THE CW HEADS TO SXSW INTERACTIVE 2013

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES Star Ian Somerhalder to Connect with Fans Via

Video Tweets Direct from #SXCW Sunday Night: #TweetMeIan

Plus ... Pitch Your Digital Series to The CW's Digital Studio and You May Have the Opportunity to be Flown to Los Angeles for an In-Person Meeting with CW Digital Executives

March 7, 2013 (Burbank, CA) - The CW will head to SXSW Interactive this weekend, with activities, including an immersive #SXCW social experience at the Warner Bros. Tell-A-Vision space from March 10-11; the chance for SXSWi attendees to pitch original ideas for a digital series to CWD, The CW's digital studio; and a special appearance by Ian Somerhalder, star of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES - the network's #1 show in key demographics - who will connect with fans who submit questions via Twitter using the #TweetMeIan hashtag.

From Thursday, March 7-Sunday, March 10, fans can submit questions to THE VAMPIRE DIARIES' Ian Somerhalder via Twitter using the #TweetMeIan hashtag, and he will answer via video tweets from #SXCW on Sunday night, March 10. Ian's video answers, as well as all of the other tweets and Facebook posts from and about the #SXCW experience, will be posted on a special #SXCW social pinboard displayed on-site and online at CWTV.com.

#SXCW visitors can step inside the world of ARROW and become one of Starling City's Most Wanted by unlocking their villain name from the on-site villain name generator, then print custom badges and take photos in front of a special Starling City backdrop in the Tell-A-Vision space. Fans not attending #SXCW can also get villain-ized by going to starlingcityvillains.com. Visitors to the #SXCW experience can design and print custom free T-shirts for their favorite CW shows.

Proving that great storytelling exists in all of us, The CW is also offering SXSWi attendees the opportunity to pitch their original ideas for a digital series to CWD, The CW's digital studio. Attendees visiting #SXCW at the Warner Bros. Tell-A-Vision space on Sunday and Monday will be given the opportunity to make an original on-camera pitch for their digital series ideas for consideration by CWD. Each participant will be asked to sign a standard waiver. Once all entries are received, CWD executives will review the recorded pitches and determine the most effective and promising digital series idea. One lucky storyteller may have the chance to be flown to Los Angeles to pitch their digital series ideas directly to industry executives for consideration by CWD.

Located at 419 Congress Avenue (at 5th Street) in the heart of downtown Austin, the Warner Bros. Tell-A-Vision space is open to the public Friday, March 8-Sunday, March 10, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, and Monday, March 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.