SHOWTIME Launches Unprecedented Multiplatform Campaign for 'THE TUDORS'

SHOWTIME Launches Unprecedented Multiplatform Campaign for 'THE TUDORS'

NEW YORK, March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Showtime Networks Inc. announced today that it has released a full episode of THE TUDORS with over 60 multiplatform partners as part of the network's launch campaign of the second season of the series. THE TUDORS premieres on SHOWTIME this Sunday, March 30 at 9pm ET/PT.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060131/SHOWTIMELOGO)

The first episode of the second season will be available through the CBS Audience Network and in addition, can be seen on such sites as Yahoo, Amazon Unbox, NetFlix and MSN, television-centric sites such as TV.com and TVGuide.com, video aggregator sites such as YouTube and Veoh, social networking sites such as Gather.com, blogs and on iTunes via podcast. The episode is also available via mobile phones to subscribers of Verizon Wireless on the V CAST platform. SHOWTIME subscribers can also watch the episode on their affiliate website such as Comcast.net, DirecTV.com and Charter.net.

"The strategy to release a full episode on digital platforms has proven to be a very effective tool for SHOWTIME, not only increasing consumers' exposure to premium television programs, but also to help drive subscription to the network," said Robert Hayes, Senior Vice President, Showtime Digital Group. "We had a tremendously successful launch for THE TUDORS last year, and we have expanded the reach of the campaign to even more digital platforms this year. This is our most ambitious multiplatform push yet to subscribers and non subscribers and we expect to have a combined reach of over 190 million users," Hayes concluded.

To tap into the blogs, the network partnered with over 200 bloggers including bestweekever.com, BuzzSugar.com, Pink is The New Blog and PopBytes. The network also has launched multiple interactive applications for The Tudors:

-- "Bed, Wed, Behead." A Tudor's themed game was created specifically for Facebook, allowing members to rate their friends.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Tudors/12306525644

-- "The Great Tudors Mystery" humorous video campaign that lets people convince their friends that they are the rightful heir to King Henry VIII's fortune.

http://www.wkts-tv.com/

-- The Tudors Royal Portrait application lets users create, download and share personalized Tudor style portraits as widgets and desktop wallpapers.

http://thetudorsportrait.com/

-- The Tudors Wiki allows fans to fill in the ultimate guide to the characters, episodes, cast and themes from the show.

http://tudorswiki.sho.com/

-- The Tudors countdown widget is an embeddable flash application allowing users to watch the hours, minutes, seconds tick away until the premiere.

       http://www.sho.com/site/tudors/downloads.do     THE TUDORS premieres Sunday, March 30 at 9pm ET/PT.    ABOUT SHOWTIME NETWORKS  

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(R) and FLIX(R), as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2(TM), SHOWTIME(R) SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME(R), SHOWTIME BEYOND(R), SHOWTIME NEXT(R), SHOWTIME WOMEN(R), SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE(R) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL(R) XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(R) HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(R) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL(R) ON DEMAND. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL(R), a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. 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 PPV(R).

Photo: Newscom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060131/SHOWTIMELOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Showtime Networks Inc.

CONTACT: Stuart Zakim of Showtime Networks Inc.,
stuart.zakim@showtime.net, +1-212-708-1590

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

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Profile: International Entertainment