Network Also To Promote Concert Via
National Sweepstakes and Local Radio Promotions

 

New York, NY, March 1, 2004 -- Music enthusiasts everywhere will have a chance to collect $25 gift cards from FYE -- For Your Entertainment music stores when they subscribe to SHOWTIME in time to see multi-platinum superstar Britney Spears live in concert on Sunday, March 28 at 9 PM (ET)*. The SHOWTIME event, which will be available in HD, will take place at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, one of the stops on the first leg of Britney's World Tour 2004.

Showtime will provide certain new subscribers with $25 gift cards that can be used in FYE retail stores or online at fye.com.  In turn, FYE -- For Your Entertainment will promote the Britney Spears live concert on Showtime via in-store tactics such as posters, counter cards, shelf talkers and "listening and viewing stations" in FYE locations nationwide. 

 

The concert and FYE gift card tie-in will be promoted via national cable TV, national and local radio and print advertising.  The campaign will also be promoted by many of Showtime's affiliates using cross-channel spots, direct mail and other tactics.  Consumers will also be alerted to the campaign via targeted email blasts and on both the Showtime website located at SHO.com and FYE's website at fye.com.

 

In addition, Showtime has created a national sweepstakes to generate tune-in for the Britney Spears concert.  One grand-prize winner will receive front row tickets to the concert, round trip air fare and hotel accommodations.  The sweepstakes will be promoted both on SHOWTIME and its multiplex channels, in blast emails and in the FYE stores and at fye.com.   

 

On a local level, the network will generate excitement for the Britney Spears event with radio promotions in over 20 markets, where consumers will have a chance to win Britney-themed gift packs as well as trips and tickets to the live concert event. Showtime is teaming up with Orbitz (a leading online travel company) and Sonesta Hotels and Suites Coconut Grove to provide transportation and hotel accommodations to the national sweepstakes and local radio promotion winners.

 

The promotional partnership between Showtime and FYE was brokered by Civic Entertainment Group, a public-spirited marketing and promotions agency based in New York.

 

Trans World Entertainment is a leading specialty retailer of music and video products. The Company operates over 850 retail stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and e-commerce sites, www.fye.com and www.wherehouse.com. In addition to its mall locations, operated primarily under the FYE brand, the Company also operates freestanding locations under the names Coconuts Music and Movies, Strawberries Music, Wherehouse, CD World, Spec's and Planet Music.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL" and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® TOO", SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC xtra.  SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD®, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND". SNI operates and manages the premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL®, which is owned by SNI, Robert Redford and Universal Studios. 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.   Additionally, the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME EXTREME® is available in Spain through a joint venture with Media Park and the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.

 

* The concert is tape delayed on the West Coast