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Wireless Developer Network - Daily News

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CBS Announces Integrated Marketing Sponsors for Cupid


AT&T Wireless and Match.com Category-Exclusive Media Sponsors For New Summer Reality Series

REDMOND, Wash.--July 15, 2003-- Voting To Begin On Fourth Episode, Wednesday, July 30

AT&T Wireless and Match.com have signed on to become category-exclusive media sponsors for CBS' new primetime summer reality series "Cupid," it was announced today by Jo Ann Ross, President, CBS Sales.

The sponsorships include on-air integration, Internet and telecom exclusivity and commercial time, in addition to other promotional activities.

Viewers of the new reality series, which challenges America to find the perfect mate for a 25-year-old woman who has been unlucky in love, will be able to vote for their favorite match seven different times throughout the course of the 11 episode run, starting Wednesday, July 30 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) and continuing on throughout the summer. The show made its official debut Wednesday, July 9, but the first three episodes feature the audition process, as the "Cupid Girl" and her friends whittle down their list. In addition to being able to vote by calling an 800 telephone line, customers of AT&T Wireless will be able to vote using text-messaging -- the first time this new technology has been featured on a CBS reality series. In addition to text message voting, AT&T Wireless plans to introduce a host of exclusive, show-related content for their customers' wireless phones, air a series of commercials about their services, and sponsor an online promotional component on CBS.com.

Similarly, Match.com has signed on to become the exclusive online dating sponsor for the series, with a sponsorship package that includes product integration, an online component and commercials. Through an exclusive contest on the Match.com website, viewers of "Cupid" will be able to compete for a dream date with the nine finalists who will be voted off by America. In addition, the Match.com winners will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the taping of the final episode of "Cupid." Match.com will sponsor a weekly Internet poll pertaining to the show, which will be integrated into the series.

"We are delighted to have AT&T Wireless and Match.com partnering with us for this unique and fun summertime reality series," said Ross. "The nature and format of the show not only invites sponsor participation like this, but really benefits from it, and I'm confident AT&T and Match.com will get great value out of this partnership."

"Since our services are an embedded and integral component of the show, our sponsorship of 'Cupid' goes well beyond the traditional television ad campaign," said Andre Dahan, President of AT&T Wireless Mobile Multimedia Services. "Text message voting will allow viewers to have a direct impact on the show's outcome, and people will be able to stay connected with 'Cupid" before, during and after each episode right from their wireless phone screens. Teaming with a media powerhouse like CBS further cements our leadership in mobile entertainment services and text messaging."

"We're thrilled about the chemistry of this Match.com and Cupid integration, as we believe it will deliver an incredibly engaging and convergent internet/television experience," said Tim Sullivan, President of Match.com. "Giving single women around the country the chance to date the Cupid 'reality stars' by visiting Match.com should be a great deal of fun, and we're excited that CBS has embraced this idea with such a deep level of integration. We think that Lisa's experience of having the opportunity to choose from a bounty of eligible suitors parallels the experience of millions of women seeking Mr. Right on Match.com today."

"Cupid," a new relationship series from "American Idol's" Simon Cowell, challenges America to find the perfect mate for one eligible young woman -- Lisa Shannon, a 25-year-old Detroit advertising agency copywriter who has been unlucky in love. Along with her girlfriends, Kimberly and Laura, Lisa will begin a nationwide search to find the man of her dreams. After a marathon cross-country tour that brings the three women to Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Miami, Lisa will whittle down the list of 10 finalists starting Wednesday, July 30 through a series of dates, with her friends reacting live to the filmed meetings. Then, America will get the chance to play Cupid, as the guy with the least amount of votes is eliminated each week.

About Text Voting

Beginning on the show's first voting episode on July 30, text messaging will provide an alternative means for AT&T Wireless customers to vote for their favorite date each week and ultimately help select the finalist. Customers will simply send a text message to an abbreviated number to vote off their choice each week. These abbreviated numbers -- also called "short codes" -- will be displayed on air alongside the call-in number when viewers are encouraged to vote.

The rules for text voting will mirror those for voting via the show's call-in telephone number. For example, the contestant's assigned numbers (-01, -02, etc.) will be the same with both voting methods. Voting lines for "Cupid" open after the show each week for at least two hours, subject to local time zone limitations. Text votes received outside of these times will not count as votes.

About the "Date the Bachelors" Contest

Single women viewers will receive on-air invitations to visit http://www.cbs.com/cupid where they can post a Match.com profile and elect to participate in a contest to win a date with one of the nine bachelor finalists voted off the show. Alternatively, commencing with the 2nd show, Match.com will run 30 second spots encouraging viewers to visit the Match.com site to participate in the contest. Ten Grand Prize winners will be flown to Los Angeles and transported via limousine to sit in the audience at the Cupid finale show. After the show, nine winners will be paired up with their Cupid finalist for an intimate dinner at a posh Los Angeles area restaurant.

About AT&T Wireless

AT&T Wireless (NYSE:AWE) is the second-largest wireless carrier, based on revenues, in the United States. With 21.1 million subscribers as of March 31, 2003, and revenues of nearly $16.0 billion over the past four quarters, AT&T Wireless delivers advanced high-quality mobile wireless communications services, voice and data, to businesses and consumers, in the U.S. and internationally. For more information, please visit us at http://www.attwireless.com/.



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