The Krystal Company and FSN South Ink Broadcast Partnership for World Hamburger Eating Championship

The Krystal Company and FSN South Ink Broadcast Partnership for World Hamburger Eating Championship

FSN South to televise Krystal Square Off V finals live from Chattanooga during one-hour broadcast on Sept. 28, 2008 at 2 p.m. ET

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Krystal Company and FSN South announced today a broadcast partnership for the Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship ("Krystal Square Off V"), one of the majors in the sport of competitive eating and the only world hamburger-eating championship sanctioned by Major League Eating, the world governing body of all stomach-centric sports.

FSN South, the nation's largest regional sports network, will televise the finals of Krystal Square Off V live from Chattanooga, Tenn. during a one-hour program on Sept. 28, 2008 at 2 p.m. ET. The contest will feature all of the world's best eaters, including American sensation Joey Chestnut and Japanese eating legend Takeru Kobayashi, as they compete for the top burger title and a $50,000 total cash purse, the largest in competitive eating history.

In addition to the finals, FSN South will also televise weekly updates, beginning Aug. 23, from the eating competition's seven-city qualifying tour, where competitors battle for one of the coveted seats at the Krystal Square Off V final table in Chattanooga.

"FSN South and Krystal are lifestyle brands and products that are widely recognized throughout the South," said Jeff Genthner, senior vice president and general manager of FSN South and SportSouth. "The opportunity to partner with Krystal in this truly Southern event featuring internationally recognized competitors is a natural fit for our respective brands and reinforces our commitment of localism for the community we serve."

Last year at Krystal Square Off IV, Chestnut shocked the competitive eating world and a live audience of 10,000 people by eating an unfathomable 103 Krystal Hamburgers in eight minutes, shattering Takeru Kobayashi's previous world record mark of 97. Due to a debilitating jaw injury, Kobayashi, a three-time Krystal champion, did not compete in last year's final. With Kobayashi confirmed to appear at Krystal Square Off V, this year's showdown is the most hotly anticipated event in competitive eating this year.

"We couldn't be more thrilled to have Krystal Square Off V televised this year for the first time on FSN South," said Brad Wahl, vice president of marketing, The Krystal Company. "FSN South is the leading sports network in the South, and together, we're committed to providing eating fans the best coverage possible, from weekly updates during the qualifying circuit to a full, one-hour live program on the day of the finals featuring the 'must see' rematch between Chestnut and Kobayashi."

Krystal Square Off V now joins the ranks of MLB, NHL, NBA and NCAA on FSN South, which reaches more than 12 million cable and satellite homes in seven states in the Southeast.

THE KRYSTAL COMPANY

Founded in 1932, Krystal restaurants have become more than sparkling-clean eateries where friendly employees serve up fresh, delicious food. Krystal has become a cultural icon and an experience that virtually every man, woman and child in the South has shared. The Krystal brand -- and the great food, service, value and setting that it represents -- has taken a prominent place in the South's cultural landscape. The Krystal Company is the oldest quick service restaurant chain in the South and the second oldest in the United States. The Chattanooga, Tenn.-based company currently has nearly 400 restaurants in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. For more information, visit www.krystal.com

FSN SOUTH

FSN South, the nation's largest regional sports network, reaches more than 12 million cable and satellite homes in seven states in the Southeast, and SportSouth reaches more than nine million cable and satellite homes across a six-state region. Through its affiliates and other Fox Networks Group-owned networks, FSN reaches more than 70 million homes through 16 owned-and-operated networks. Headquartered in Los Angeles, FSN serves as the television home to more than half of all MLB, NHL and NBA teams based in the United States and produces close to 5,000 live local events each year, including more than 1,600 in high definition.

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Source: The Krystal Company

CONTACT: Brian Cooley for The Krystal Company, +1-404-589-9888, or cell,
+1-404-316-7482, brian@wicked-pr.com

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

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