TBS Offers Viewers Opportunity to Win With MIDNIGHT MONEY MADNESS, a New Late-Late Night Show From Endemol USA

Tune In-and-Win Opportunities Begin Monday, August 28, at Midnight (ET/PT)



ATLANTA, Aug. 2  /PRNewswire/ -- TBS, television's "very funny" network, is giving late-late night viewers the opportunity to win cash by text-messaging, calling in or logging onto the internet with a new game show entitled MIDNIGHT MONEY MADNESS, created by international television production company Endemol (Deal or No Deal, Big Brother) through their Digital Media Group.  The two- hour Monday-Thursday show -- which kicks off Monday, August 28, at midnight (ET/PT) -- brings the spontaneity of radio call-in shows to television by creating games that viewers can play by calling in, text-messaging or logging on to the internet live to compete for cash prizes.  The games will be emceed by two comic hosts, with the entire show being interspersed with man-on-the- street segments and comedian drop-ins.  This marks the first time Endemol, which has produced similar shows in 22 other countries with enormous success, has brought the live call-in show concept to the United States.

"We're thrilled that Endemol, a leader in interactive entertainment, brought this opportunity to TBS for our large audience of young viewers and our 'very funny' brand," said Steve Koonin, executive vice president and chief operating office for TBS and sister network TNT.  "MIDNIGHT MONEY MADNESS takes the quiz-show genre to a new level by combining emerging forms of communication with TBS's leading comedy brand in a highly entertaining and personable show for late night.  Through this interactive initiative, we will be able to attract young adult viewers who crave late-night programming and invite them to interact with TBS in a dynamic new way."

Each Monday-Thursday, MIDNIGHT MONEY MADNESS will be presented in two separate live presentations, one for the East Coast and one for the West Coast.  Emceed by two hosts, the episodes will feature six to eight games, where viewers will be able to participate interactively by registering their phone numbers via premium SMS text-messaging, premium call-in, or the internet.  Once registered, players may be called back for a chance to play live on the air.  In addition, all text-message and premium call players will receive show-branded entertainment on their handsets throughout the course of the show.

"With 10 years of experience delivering Call TV shows to broadcasters around the world, we are delighted to be taking the format to the next level with our first show in the U.S. on TBS," said Jon Vlassopulos, vice president, business development, strategic planning and digital media for Endemol USA. "Having witnessed the success of our interactive play-at-home game for Deal or No Deal, we are confident that our 'very funny' and entertaining MIDNIGHT MONEY MADNESS show will be well received by American audiences and is going to give TBS viewers a new reason to stay up late."

Endemol USA is a leading producer of television programming specializing in reality and non-scripted genres for network and cable television.  The company produces the break-out hits, Deal or No Deal, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Fear Factor and Big Brother. Endemol USA is a division of Endemol Holding, a prominent international content developer, producer and distributor of television and online programming.  The company, headquartered in the Netherlands, has subsidiaries and joint ventures in twenty-one countries, including the major European markets, the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Australia.  Endemol Entertainment is a fully owned subsidiary of telecommunications giant Telefonica S.A., one of the largest companies in Spain.

TBS, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is television's "very funny" network.  It serves as home to such hot contemporary comedies as Sex and the City, Everybody Loves Raymond, Family Guy, Seinfeld and Friends; original comedy series, like the upcoming scripted comedies My Boys and 10 Items or Less; specials and special events, like The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas, for which TBS serves as title sponsor; blockbuster movies; and hosted movie showcases.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and a leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.

This information can also be accessed on TBS, Inc.'s press site at http://www.turnerinfo.com/. 

DATASOURCE: Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.



CONTACT:  Michelle Sisco, Atlanta, [phone], or

, or Samantha Graham, New York, [phone], or

, or Diane Herzog, Los Angeles, [phone],

, all of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.



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

http://www.turner.com/

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