ABC Daytime and ABC.com Continue Making ABC Soaps Interactive, With More Than 100,000 Entries for Their ``Colgate Total-ABC Super Soap Sweepstakes''

Business Wire, Sept 20, 2000

Business/Entertainment Editors & Television Writers

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Sept. 20, 2000

ABC Daytime received an overwhelming response on ABC.com to the "Colgate Total-ABC Super Soap Sweepstakes" contest. More than 100,000 fans entered to win an exclusive sweepstakes sponsored by Colgate Total, with four grand prizes awarded on September 5.

The "Colgate Total-ABC Super Soap Sweepstakes" was live on the site from August 1-22. The winners received air transportation to Orlando, Fla.; hotel accommodations; passes to the fifth annual "Colgate Total-ABC Super Soap Weekend" at the Disney-MGM Studios; and a chance to star in a scene with an ABC soap star.

The contest could be entered only by going to ABC.com, and was promoted through on-air spots, links throughout the abc.com soaps site, a postcard mailing, and in voice-overs airing at the end of each of the four ABC Daytime soaps: "Port Charles," "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital." Entrants could also sign up to receive Colgate samples and product information.

ABC.com and ABC Daytime have increasingly introduced interactive programming, including the "General Hospital"/"Port Charles" Nurse's Ball, in which T-shirts featured as part of the show were available for purchase online; "PreView," an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at "The View" available only on ABC.com via streaming video; and ABC.com/wave, a special promotion in which nearly 200,000 people voted on the wedding dress "All My Children's" Hayley wore for her wedding.

The ABC Super Soap Weekend will be held the weekend of November 11-12 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Susan Lucci (Erica Kane on "All My Children") will headline an outstanding lineup of more than 30 stars from the ABC Daytime dramas, "Port Charles," "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital." The only fan event of its kind, the event offers ABC Daytime fans an opportunity to meet and interact with their favorite ABC soap stars in an environment that reflects the glamour and excitement of show business, the Disney-MGM Studios.

ABC.com is part of the Walt Disney Internet Group (NYSE:DIG), which manages some of the Internet's most popular Web sites, including ABC.com, ABCNEWS.com, ABCSports.com, Disney.com, Disneystore.com, DisneyTravel.com, ESPN.com, Family.com, GO.com, Movies.com, Mr. Showbiz, NASCAR Online, NBA.com, NFL.com and Soccernet. The Internet Group also includes The Walt Disney Company's direct marketing business. Steve Bornstein is chairman of Walt Disney Internet Group, which has headquarters in North Hollywood, Calif., with operations in Sunnyvale, Calif.; Seattle; New York; Bristol, Conn.; and London. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.dig.com.