SHO.com and STARBURST -R- Hard Candy Announce "Win a Role On WhirlGirl Sweepstakes;" National Amusements Signs On As Promotional Partner

Business Wire, August 2, 1999

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Aug. 2, 1999--

SHO.com, the Internet website of Showtime Networks, and STARBURST(R) Hard Candy are "SHOing Off" by giving away an action-packed trip to New York to star opposite cyber heroine Kia Cross in the Christmas Special of SHO.com's animated Web episodic WhirlGirl airing on December 17th and a year's supply of STARBURST(R) Hard Candy.

The "Win a Role on WhirlGirl Sweepstakes," which kicks off on August 2nd, will fly a winner and a guest to New York City for a weekend that will include a full day in the production and animation studios of Visionary Media, creators of WhirlGirl, where the winner's likeness will be transformed into a cyber-superstar and incorporated into the episode. "Sometimes a girl needs a little help liberating the virtual universe," says Kia Cross, a.k.a. WhirlGirl. "This new person is supposed to help me, right?"

WhirlGirl fans can enter the sweepstakes by logging on to SHO.com and answering several trivia questions pertaining to WhirlGirl. SHO.com has also teamed with National Amusements Showcase and Multiplex Cinemas as a promotional partner to tell movie-goers about the sweepstakes. WhirlGirl enthusiasts across the country can pick up entry forms at any of National Amusements' 104 movie theaters, or by going to the National Amusements' Web site, www.nationalamusements.com. Mall shoppers in certain areas can also enter by visiting the 1999 Cisco@Home Cable Internet Revolution Mall Tour, August 6, 1999 through September 13, 1999. The sweepstakes will end on September 13, 1999 and the episode is scheduled to go online December 17th of this year.

"The winner of this sweepstakes will, in a sense, get a taste of a 'virtual' acting career. Their likeness and voice will be featured as a character in the episode, and we will bill the winner as a 'guest star'," says Tom Hayden, Senior VP of Strategy and Development for Showtime Networks Inc. "We are very pleased that STARBURST(R) Hard Candy is helping us generate excitement about WhirlGirl and bringing this concept to life. We are also confident that our promotional partnership with National Amusements will generate quite a whirlwind around this contest."

WhirlGirl features the adventures of Kia Cross, a 21st century, 20-something, freedom fighter, who reluctantly becomes the focal point of a revolution to liberate the virtual universe from a tyrannical media-tech empire called Zone Werks. WhirlGirl, who can vanquish a platoon of thought police with a single kick (after a quick change into electric-blue pleather) faces her greatest challenge in balancing a "normal" love life with her role as a masked rebel leader.

WhirlGirl, Showtime Networks' first series developed exclusively online, debuted on SHO.com on February 26, 1999. A new episode of WhirlGirl is unveiled on SHO.com every Friday at 1:00 PM (ET) at http://SHO.com. Each WhirlGirl episode features streaming animation using Macromedia Flash(R) technology.

"The energetic and edgy side of WhirlGirl and her futuristic adventures are characteristic of the active STARBURST(R) Hard Candy fan, making our consumers a perfect match for playing WhirlGirl's sidekick," says Mark Mattia, Senior Brand Manager for STARBURST(R). "STARBURST(R) is proud to go direct to its consumers with this cutting-edge form of entertainment, bringing them a refreshing burst of upbeat fun."

National Amusements Executive Vice President Shari E. Redstone comments, "I am thrilled to offer our movie-goers the chance to be part of this terrific new on-line series. This is a unique opportunity, and I am glad that National Amusements is a part of it."

About SHO.com - SHO.com is the Internet website of Showtime Networks. Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL and FLIX. SNI operates and manages the premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL, which is owned by SNI, Robert Redford and Universal Studios, Inc. SHOWTIME en Espanol, a separate audio feed of SHOWTIME, is available for the Spanish-speaking audience. SNI also markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis.

About Starburst(R) Hard Candy - The new Starburst(R) Hard Candy, rolled out in Spring 1999, is the sixth product to be introduced by the STARBURST(R) Brand. Continuing the Brand's upbeat and energetic positioning, the disc-shaped hard candy is made with real fruit juice and imprinted with a raised "S" for STARBURST(R). Original STARBURST(R) Hard Candy will feature Cherry, Lemon, Green Apple, Orange and Strawberry. Tropical flavors include Tropical Punch, Kiwi Strawberry, Mango Melon, Strawberry Banana and Watermelon. Other STARBURST(R) products include Fruit Chews, Jellybeans, Fruit Twists, Candy Canes and Ice Bars. STARBURST(R) is a registered trademark of M&M/Mars, a division of Mars, Incorporated. M&M/Mars manufactures and distributes a variety of quality snackfood products.