GSN Promotes the Fifth Season Launch of LINGO With Innovative Contestant Marketing Events

GSN Promotes the Fifth Season Launch of LINGO With Innovative Contestant Marketing Events

Co-Host Shandi Finnessey Hosts a Five-Market Contestant Search Presented by Purina's Friskies Brand

Network Organizes an Online Lingo Tournament Culminating With Eight Online Winners Appearing on the Show as Contestants

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- To help promote the start of the fifth season of GSN's popular word-guessing game, LINGO, the network for games has developed two marketing campaigns that present unique opportunities for viewers to become actual show contestants on the sixth edition of the series. These opportunities include a local market contestant search and an online LINGO Grand Prize Tournament, the announcement was made today by Dena Kaplan, Senior Vice President of Marketing, GSN.

LINGO co-host Shandi Finnessey is traveling cross country to host five LINGO Contestant Search events presented by GSN and national ad sales sponsor Friskies. As the host, Finnessey will interview event participants in order to find two people in each market who will receive a trip to Los Angeles and an opportunity to become actual contestants on the series' sixth season. While there, she will also sign autographs and take photos with the event attendees.

GSN's second contestant opportunity is presented nationwide to all eligible participants playing in the online LINGO Grand Prize Tournament. Beginning April 3 through May 28, the top scoring player in each week's LINGO tournament will win a trip to Los Angeles and an opportunity to compete on the show during the next season. GSN will give away eight Los Angeles prize packages in total and will be promoting the tournament through on-air promos, emails to GSN members, banners on GSN.com and all websites that include GSN Cash Games.

"LINGO is a fun, addictive word game whether people are watching at home or playing the game online. We are giving fans around the country both -- online LINGO players via the LINGO Grand Prize Tournament as well as local LINGO viewers with the Contestant Search -- an opportunity to test their smarts for a chance to compete on the next season of the show," said Kaplan.

"We are also very pleased to be working with our national presenting sponsor, Purina's Friskies, and to be co-branding the Contestant Search events and partnering online with our cable affiliates, Time Warner and Comcast," continued Kaplan.

The contestant search will be promoted through various forms of media including on-air national spots tagged with Purina Friskies and email notifications to GSN members. Also, GSN is partnering with local Comcast and Time Warner affiliates to run cross channel spots. On the local level, GSN will send out emails to their member database in each market, display posters in malls, distribute fliers and post messages on local websites. All marketing will drive consumers to GSN.com/Lingo where more details about the LINGO Contestant Search and Grand Prize Tournament are presented.

In each market, consumers will audition by taking a LINGO word test and then answer specific questions for an on-camera interview. The search will begin on April 17 in Boston and from there will visit Sacramento on April 22, Philadelphia on April 29, Akron on May 6 and Dallas on May 13. At each location, GSN will distribute Friskies samples and GSN LINGO premium items including LINGO stress balls and t-shirts. (Note: Actual locations and times follow.)

Finnessey (Miss USA 2004), originally from St. Louis, has a degree in psychology and has written a children's book, The Furrtails, as part of her goal to integrate developmentally-challenged children into regular classrooms. She is also currently at work on her second book, Suzanna the Banana.

Legendary host Chuck Woolery is the host of LINGO, which returns for its fifth season Monday, April 3 and airs Monday through Friday 7:30-8:00 PM, ET. New to this season is a progressive LINGO jackpot, which is won every time a winning team gets "Lingo" on the first ball. The jackpot starts at $10,000 and grows by $1,000 each time it's not won.

To coincide with the new season, the network has created new LINGO premium items that can be purchased through GSN.com/Lingo. Also, GSN's affinity program, GSN Rewards, is promoting the new season with special merchandise and prizes for those who are playing along with the network's interactive offerings.

LINGO CONTESTANT SEARCH SCHEDULE

Market/Affilite Venue Date Time
Boston/Comcast WZLX Finish Line Festival -- April 17 10am - 2pm
Boylston Plaza in front
of the Prudential Center

Sacramento/ Westfield Galleria April 22 2pm - 5pm
Comcast at Roseville Center Court

Philadelphia/ King of Prussia Mall April 29 2pm - 5pm
Comcast Nordstrom Court at the Plaza

Akron/
Time Warner Summit Mall May 6 2pm - 5pm
Center Court

Dallas/Comcast Stonebriar Centre May 13 2pm - 5pm
Center Court

GSN, the Network for Games, is the only U.S. television network dedicated to game-related programming and interactive game playing. The network features game shows, reality series, documentaries, alternative sports programs and casino games. As the industry leader in interactivity, GSN features over 100 hours per week of interactive programming, which allows viewers a chance to win prizes by playing along with GSN's televised games via GSN.com. Reaching 58 million Nielsen homes, GSN is distributed in the U.S. through all major cable systems and satellite providers. The network is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. For further media information, visit GSN's press website at corp.gsn.com.

About Friskies

Friskies brand cat food offers a complete line of great-tasting and 100% complete and balanced nutritional foods that deliver more choices than any other cat food brand, including over 60 wet, dry and treat varieties. Friskies is manufactured by Nestle Purina PetCare Company, one of the leading global players in the pet care industry. Nestle Purina PetCare Company promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The North American headquarters for Nestle Purina PetCare Company is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri. The company is part of Swiss-based Nestle S.A. -- the world's largest food company.

For more information about Friskies brand cat food, log onto www.friskies.com.

LINGO CONTESTANT SEARCH: Must be legal resident of the U.S. 18 years of age or older to audition for LINGO. GSN will select up to two (2) people per event to appear on LINGO. Persons who have previously appeared on LINGO or who have appeared on any other game show, contest show or reality show within one year of 1/17/06 are ineligible to participate. Selection decisions will be made by GSN in its sole discretion and shall be final and binding and not subject to appeal. Appearance opportunity includes airfare to Los Angeles and hotel accommodations. If GSN elects not to produce any additional episodes of LINGO, selected participants will get something other than the trip. See Participation Agreement at GSN.com/Lingo for additional eligibility restrictions, travel descriptions/restrictions and complete details. Void where prohibited.

LINGO GRAND PRIZE TOURNAMENT: Tournament open only to legal residents of the U.S., 18 years of age or older as of date of entry. An entry fee of $1.00 per game will apply, and users can play as often as they like. Void in Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, South Dakota and Vermont, all U.S. territories and possessions (including Puerto Rico and Guam), and where prohibited by law. Tournament consists of eight separate weekly grand prize tournaments that will begin on or about 4/3/06 and end on or about 5/28/06. Different entry deadlines apply for each tournament. If GSN elects not to produce any additional episodes of LINGO, the grand prize will consist solely of a trip to Los Angeles and the applicable winner's cash prize winnings. Click on LINGO at http://gsn.skilljam.com/front/front.asp for weekly entry deadlines, entry fees, and grand prize tournament explanation. See Official Rules at GSN.com/Lingo for complete details, including additional eligibility requirements and prize descriptions/restrictions.

-GSN-

Source: GSN

CONTACT: Shannon Peterson of GSN, +1-310-255-6937, speterson@gsn.com

Web site: http://corp.gsn.com/
http://gsn.com/Lingo
http://gsn.skilljam.com/front/front.asp
http://www.friskies.com/

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