fans to a TBS micro-site, to register for a chance to win a 46-inch or 42-inch Sharp Aquos TV. They can also register to participate in the partial blackout by indicating how many lights they intend to turn off and logging in their zip code.

“The end goal is to increase awareness and ultimately increase sales,” said Sharp spokesman Chris Loncto. “It really fits perfectly for us.”

Sharp Aquos is MLB’s official HDTV.

The fourth game of the ALCS is typically a pivotal contest in the seven-game series likely to draw a sizable TV audience. That gives Sharp an effective prime-time platform to push its LCD TV products in a prime buying season with the advent of the baseball playoffs, the National Football League season and the imminent holiday shopping season.

Loncto noted that the company also is intent to present its energy-saving perspective: “One of the core philosophies of Sharp is to present products that are energy-saving and energy-creating,” he said.

A U.S. map on the micro-site will track which states have turned out the most lights. TBS announcers will reveal how much energy was saved and which states led the effort during the post-game show on the cable network.

Since the TV spot aired, 5,450 fans have registered, pledging to turn off 14,260 lights in more than 40 states.

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