TV VIEWERS TEST THEIR "CSI: Q"

Live Text-Messaging Game Invites Audience to Analyze and Predict Outcome of "CSI: NY" Episodes for Chance to Win $10,000

Interactive Text-Messaging Games Move from Reality and Game Shows to Top-Rated Drama Series

Starting Wednesday, Nov. 1, viewers of CBS's hit drama CSI: NY can use their mobile phone to play "CSI: Q," an interactive, live text-messaging game in which audiences test their crime-solving skills by predicting the outcome of the episode, with an eye on winning $10,000. This marks the first time that CBS has applied an interactive text messaging component, previously used on reality programs and game shows, to one of its prime time dramas.

CSI creator and CSI: NY executive producer Anthony Zuiker, who also created the CSI board game, Senses, came up with the idea for "CSI: Q" and is formulating the questions.

"'CSI: Q' invites viewers to watch CSI: NY in a very interactive fashion with a level of game play to track the 'criminal,' 'science,' and 'intent' (motive) of the story," said Zuiker. "Our goal is to use the mobile phone in an unprecedented fashion to drive viewership back to the television while at the same time enhancing the viewing experience for the CSI fan."

During the CSI: NY episodes being broadcast on CBS on Nov. 1, Nov. 8 and Nov. 15, an on-air promo will run with one question that asks viewers to predict what will happen at the end of that night's episode. Viewers will send their responses via text message to 38383 and will be entered into the drawing to win the weekly prize of $10,000. Additionally, viewers can enter for free by going to the CSI: NY site through CBS.com (where the Official Rules are also posted).

Each weekly winner will be announced on-air during the following week's episode of CSI: NY. The questions will differ for the Eastern, Pacific and Hawaiian time zones.

CSI: NY, a crime drama inspired by the popular drama series, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," is about forensic investigators who use high-tech science to follow the evidence and solve crimes in the Big Apple. The show stars Gary Sinise, Melina Kanakaredes, Carmine Giovinazzo, Hill Harper, Eddie Cahill and Anna Belknap.

CSI: NY airs Wednesdays (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The series is produced by CBS Productions and Alliance Atlantis Productions, Inc., in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television. Executive producers are Jerry Bruckheimer, Anthony E. Zuiker, Pam Veasey, Peter M. Lenkov, Ann Donahue, Carol Mendelsohn and Jonathan Littman. The series is created by Anthony E. Zuiker, Ann Donahue and Carol Mendelsohn.