'Wheel of Fortune' and Lincoln Mercury Gear Up For '20 Cars in 20 Days Sweepstakes'

'Wheel of Fortune' Viewers Eligible to Win One of 20 Lincoln Mercury Vehicles Throughout the Sweepstakes Beginning April 24, 2003

CULVER CITY, Calif., April 14 -- Wheel of Fortune will team up with sponsor Lincoln Mercury, a division of Ford Motor Company, to launch the 20 Cars in 20 Days Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes marks the 20th anniversary of Wheel of Fortune in national syndication, and coincides with Ford Motor Company's 100th anniversary celebration.

The 20 Cars in 20 Days Sweepstakes, which begins on Thursday, April 24th and continues through Wednesday, May 21st, will offer Wheel of Fortune viewers the chance each night to win one of 20 vehicles from the 2003 Lincoln Mercury line-up, including the Lincoln Navigator, Mercury Mountaineer, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Marauder, Lincoln Town Car, Lincoln LS and Mercury Grand Marquis. The winners of the 10th and 20th vehicles will win a trip to THE ROAD IS OURS 100th Anniversary Celebration at Ford's headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan on June 14, 2003, where Wheel of Fortune's Vanna White will present them with their new vehicles.

"We are thrilled to be teaming up with the nation's top automaker, Ford, and its highly regarded Lincoln Mercury division to offer our viewers this unprecedented sweepstakes," said Harry Friedman, Executive Producer, Wheel of Fortune. "It's a great way to celebrate our 20th Anniversary and thank our loyal viewers."

"This gives us the opportunity to reach our owners -- and potential owners -- through North America's largest syndicated game show, with an average of 36 million viewers a week," said Darryl Hazel, president of Lincoln Mercury. "It's also an ideal platform to celebrate another anniversary, 100 years of Ford Motor Company."

Here's the key to the 20 Cars in 20 Days Sweepstakes. Each night of the sweepstakes, Wheel of Fortune viewers are invited to write down that day's Bonus Puzzle Solution. Then, to enter for a chance to win, viewers must log onto www.wheeloffortune.com and register by entering the correct Bonus Puzzle Solution. The deadline to enter each day's sweepstakes is 5 PM (EST) the following day, and viewers may enter once daily throughout the sweepstakes. Regional Lincoln Mercury dealers will present winning viewers with their new vehicle.

In addition to providing the vehicles for the 20 Cars in 20 Days Sweepstakes, Lincoln Mercury vehicles will be exclusively featured as prizes available to contestants competing on the show.

Ford Motor Company marks its centennial year in 2003, and Lincoln Mercury, one of America's legendary automotive divisions, has been a part of Ford beginning in 1922. Lincoln Mercury offers a range of upscale and luxury vehicles, including the Lincoln Navigator, Lincoln Aviator and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs, as well as the Lincoln LS, Lincoln Town Car and Mercury Grand Marquis sedans.

Wheel of Fortune, which debuted in syndication in 1983, is the #1 program in the history of syndicated television. The series is seen daily by more than 16 million U.S. viewers. Wheel of Fortune is produced by Sony Pictures Television and distributed worldwide by King World Productions, Inc.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos are available by contacting Amy Prenner.