USA Network Launches 'The Big Lots! Character Hunt' a Co-Branded On-Air and Online Search for a Chance to Win $10,000

USA Network Launches 'The Big Lots! Character Hunt' a Co-Branded On-Air and Online Search for a Chance to Win $10,000

USA Network's First Ever Co-Branded Sweepstakes Runs November 12 - December 24 With Two More In 2007

NEW YORK, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- USA Network will launch its first-ever co-branded sweepstakes with Big Lots, the nation's largest broadline closeout retailer, it was announced today by Chris McCumber, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Brand Strategy. The Big Lots! Character Hunt is a comprehensive co-branded on-air and online treasure hunt that will drive users to biglots.usanetwork.com where they will participate in six distinct USA character hunts. Prizes include a chance to win a $10,000 grand prize and one of 30 first and second place prizes. The promotion will begin on November 12 and run through December 24, 2006.

To promote the sweepstakes and drive viewers to the site, USA Network will design two 20-second promotional spots. The site will feature entry forms, rules and registration information and a link to www.biglots.com. This is the first of three treasure hunts, with two slated for 2007.

How To Play The Big Lots! Character Hunt:

For each Character Hunt, users will log onto biglots.usanetwork.com and register for the hunt. Once registered, they will be directed to a co-branded landing page that details how to begin searching for the six mystery characters from USA Network's top original series. At the completion of each hunt, the mystery character will be revealed and the user will automatically be entered for their chance to win the $10,000 grand prize. Other prizes include 10 Apple 60GB Color iPods with video loaded with four episodes of USA Network original series programming. Second place prizing includes 20 $50 Big Lots! gift cards. Winners will be announced in January.

The Big Lots! Character Hunt is another example of how USA Network is integrating its successful Characters Welcome campaign with the brand attributes of its clients. The hunt also furthers the brand by integrating actors from some of the network's original programs, including the award- winning MONK, THE DEAD ZONE, THE 4400, NASHVILLE STAR, WWE and PSYCH.

USA NETWORK is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. The #1 basic cable network across the board in 3Q06, USA Network is seen in 90 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

Source: USA Network

CONTACT: Jean Guerin, +1-212-664-8988, jean.guerin@nbcuni.com; or Lynn
Weiss, +1-818-777-6682, lynn.weiss@nbcuni.com

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

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