SHOWTIME Networks Participates in Major Gay Pride Events Throughout The U.S.

SHOWTIME Networks Participates in Major Gay Pride Events Throughout The U.S.

NEW YORK, June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Showtime Networks, which has given consumers a place to watch quality lesbian and gay programming with the SHOWTIME original series THE L WORD and QUEER AS FOLK, will serve as a sponsor for numerous gay and lesbian festivals and events during the 2005 Pride season. Beginning now and running through November, Showtime Networks will participate in approximately 20 pride events and festivals across the nation, attended by over 4 million LGBT people.

Showtime Networks has secured at least two booths at sponsored Pride festivals. Each booth will promote the groundbreaking series QUEER AS FOLK as well as the return of THE L WORD for a third season. Ilene Chaiken, the executive producer and creator of the hit series THE L WORD, will serve as one of the Grand Marshals at the San Francisco Pride Parade (June 26). Additionally, LGBT lobbyist Arlene Isaacson, who is featured in the SHOWTIME documentary SAME SEX AMERICA, will speak at the New York Pride Rally (June 19). Other Pride events include Los Angeles (June 12), Dallas (June 11), Boston (June 11), Washington D.C. (June 12), Philadelphia (June 12), Cleveland (June 18), Atlanta (June 24), Columbus (June 25), Seattle (June 25-26), Chicago (June 26), Raleigh (October 3), and more. In many instances, Showtime Networks will partner with LOGO (MTV Networks' television network for gay and lesbian viewers) as well as local affiliates. A complete list of Pride events and dates can be found on the Showtime Networks website at sho.com/pride.

Showtime Networks will also sponsor various gay and lesbian film festivals. This includes NewFest, an international gay and lesbian film festival held in New York City from June 2-12, in which the company serves as a Presenting Sponsor and an exclusive sponsor of the Showtime Vanguard Award. Showtime Networks will also be involved in three Los Angeles OutFest events including the 2005 Queer Brunch at Sundance as a presenting sponsor, and a major sponsor of Outfest Wednesdays, a weekly screening event, and an exclusive sponsor of OutFest 2005.

The company is also working with various advocacy groups as sponsors. This includes the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), in which as a silver sponsor, SHOWTIME will have recognition at 23 regional dinners and appear in HRC's quarterly newsmagazine entitled Equality. Additionally, Showtime Networks will be a Diamond Sponsor for the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Leadership Awards on June 13 in New York City which will honor former US Senator Tom Daschle.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) and FLIX(R), as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME(R) TOO(TM), SHOWTIME(R) SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME(R), SHOWTIME BEYOND(R), SHOWTIME NEXT(R), SHOWTIME WOMEN(R), SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE(R) and TMC xtra. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD(R), SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(R) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(TM). SNI operates and manages the premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL(R), which is a venture between NBC Universal, Robert Redford, and Showtime Networks Inc. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME(R) PPV. Additionally, the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.

Source: Showtime Networks

CONTACT: Joan Ziff, +1-212-708-1590, joan.ziff@showtime.net, or Brooks Jewell, +1-212-708-1380, brooks.jewell@showtime.net, both of Showtime Networks

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

------- Profile: Ent