Showtime Networks and Paramount Parks Team Up For Promotion With Local Cable Affiliates

Showtime Networks and Paramount Parks Team Up For Promotion With Local Cable Affiliates

NEW YORK, May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Showtime Networks and Paramount Parks, both divisions of Viacom Inc., have joined forces for a second time on an acquisition/awareness campaign to kick off in June and run into July. The campaign, which offers consumers two free tickets to Paramount's Carowinds in North Carolina and a buy one ticket and get one free offer (with up to four free tickets!) to Paramount's Kings Island in Cincinnati, when they subscribe to SHOWTIME, is being done in conjunction with Time Warner Cable's Carolina divisions including Raleigh, Charlotte and Columbia, and Insight Communications' divisions serving Cincinnati (Ohio), Columbus (Ohio), Indianapolis (Ind.), Lexington (Ky) and Louisville (Ky).

The promotion will target households who don't currently subscribe to cable, cable households without Showtime Networks services, and analog households, in the hopes of upgrading them to digital and Showtime Networks services.

"This promotion is a win-win for all parties concerned. Not only will it drive SHOWTIME subscriptions for the network, but it will drive digital penetration for the Time Warner and Insight cable systems. Additionally, it will generate awareness of Paramount Parks' thrilling rides including the BORG Assimilator(TM), the Carolinas' first flying coaster and Nickelodeon Central which is now five times bigger at Paramount's Carowinds and the new ITALIAN JOB: Stunt Track where you can dodge collisions, race down subway stairs, and drive through sewer pipes all in your very own Mini Cooper at Paramount's Kings Island," stated Geof Rochester, Senior Vice President, Marketing at Showtime Networks.

Consumers who sign up for SHOWTIME during the promotional period will be treated to hit movies including The Stepford Wives, The Manchurian Candidate and Fahrenheit 9/11, as well as explosive Championship Boxing, concerts, comedy specials and much more. Plus new subscribers will get to see the premiere of two new SHOWTIME Original Series: Weeds and Barbershop on August 10th.

The promotion will be supported with direct mail, TV/Radio spots, newspaper ads, and website banners. Plus there will even be an incentive contest for cable system employees where they will have a chance to win free tickets to the Parks.

Paramount Parks is a leading developer and operator of world-class theme parks and location-based attractions, entertaining more than 13 million guests annually. The company currently owns and operates five of the most popular theme parks in North America including: Paramount Canada's Wonderland (Toronto, Ontario, Canada); Paramount's Carowinds (Charlotte, N.C.); Paramount's Great America (Santa Clara, Calif.); Paramount's Kings Dominion (Richmond, Va.); and Paramount's Kings Island (Cincinnati, Ohio). The company also developed and manages the award-winning STAR TREK: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton (Las Vegas, Nev.) and manages Bonfante Gardens horticultural theme park (Gilroy, Calif.); CBS Television City at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas, Nev.); and Terra Mitica theme park (Benidorm, Valencia, Spain). More information about Paramount Parks is available at http://www.paramountparks.com/.

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), THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(TM) and FLIX ON DEMAND. 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.

http://sho.com/pressonline

Source: Showtime Networks Inc.

CONTACT: Joan Ziff of Showtime Networks, +1-212-708-1590, or
joan.ziff@showtime.net

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

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