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AUSTRALIAN FIRST: TEN PREMIERES WARNER BROS. TELEVISION'S, SUPERNATURAL, SERIES 2 PREMIERE ONLINE
9 January 2007
Network Ten today announced a promotional deal with Warner Bros. International
Television to offer Australia's first free, first-run, full-length episode downloads from a major network series.
TEN will premiere the season two opening episode of the Warner Bros. hit series Supernatural on-line (via
www.ten.com.au/supernatural) 5 days before its Australian broadcast debut on Monday 15 January, 8.30pm.
That brand new episode will be packaged with the season one episode ‘Home’ allowing viewers to refresh their experience of the program.
Damian Smith, TEN's general manager – digital media, said: "TEN is proud to pioneer first-run, full episode downloads in Australia.
"Our experience with programs as diverse as Thank God You're Here, Australian Idol and Big Brother tells us that viewers embrace online video and the additional opportunity to engage with their favourite programs.
"Supernatural is one of the most keenly anticipated shows of 2007; premiering the season two opener online satisfies real viewer demand, and will drive viewers to the television broadcast."
"The digital landscape provides immense opportunity to generate excitement for series prior to premiere and beyond,” said Jeffrey Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. International Television.
“In many ways, Supernatural is the perfect fit for offering early download as fans tend to be exceedingly active online and are engaged viewers eagerly anticipating the new season. Warner Bros. is thrilled to partner with TEN in maximizing the accessibility of the show for returning viewers as well as giving new viewers an easy way to catch up prior to season two.”
TEN's Supernatural downloads will be available from 5pm on 11 January for unlimited viewing on PC for a 48-hour period, and each new episode will be available from midnight of the night of broadcast.
Mr Smith added: "We're harnessing the tremendous power of TEN's broadcast platform to drive traffic to our program websites.
"With Thank God You're Here, for example, on-air promotion led to significant repeat download viewing and high user engagement, achieving real cut-through and outstanding recall for our sponsor Hungry Jack's.
"That impact builds on the client's broadcast sponsorship, which provides the mass reach and 'familiarity' in which the advertiser's on-line association flourishes."
Supernatural starring Jared Padalecki (Sam Winchester) and Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester) follows the story of two brothers, raised as soldiers by their father, in search of the demon that killed their mother twenty-two years ago destroying their family.
The series is produced by Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television.
