First-Ever 'Fanisode' Successfully Scripted by Fans of 'THE L WORD(R)'

First-Ever 'Fanisode' Successfully Scripted by Fans of 'THE L WORD(R)'

Online Community Votes on Network-Sanctioned, Consumer-Generated Script, Attracting Fans and Sponsors

LOS ANGELES, April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Showtime Networks Inc. and FanLib announced today that fans of THE L WORD(R) have completed the first network-sanctioned, fan-written script for an existing series.

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

The collaborative writing contest launched on February 3, when millions of fans of THE L WORD(R) were invited to write, read, rate and discuss short scenes based on an instructive "scene mission" provided by a member of the writing team from the hit cable series. Fans submitted their original scenes, the online community voted, and at the end of each week, the most popular fan-submitted scene was added to the script in progress. The process repeated each week with a new "scene mission" until the entire script was completed.

The week of the fanisode's launch, Yahoo!'s Buzz Log tracked a 26% increase in THE L WORD(R)-related searches, and Showtime announced that ratings jumped 51% over the previous season. "Fans of THE L WORD(R) are among the most creative and passionate around," said Rob Hayes, General Manager, Digital Media at Showtime Networks Inc. "The success of this event proves that the combination of fan fiction and network support creates a powerful two-way relationship between the fans and their favorite series."

"The FanLib fanisode allowed Showtime to tap the power of consumer-generated media in a way that thrilled fans, heightened the buzz around the show and pleased sponsors of the online event," said Chris Williams, co-creator of FanLib and a former executive at Yahoo!, Inc. "The fanisode created a thriving community and marketers were able to associate their brands with this desirable demographic in a completely new way."

The fanisode was tremendously engaging to the online community. During the eight week contest the site logged 175,000 visits and generated over 3,000,000 page views. Fans spent tremendous amounts of time on the site creating over 18 page views per visit.

All participants, including those who voted and those who submitted scenes, had the opportunity to win prizes provided by Showtime and event sponsors, such as saks.com, the online retail destination for esteemed retailer Saks Fifth Avenue, The W Las Vegas, FOX Searchlight's film "Imagine Me & You," LendingTree, and Love and Pride jewelry.

Jan Naugle, a practicing naturopath and aspiring novelist from Colorado Springs, CO was selected as grand-prize winner in a random drawing of all seven weekly winners. Naugle will be rewarded with a mentoring session via email on the topic of writing, with THE L WORD(R) Executive Producer/creator Ilene Chaiken.

Contributors of highly-rated scenes and other winners were featured prominently online during the event, giving them a taste of online fame. Showtime and FanLib will publish a free commemorative eZine (a downloadable digital magazine) featuring the completed script, plus a number of alternative scenes and editorial features including profiles of the winning contributors and other participants. The eZine will be distributed online to all of the participants and voters and other members of the show's online community as a pass-along memento of the event.

Showtime and the producers of THE L WORD(R) have the option to produce the finished script. THE L WORD(R) has been renewed for a fourth season and stars Jennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, Mia Kirshner, Katherine Moennig, Leisha Hailey, Rachel Shelley and Pam Grier.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates 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(TM), SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(TM) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(TM). SNI also is an owner of 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.

FanLib(R) is driven by a simple idea -- People powered entertainment. Our unique software and services unleash the creativity of entertainment fans and keep our customers at the forefront of entertainment, marketing and technology. In synch with the Participation Age, FanLib's community-driven online experiences produce consumer-generated media that is ready for the marketplace. The result: More value for marketers, more manageability for producers and, most importantly, more fun for fans. Conceived by veteran film writer/director Craig Singer and developed by online entertainment pioneer David B. Williams, the patent-pending FanLib technology empowers mass audiences to create quality stories and scripts collectively and democratically. FanLib is a division of My2Centences LLC(R), a provider of entertainment, technology and marketing solutions founded in 2001 by Craig Singer and former Yahoo! executive Chris Williams. On the Web: http://www.fanlib.com/.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060131/SHOWTIMELOGO
Source: Showtime Networks Inc.

CONTACT: Steve Spignese of Beck Media & Marketing, +1-310-689-7363,
steve@beckmedia.com, for FanLib; or Stu Zakim, +1-212-708-1590,
stuart.zakim@showtime.net, for Showtime Networks

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

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