RealNetworks and CBS Team Up for Eighth Season to Deliver Live 24/7 Online Access to "Big Brother: 'Til Death Do You Part"
Real's SuperPass and www.film.com Offer First Peek at "Big Brother: 'Til Death Do You Part" HouseGuests, 24/7 Footage, Scoops, Blogs and Chat Rooms
SEATTLE — February 11, 2008 — CBS and RealNetworks®, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNWK), have teamed up for the eighth straight season to offer exclusive 24/7 access to live video feeds inside the Big Brother house. Webcast coverage begins immediately following the premiere of BIG BROTHER: ‘TIL DEATH DO YOU PART on Tuesday, Feb. 12 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Coverage from the entire three-month season will be accessible through Real's SuperPass subscription service at www.real.com/bigbrother, in addition to the official BIG BROTHER Web site at CBS.com.
"The Internet is a natural extension for traditional television programming, providing consumers with greater access to the content they love and allowing content providers another means of marketing to fans," said Elizabeth Coppinger, vice president of video services for RealNetworks. "With the growing demand for more content from 'after show' sites and the continued popularity of BIG BROTHER, Real's 24/7 access and bonus features encourage greater interaction among fans in real-time."
Following the popularity of last season's BIG BROTHER, fans will once again be offered the opportunity to chat live with Houseguests once they leave. This season, fans will also be able to play online games and watch videos while they tune into the live feed.
The BIG BROTHER subscription service delivers a one-of-a-kind look behind the scenes of the CBS hit show after the cameras stop rolling. The online BIG BROTHER community within SuperPass and on Film.com includes a blog, photo galleries, live feeds into the BIG BROTHER house and show recaps, as well as message boards, commentary, astrological profiles and a regular "Ask Big Brother" question and answer column. Additional BIG BROTHER bonus coverage and Film.com features can be accessed for free at www.film.com/bigbrother.
BIG BROTHER: 'TIL DEATH DO YOU PART subscribers will also have access to other SuperPass services including free music, full length movies, radio and RealPlayer software, which allows users to download non-DRM protected videos from thousands of sites on the Web.
Subscriptions to SuperPass season pass are $39.99 for three months or $14.99 per month and available at www.real.com/superpass.
The CBS Television Network will continue to offer Big Brother fans access to the show on multiple platforms, including online on the relaunched and redesigned site on cbs.com and throughout the CBS Audience Network, the largest online syndication network of video, on the phone, on Showtime Networks and on the CBS Television Network. The first ever winter edition of BIG BROTHER: 'TIL DEATH DO YOU PART premieres Tuesday, Feb. 12 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) with additional broadcasts on Wednesdays (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) beginning Feb. 13 and Sundays (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) beginning Feb. 17.
BIG BROTHER: 'TIL DEATH DO YOU PART is executive produced by Emmy Award winner Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan, in association with Endemol U.S.A.
For More Information:
Ryan Luckin
RealNetworks
206-892-6330
rluckin@real.com
Kelli Raftery
CBS
212-975-3163
kraftery@cbs.com
Susan J. Marks
CBS
323-575-2118
susan.marks@tvc.cbs.com
RNWK-G
ABOUT REALNETWORKS
RealNetworks, Inc. is providing ways for consumers to be entertained on any screen (PC, home entertainment system, portable device or mobile phone) anywhere. Its digital entertainment services include RealPlayer, the acclaimed Rhapsody® music service, one of the largest Casual Games destinations RealArcade®, and a variety of mobile entertainment services offered to consumers by leading wireless carriers around the world. RealNetworks' corporate information is located at www.realnetworks.com/company.
ABOUT CBS CORPORATION
CBS Corporation is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and The CW — a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment), cable television (Showtime and CSTV Networks), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), interactive media (CBS Interactive), music (CBS Records), licensing and merchandising (CBS Consumer Products), video/DVD (CBS Home Entertainment), in-store media (CBS Outernet) and motion pictures (CBS Films). For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.
RealNetworks, RealPlayer, Rhapsody, RealGames and RealArcade are registered trademarks of RealNetworks.