Showtime Taps Penny Reiss in Newly Created Position of Vice President, Product Integration

Showtime Taps Penny Reiss in Newly Created Position of Vice President, Product Integration

NEW YORK, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Underscoring Showtime Networks' efforts to develop strategic product integration relationships that will complement its marketing campaigns for its original programming, Showtime has hired Penny Reiss in the newly created position of Vice President, Product Integration for the network. Reiss, who will be based out of Showtime Networks' Los Angeles office, will report both to Melinda Benedek, Executive Vice President, Business Affairs and Production, as well as Len Fogge, Executive Vice President, Creative & Marketing.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050302/NYW107 )

Reiss will be responsible for coordinating the day-to-day responsibilities associated with product integration. This includes forging product alliances, commercial tie-ins and merchandising opportunities with outside companies. She is also charged with creating relationships with external marketing partners such as retailers, major websites, consumer product companies and others.

Melinda Benedek stated, "Penny is a dynamo who understands the complex interplay among creative, production and marketing drives in this new and evolving arena. We look forward to working with her."

Len Fogge added, "In this extremely competitive and crowded marketplace, it has become increasingly important for us to extend our reach via non- traditional outlets such as branded entertainment. Through product integration, the marketing and programming groups at Showtime Networks will work even more closely together. I am confident that Penny will be instrumental in building relationships in the community."

Most recently, Reiss served as Founder/President for R Brand, Inc., an entertainment marketing boutique firm created in August 2003, which included clients such as Game Show Network (GSN), Miramax Films, and Paramount Home Entertainment. Deals included a GSN Get Schooled Tour and a first-ever partnership with leading education and test prep company Sparknotes.com, a part of Barnes & Noble. Prior to that, she was at Paramount Pictures where she served as Worldwide Marketing Partnerships Manager. During her tenure at Paramount, she brokered cross-promotional pacts between "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" and AT&T Wireless, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and Skyy Vodka, "Star Trek: Nemesis" and Activision, "as well as "The Wild Thornberrys Movie" and Kraft Lunchables, among others. Prior to Paramount, Reiss worked as a Sales and Marketing Manager for the global marketing/entertainment agency RPMC, Inc., and for music publicity firm MSO (Mitch Schneider Organization), assisting musical acts such as David Bowie, Dwight Yoakum and Collective Soul.

Reiss received her Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from University of Kansas. She is also a member of the NARAS and EMA.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050302/NYW107 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Showtime Networks Inc.

CONTACT: Joan Ziff, Trade PR, +1-212-708-1590, joan.ziff@showtime.net

Web site: http://www.sho.com/

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