or


[04/20/07 - 10:24 AM]
Warner BroS. Television Group, the CW and Toyota Launch "Smallville Legends: Justice and Doom," a Marketing Campaign for the Hit Series "Smallville"
The heart of the initiative is a series of custom digital on-air comic book interstitials produced by DC Comics that will air in the form of Content Wraps on The CW during "Smallville."

[via press release from The CW]

WARNER BROS. TELEVISION GROUP, THE CW AND TOYOTA LAUNCH "SMALLVILLE LEGENDS: JUSTICE AND DOOM," A MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR THE HIT SERIES "SMALLVILLE"

First Integrated, Transmedia Campaign Developed Around Innovative Content Wrap Advertising Format

Elements Include On-Air Content Wraps Produced By DC Comics, Immersive Online Game, Mobile Alerts, Clue Drops, National Sweepstakes and More

Burbank, Calif. and Torrance, Calif. (April 19, 2007) - The Warner Bros. Television Group, The CW Network and Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. are joining forces on a five-week integrated marketing and promotional campaign in support of the hit series "Smallville" (airing Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on The CW), featuring the Toyota Yaris, it was announced today by Lisa Gregorian, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Television Group; Rick Haskins, Marketing and Brand Strategy, The CW; and Kim McCullough, Corporate Manager Marketing Communications, Toyota.

The extensive "Smallville Legends: Justice and Doom" campaign will commence with the return of original episodes of "Smallville" on April 19 (today) and run through the season finale on May 17. The heart of the initiative is a series of custom digital on-air comic book interstitials produced by DC Comics that will air in the form of Content Wraps on The CW during "Smallville."

Launched with the premiere of The CW in September 2006, content wraps are an innovative new advertising format that brings compelling content into the entire length of the commercial break and takes the place of typical spots. Each content wrap is custom designed to appeal to different demographics of the network's schedule. Every content wrap to date has produced approximately 100% audience retention or better out of the program it was scheduled around. "Smallville Legends: Justice and Doom" marks the first time a fully integrated, transmedia program has been developed around the content wraps.

Each content wrap will drive viewers to an immersive online game at www.cwtv.com/justice (launching at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT today, April 19), which will present players with five challenges related to the last five "Smallville" episodes of the season. Via cutting-edge video techniques, a mysterious figure appears on screen to guide players through the completion of each puzzle. Marketing elements of "Smallville Legends: Justice and Doom" will include a cross-carrier mobile campaign, street-team distribution of game clues in selected cities and a national sweepstakes for a chance to win a 2007 Toyota Yaris.

The campaign will feature the Toyota Yaris subcompact vehicle. The Yaris audience is made up of die-hard pop culture fans and loyal followers of cult shows like "Smallville." The integrated storytelling experience of the content wraps and game will give them more of the exclusive content they crave. It will answer unexplained questions from the entire run of "Smallville," detail the back story behind a major plot line, explain the secret history preceding the formation of Oliver Queen's team, and reveal the perilous mission it has been tasked with. The Yaris has already made many appearances on "Smallville." One of the main characters, Chloe Sullivan, drives a Yaris.

In an extraordinary show of collaboration, the show's producers and writers, the network, DC Comics, Toyota and Toyota's ad agency, Saatchi & Saatchi LA, worked closely together on the creation of the multiplatform campaign. The team created a seamless world between fantasy and reality by cross pollinating elements of the show and the campaign. For instance, a gadget previously seen on the show appears in the real world via the clue drops. In one episode, the content wrap even carries the "Smallville" storyline from commercial break to commercial break.

"We are excited to be partners with Toyota in this multiplatform brand enhancement experience for 'Smallville,'" said Lisa Gregorian. "We are committed to creating unique and compelling experiences for the fans of our shows and our network, The CW."

"Our viewers crave cutting-edge promotions that delve deep into the world of our shows, and this campaign is guaranteed to deliver," said Rick Haskins. "We expect 'Smallville' fans to love the new game, and embrace the entire, comprehensive multi-platform package."

"The independent-spirited Yaris audience loves digging deep into TV shows like 'Smallville,'" said Kim McCullough. "We're inviting them to engage with this interactive storytelling experience in order to reveal new and surprising details of the show's mythology."

With realistic portrayals and award-winning, state-of-the-art special effects, "Smallville" reworks the Superman lore from its roots. The series stars Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Erica Durance, Allison Mack with John Glover and Annette O'Toole. "Smallville" was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar ("Herbie Fully Loaded," "Shanghai Noon" movies, "Spider-Man 2"), based on DC Comics characters. The executive producers are Gough & Millar, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola (all three from "One Tree Hill," "The Bronx Is Burning," "Norbit," "Wild Hogs") and Ken Horton ("The X-Files," "Millennium"). Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The series is from Tollin/Robbins Productions, Millar/Gough Ink and Warner Bros. Television.

About Warner Bros. Television Group:

A division of Warner Bros. Entertainment, the Warner Bros. Television Group (WBTVG) is an industry leader in the production and distribution of television and motion picture content. WBTVG consists of five production divisions (Warner Bros. Television, Warner Horizon Television, Telepictures Productions, Warner Bros. Animation and Studio 2.0), three distribution entities (Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution and Warner Bros. International Television), and The CW Network, the new fifth national broadcast network, co-owned with CBS Corporation.

About The CW:

The CW Network, which is owned jointly by CBS Corp. and Time Warner, Inc., consists of a six-night, 13-hour primetime lineup including Monday through Friday nights from 8:00-10:00 p.m. ET; Sundays from 7:00-10:00 p.m. ET; Sunday from 5:00-7:00 p.m. ET outside of prime time as well as a Monday-Friday afternoon block from 3:00-5:00 p.m. ET and a five-hour Saturday morning animation block. Altogether, the new network programs 30 hours a week over seven days. For more information, visit http://www.cwtv.com/.

About Toyota:

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the United States, marketing products and services through a network of 1,427 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers in 49 states. Established in 1957, and currently celebrating its Golden Anniversary in the US, TMS and its subsidiaries also are involved in distribution logistics, motorsports, and research and development.





  [april 2007]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· BRONX IS BURNING, THE (ESPN)
· ONE TREE HILL (CW)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· X-FILES, THE (FOX)





[05/20/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Michael Jackson: The Verdict" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Told by key players who were inside the courtroom, this three-part comprehensive docuseries dissects the trial of Michael Jackson and his complex legacy.

[05/20/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: MGM+ Debuts Teaser for "The Westies"
The gritty and kinetic crime drama centers on New York City's infamously violent Irish gang of the same name.

[05/20/26 - 10:00 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights Two New Thrillers for This June
Amber Stevens West and Michael Xavier star in "The Jealous Bride" while Remy Ma leads "Don't Trust the Girls Upstairs."

[05/20/26 - 09:31 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Official Trailer, Key Art and New Imagery for "Strung"
From director Malcolm D. Lee, a talented violinist takes a prestigious job as a music tutor for the gifted daughter of an influential and enigmatic family.

[05/20/26 - 09:01 AM]
A24's "Pillion" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max June 5
A timid man is swept off his feet when an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive.

[05/20/26 - 09:01 AM]
AMC Global Media's June Highlights Include "The Vampire Lestat," "You're Killing Me," "Devil in Silver," "Doctor Who" and More
Newly announced premieres include ALLBLK's "Funny Thing About Love" and BBC America's "Wild Spring."

[05/20/26 - 09:00 AM]
The History Channel's Hit Survival Series "Alone" Is Going Global! New Season Premieres June 17
On the heels of the World Cup and for the first time in franchise history, 10 skilled survivalists from around the globe will compete in "Alone: World Championship".

[05/20/26 - 09:00 AM]
Laura Benanti and Tituss Burgess to Host "The Tony Awards: Act One"
The two stage-and-screen icons will kick off Broadway's biggest night with the presentation of the first round of Tony Awards during the exciting pre-show telecast.

[05/20/26 - 07:36 AM]
After Record-Setting 2025 Season, "Sunday Night Football" Finishes Fall-Spring TV Season as Primetime's No. 1 Show for Unprecedented 15th Consecutive Year
The series averaged 23.5 million viewers in 2025, marking the show's best-ever viewership - up nearly 1 million viewers from the prior record for the series set a decade ago (22.6 million in 2015 season) and an increase of 9% over the '24 season (21.6 million).

[05/20/26 - 07:23 AM]
Apple TV Announces Season Two Renewal for "Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars"
The eight-part second season follows the fates of elite chefs at some of the world's most unique and celebrated restaurants to determine if they will win, maintain or lose that precious Star.

[05/20/26 - 06:04 AM]
FOX Sports Presents All-Star Studio Team Anchoring FIFA World Cup 2026
From Thursday, June 11 through Sunday, July 19, FOX Sports will be America's official English-language home for FIFA World Cup 2026 presenting all 104 tournament matches live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming in 4K live and on-demand on FOX One.

[05/20/26 - 06:00 AM]
BTS to Make First Awards Show Appearance in Four Years at "The 52nd American Music Awards," Monday, May 25 at 8:00 PM, ET, 5:00 PM, PT on CBS
They have a chance to add to their trophy collection this year, with three nominations: Artist of the Year, Song of the Summer and Best Male K-Pop Artist.

[05/20/26 - 05:31 AM]
"One Hundred Years of Solitude" Concludes This August, With Part Two Premiering on the 5th and the Grand Finale on the 26th
Spanning the 50 years yet to be told, the second part dives deeper into the new generations of the Buendía family and the town's transformation, where progress ultimately gives way to decay - fulfilling the curse that seals its fate.

[05/20/26 - 05:01 AM]
Video: "Little Brother" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A tightly wound realtor's picture-perfect life gets an extreme makeover when his lovably chaotic "little brother" suddenly reappears.

[05/20/26 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Maternal Instinct" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Police pull over a woman who claims she just gave birth. But the baby - and the blood - aren't hers. Twisted lies unravel in this true-crime documentary.