or


[08/15/06 - 12:00 AM]
Sci Fi's New Series, 'Eureka,' Supported by "Inventive" Promotional Campaign

[via press release from Sci Fi]

SCI FI'S NEW SERIES, 'EUREKA,' SUPPORTED BY "INVENTIVE" PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN

Faux Info-Mercials; Search Engine and "Blog" Viral Marketing; Image and Tune-In Promos Cleverly Combine For A Distinctively Innovative Promotion

New York � August 15, 2006 � SCI FI Channel's newest scripted series, 'Eureka,' airing Tuesdays @ 9pm ET/PT, is supported by an array of innovative marketing tactics designed to capitalize on the uniqueness of this one-of-a-kind series. 'Eureka' is a remote Pacific Northwest hamlet whose inhabitants just happen to be geniuses with a penchant for wild and sometimes dangerous inventions. For years, the government has been relocating the world's geniuses to the picturesque town, where the nation's greatest thinkers secretly usher in the next generation of scientific breakthroughs. But 'Eureka' is more than just a destination. Along side cast members Colin Ferguson ('The Opposite of Sex'), Salli Richardson-Whitfield ('Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid'), and Debrah Farentino ('CSI: Miami'), the town of 'Eureka' holds its own as a "character" in this unique show, where inventions play supporting roles that drive the plot of each weekly episode.

"With its fresh, smart and modern spin on the whole sci-fi fantasy genre, 'Eureka''s fun-filled community of quirky characters are the perfect vehicle to entice a broader and more mainstream audience to sample the network for the first time," said Dave Howe, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SCI FI.

"The 'Made in Eureka' campaign leverages today's multimedia technologies to introduce an even broader audience to the creative innovations that distinguish this exciting new series," comments Adam Stotsky, Senior Vice President, Marketing, SCI FI. "By imagining a wild range of genius-inspired innovations, we created a fully integrated campaign designed to give viewers a declassified glimpse into what's so special about 'Eureka.'"

Off-air spoof "info-mercials" starring real-life QVC Queen of the Info-mercial, Pat Murphy Stark, showcase various products developed in 'Eureka.' The spots throw to 1-866-40EUREKA and to www.MadeinEureka.com where shoppers acquaint themselves with an array of cutting edge, future-forward inventions such as the Cryo Kennel, for quick -freezing pets during extended vacations, and custom-made Plasma Screen Interior Walls, for that drive-in experience at home.

Attempts to purchase any of the 'Eureka' engineered products result in being entered into a national consumer sweepstakes to win the real-life next generation of HD/DVD players, the Sony HDTV and Blue-ray player. The ads air on Comedy Central, Spike, E! Entertainment Television and The History Channel, and in some cases, are strategically scheduled in between other info-mercials. Radio spots also reinforce the "Made in Eureka" campaign.

In collaboration with search engines Google and Yahoo, the network purchased key words such as "flat screen" and "HD DVD" to literally highjack web surfers, delivering them directly to www.MadeinEureka.com, where shoppers soon realize they've entered a new dimension in online shopping.

Faux info-mercials and related-banner ads with "Made in Eureka" product descriptions also run within a host of blog sites, popular among tech enthusiasts, such as medagadget and The Daily WTF. The ads also appear within highly trafficked technology blogs, like Engadget and Gizmodo, which concurrently runs a "Made in Eureka" contest where contestants submit invention ideas to rival those of the citizens of 'Eureka.'

In addition to on-air tune-in spots, specially designed "concept promos" drive tune-in while skillfully introducing viewers to this extraordinary town of intellectually curious inventors where literally anything can happen. Steven Diller of MJZ productions directed the spots with special effects by a52 productions.

--"Cloud"-- A beautiful day is spoiled by the antics of a devious child with a weather-altering remote control.

--"A New Home in Eureka"-- A ball rolled onto a field suddenly opens up into a fully finished pre-fab home.

--"Boat"-- When an urgent phone call cuts short a day on the seas the boat simply lifts out of the water to reveal an elaborate mechanism of walking legs that quickly deliver the fisherman to shore.

--"Skateboards and Basketball"-- Moody teenagers jealously eye a basketball court until a series of skateboard ramps emerges from the asphalt.

Print and on-air creative executions utilize carefully placed "keyholes" and over-the-white-picket-fence "framing" to evoke a feeling of eavesdropping on the strange inhabitants of this bizarre town.

Advertising efforts entail the full range of media including TV, radio, print, and online buys. But even traditional marketing comes with a SCI FI twist as 150 lenticular (or hologram) Bus Shelters across New York and Los Angeles enable people to experience 'Eureka''s Main Street in 3-D.

SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 85 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.





  [august 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· CSI: MIAMI (CBS)
· EUREKA (SYFY)





[05/12/26 - 02:29 PM]
CFP Contenders and Non-Conference Clashes Headline ESPN's Industry-Leading, Early-Season College Football Schedule Reveal at Disney Upfront
Nine of ESPN.com's Way-Too-Early Top 25 are featured in the schedule release, including No. 1 Ohio State, No. 5 Texas, No. 7 Miami, No. 8 Texas Tech, No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 11 LSU.

[05/12/26 - 02:29 PM]
The Grammy Awards Set to Take Place Sunday, Feb. 7, 2027, and Will Air Live on ABC and Stream on Disney+ and Hulu
The upcoming ceremony marks a historic shift for the organization as the 2027 Grammy Awards will be the first ceremony to air on ABC since 1972, ushering in a new era for the most celebrated night in music.

[05/12/26 - 02:29 PM]
Disney and the Country Music Association Extend Relationship Through 2032
As part of the new agreement, the CMA Awards will stream live on Disney+ for the first time ever, alongside its traditional broadcast on ABC, kicking off with "The 60th Annual CMA Awards" on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.

[05/12/26 - 02:24 PM]
ESPN's "College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Kicks Off 40th Season in Baton Rouge with 500th Show on the Road
Following Baton Rouge, College GameDay will travel to Austin, Texas on September 12 for a battle of powerhouse programs in Week 2 as the Texas Longhorns host Ohio State in a rematch of last season's 14-7 Buckeyes' win in Columbus.

[05/12/26 - 02:06 PM]
Paul Anthony Kelly Joins Cast of FX's "American Horror Story" Installment 13 Coming This Fall to FX and Hulu
FX's "American Horror Story," the global phenomenon that has garnered more than 100 Emmy nominations since its launch in 2011, returns for an unrivaled 13th installment that will do justice to everyone's most feared number.

[05/12/26 - 01:55 PM]
Disney+ Becomes the Exclusive Home of the Banana Bowl This October
Known for blending athleticism with entertainment, the game will include one of the biggest performances the league has ever seen, bringing together all six teams, along with its signature on-field showmanship from first pitch to final out.

[05/12/26 - 01:42 PM]
The 99th Oscars Reunites Host Conan O'Brien and Executive Producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan
The 99th Oscars will air live on ABC and Hulu on Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 7 p.m. EDT/4 p.m. PDT.

[05/12/26 - 01:38 PM]
Savannah Bananas' Jackson Olson Slides Into the Ballroom for "Dancing with the Stars" Season 35
The full cast of celebrities and professional dancers will be announced Wednesday, September 2, exclusively on "Good Morning America."

[05/12/26 - 01:32 PM]
ESPN Sets the Stage for Super Bowl LXI With Week Long Expansive Broadcast and Fan Experience on Santa Monica Beach
These efforts are all building toward Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, which will air on ESPN and ABC and mark ESPN's first production of the Super Bowl.

[05/12/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of May 4 - The Critters of "Swapped" Soar to No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
The pursuit of justice is action-packed in "Man on Fire," which set the English TV list ablaze at No. 1 with 12.6 million views.

[05/12/26 - 11:31 AM]
CNN FlashDoc "The Last Laugh: Stephen Colbert" to Stream on Friday, May 15 on the CNN App
The special will also air Sunday, May 17 at 8pm ET on CNN, just days before the highly anticipated finale of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

[05/12/26 - 11:13 AM]
BET Greenlights Manny Halley Productions' "Lot Patrol," A Star-Studded Mockumentary Comedy Series
A mismatched squad of eccentric security guards patrols the chaotic backlot of a major Hollywood studio, where they wrangle unhinged actors, rogue crew members, and their own wildly dysfunctional personal lives.

[05/12/26 - 11:01 AM]
"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Will Air a Repeat on Thursday, May 21, The Night of the Final Telecast of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert"
"The Tonight Show" will air an all-new episode on Friday, May 22, featuring Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, and musical guest Maluma.

[05/12/26 - 11:00 AM]
AspireTV to Premiere "City Eats: Charleston" This June
The series is a culinary journey through one of America's most historic and flavor-rich cities, hosted by celebrity chef and TV personality G Garvin.

[05/12/26 - 10:36 AM]
Fan-Favorite Crime Drama, "The Madame Blanc Mysteries," Renewed for a Fifth Season on AMC Global Media's Acorn TV
Filming is currently underway in Gozo and Malta.